Bicycle Reen Barrera- Our Daily Dread Playing Cards

Bicycle Reen Barrera- Our Daily Dread Playing Cards is a deeply personal, fully illustrated art deck that blurs the line between gallery work and functional playing cards. Produced by RunIt Decks and officially licensed by Bicycle, this release transforms Reen Barrera’s visual storytelling into a tactile, hand-held experience... one meant to be shuffled, examined, and lived with.

Inside, every card features unique original artwork, resulting in 56 custom illustrations across the deck. The card back design is built from the visual language of the Ohlala universe, filled with expressive, watchful eyes. These layered gazes create a sense of tension, awareness, and introspection, reinforcing the deck’s theme of confronting uncertainty and the subtle dread embedded in daily life.

The court cards bring Reen’s iconic characters to the forefront. Figures such as Ohlala, Mother, Duge, Yessir, Tori, and others are reimagined as Kings, Queens, and Jacks, each retaining their distinct personalities while fitting naturally into traditional card structure. 

The number cards continue the narrative, with several designs integrating the pips directly into the artwork, allowing form and function to coexist without sacrificing playability. Suit-specific color palettes guide the mood of each section of the deck, shifting the emotional tone as you move from card to card.

The tuck box features Double Sided Fate, an artwork first exhibited in Hong Kong. Designed with a full wraparound layout, the illustration flows uninterrupted across every face of the box, enhanced by a subtle dimpled texture that echoes the canvas surface of Reen’s original paintings.

Printed by the United States Playing Card Company, the deck uses premium Bicycle stock with the classic Air-Cushion finish, ensuring smooth handling, clean spreads, and reliable durability. 

Bicycle Legal Tender Playing Cards

Bicycle Legal Tender, designed by Jackson Robinson, reimagines the intricate craftsmanship of historic American currency as a fully custom playing card deck. Released as part of USPCC's Bicycle Designer Series, the deck blends classic Bicycle handling with richly detailed, engraving-inspired artwork that pays homage to the visual language of vintage U.S. banknotes.

Money has always been more than a means of exchange—it’s a showcase for national symbolism, ornate filigree, and meticulous linework meant to reward close inspection. Legal Tender translates that tradition directly to the tabletop, drawing from the same ornamental borders, portrait-style vignettes, and razor-fine detailing found on historical currency. Every card feels like a miniature print, designed with the patience and precision associated with collector-grade engravings.

Produced as an official Bicycle-branded release, Legal Tender continues to balance timeless aesthetics with modern execution. Jackson Robinson’s artwork gives the deck a cohesive, fully custom look while preserving the familiar feel players expect from his designs. 

Bicycle Legal Tender stands as a refined celebration of traditional illustration, where classic design, craftsmanship, and usability intersect in a deck that feels equally at home on the card table or in a collector’s archive. Available now $14.99 from Cardtopia.

Woodland Legends Playing Cards

Now seeking funds on Kickstarter, Woodland Legends is a richly illustrated playing card series by artist Nicolai Aaroe, presented in three distinct limited editions and inspired by the folklore of Reynard the Fox and classic tales such as Robin Hood.

Set in the woodland realm of Fernspire Forest beneath Cinderleaf Castle, Woodland Legends tells the story of six fox clans bound to the land’s most treasured natural resources: ashroot, fern, cinderleaf, and rowanberries. Each clan represents a different truth of the world, and while they share the forest’s abundance, they are not equal in coin or power. The narrative, written by Aaroe as A Tale of Six Clans, weaves themes of friendship, courage, and loyalty into a fully realized illustrated universe.

The project began as a purely human-driven art journey, documented from early sketches to finished designs. Every court card and pip has been hand-illustrated, resulting in a completely custom deck. Across the series, 18 unique woodland characters bring the fox clans to life.

Woodland Legends is produced in three editions: Ashroot Gold, Cinderleaf Orange, and Fernspire Green, each limited to 999 decks. All three are manufactured with special raw “herbage” tuck stocks made from grass and leafy plant fibers, reinforcing the organic theme of the series. The tuck cases feature embossed landscapes of trees and rolling hills that wrap fully around the box, accented with metallic foil detailing on all sides.

Each edition carries its own distinct back design variation tied to seasonal moments in the story, emphasizing the resources gathered and traded by the clans. The aces feature ornate, organic compositions inspired by fox tails, fern spires, roots, and branching woodland forms.

The two jokers depict the central locations of the narrative: Cinderleaf Castle and Fernspire Forest - anchoring the story’s world within the deck itself.

Printed on premium card stock with a linen finish and finished with metallic edge gilding, Pledge starts at $25 on Kickstarter.

Andersen’s Fairy Tales Playing Cards

Andersen’s Fairy Tales Playing Cards bring the timeless stories of Hans Christian Andersen to life through a fully customized deck created by Room One Cards. Rather than a single deck, Andersen’s Fairy Tales is presented as four distinct editions on Kickstarter, thoughtfully curated to explore different facets of Andersen’s storytelling.

Garnet and Sapphire colorways represent two complementary halves of the author’s creative spirit... one inward and introspective, the other outward and transformative. Each colorway is available in both Standard and Signature editions.

At the heart of the design is the hourglass, a symbol of storytime and fleeting moments. This motif appears prominently on the card backs as an animated flipbook sequence: when the deck is fanned, grains of sand cascade through an ornate hourglass, echoing Andersen’s recurring themes of time, change, and consequence.

The Signature Editions feature selective foil detailing that highlights crowns, wings, armor, and symbolic elements within the artwork, adding a subtle, luminous magic. 

These editions are housed in Room One Cards’ proprietary 3D Accordion Tuck Box, which unfolds into a sculptural, gallery-like presentation. Metallic foil gilded edges further elevate the tactile experience.

The Standard Editions showcase the same complete watercolor illustrations without foil, emphasizing painterly detail and narrative clarity, and are packaged in a classic storybook-style tuck box with an interactive pull-tab design.

Every card in the deck is fully customized. The number cards feature fantastical pips and a bespoke ornate font inspired by fairy-tale lanterns and gilded book edges. Rather than acting as simple symbols, the pips are integrated into miniature narrative scenes, allowing the story world to flow seamlessly through gameplay.

The court cards serve as illustrated storybook portraits. Each edition draws from a curated selection of Andersen’s tales. Garnet editions include characters such as The Snow Queen, The Sandman, The Phoenix, and The Shepherdess and the Chimney Sweep. Sapphire editions feature iconic figures like The Ugly Duckling, The Little Mermaid, The Nightingale, and The Steadfast Tin Soldier.

Rendered in soft, atmospheric watercolor, the courts feel less like traditional royalty and more like moments frozen from a fairy tale. In the Signature Editions, foil accents add depth and visual drama; in the Standard Editions, the artwork shines in its purest form.

Printed by Room One Cards and pledge starts at $17 on Kickstarter.

Deck View: Midnight Camo Playing Cards

Sleek. Striking. Purple.

Midnight Camos by BeJuicy originally printed in 2021, the deck delivers the soft, broken-in handling that cardists and magicians appreciate straight out of the box. The stock offers a smooth flex and responsive snap, making fans shimmer and spreads glide with ease. The metallic ink subtly catches the light across the surfaces, adding depth without overpowering the design.

The primary tuck case is dressed in matte black, contrasted by vivid purple and violet foil that immediately commands attention. The foil detailing shifts in the light, amplifying the deck’s nocturnal, stealth-inspired identity. It’s bold without being loud- more midnight glow than neon flash.

Inside, the card backs carry a camouflage pattern reimagined in the signature purple/violet color-way. The layered camo design feels modern and slightly urban, blending tactical inspiration with a sleek, almost futuristic finish. In motion, the repeating pattern creates dynamic visuals in fans and spreads.

The courts are fully custom and lean into abstraction. Rather than traditional royalty, they appear as ghostly, shape-shifting figures- fluid silhouettes that feel like apparitions emerging from shadow. The stylization gives the deck a mysterious personality while maintaining functional clarity for gameplay.

While the deck comes in multiple variants, the cards themselves remain consistent throughout the series. The differences lie in the tuck boxes... each offering its own visual twist- along with select editions that feature gilded edges for collectors seeking something extra refined. 

Printed by the UPSCC on Bee Crushed Stock and available on BeJuicy for $15.

Issue 105 of Kardify Magazine is now on Patreon!

 

Issue 105 of Kardify Magazine is now on Patreon! Patrons who pledged $3 or more will be able to download the latest issue from our Patreon page. This issue compiles selected articles published from mid-January to mid-February. Deck images, articles, and news to keep you informed and up-to-date with the latest playing card news, releases, and previews. If you love playing cards, you will love Kardify Magazine!

Also, don’t forget to check out our other cool reward tiers on Patreon! The tiers include monthly desktop and smartphone wallpapers, a mystery deck shipped to you every 4 months of ongoing contributions, social media shout-outs, and multiple sponsorship tiers! Check it out!

Funds received from the magazine will help us keep the site running and growing, and bring new quality content to you. Our aim is to support designers by backing crowdfunded projects and supporting magic and playing cards retailers with their new releases. If you want to support us, please head over to our Patreon page. If you have an idea for an article you would like us to pursue, do get in contact with us. We hope you enjoy the read. In this issue:   

+ Shuffled Stories Vol. 2: From Jack Brutus Penny, a thoughtfully designed playing card deck that celebrates the shared history between tarot and playing cards. Check it out!

+ Bicycle Baroque: Drawing inspiration from the Baroque period (1600–1750), this limited edition deck by Mark Stutzman channels the grandeur, drama, and ornamental excess commissioned by Europe’s most powerful monarchies. 

+ Crazy 8's 2026 Edition: The latest release by Jackson Robinson features a whimsical chalkboard-inspired art style, playful on the surface yet layered with meaning. Find out more!

+ Avatar: This Theory11 deck invites you into the bioluminescent world of Pandora, transforming James Cameron’s epic universe into a fully illustrated deck designed to be experienced in the hand. 

+ Bicycle Bluey: A vibrant deck featuring Bluey, Bingo, Bandit, and Chilli  designed to capture the spirit of the beloved animated TV series.

+ Kamiarizuki: Drawing from Japanese mythology, the latest deck from Bloom Playing Cards is inspired by Kami-Ari-Zuki, the sacred “Month With Gods”. Have a look!

+ Year of the Horse: TCC Fashion welcome the 2026 Lunar New Year with an elegant blend of symbolism, craftsmanship, and Eastern aesthetics. Designed as a celebration of new beginnings, this limited edition deck channels hope, momentum, and prosperity.

… and more! 52 pages of articles and deck images. Enjoy!

Liminal Playing Cards by Thirdway Industries

Liminal, a new playing card series that exists beyond the door, suspended in a world that is both hidden and ever-present. This new Thirdway Industries' release will feature two versions of the deck, with final names still to be revealed. The red box edition, adorned with the Two-Faced creature, will feature metallic gilded edges and will be available exclusively to Patreon supporters of Thirdway Industries. 

The foil is luminous, and richly detailed, giving the cards a striking presence in hand. Both versions of the deck will be housed in tuck boxes made with custom specialty paper, enhanced by hot foil stamping and 3D sculpted embossing. This time, the embossing was designed specifically around the architectural form of the box itself, making it an integral part of the design rather than a surface embellishment.

From a design perspective, Liminal represents an experiment in a slightly different direction than Gio's usual work. It leans into surrealism, built on symbolic forms such as Betrayers and Order, but with greater detail and a structure that feels more traditionally “standard” for a deck of playing cards. Much of the visual language draws inspiration from classic French card design, while remaining fully custom throughout. 

The lore of Liminal is intentionally incomplete. It is not meant to be fully explained, only suggested. This ambiguity is central to how Gio approaches storytelling through playing cards. The Liminal World exists beyond the threshold, metaphysical in nature and hidden in plain sight. Within it rule four Genii... Hatred, Insight, Gold, and Blood- figures that serve as kings, sometimes benevolent and sometimes cruel, their true nature never fully fixed.

Alongside them are four Sirens, the queens of this world, whose voices shape its rhythm and tone. They are known as Devout, Serene, Majestic, and Alluring, each singing a different kind of truth. Standing at the threshold are four Guardians: Wise, Bestial, Favored, and Silent. Whether they exist to prevent entry into the Liminal World or to stop something from escaping it remains unclear.

The Jokers take the form of four beings known as the Wanderers, described as gods made flesh... strange, powerful, and incomplete. Only one is revealed for now: the Two-Faced One, a clever and opportunistic figure who shifts with the wind and survives by constant change.

Liminal wee be printed by Kingstar using gold cold foil, a process chosen for its ability to cover large foil areas while preserving extreme precision and fine detail.

Labyrinth Playing Cards on Kickstarter

At first glance, Labyrinth appears restrained... clean lines, familiar structure, a simple deck of cards. It isn’t. Designed by Jackson Robinson of Kings Wild Project, Labyrinth is a puzzle-based playing card deck in which every court card is a fully solvable maze. 

The Kings, Queens, and Jacks are not illustrated in the traditional sense. Instead, they are hidden within the maze itself. Each court card begins as nothing more than an intricate labyrinth: no portraits, no faces, no obvious imagery. Only paths, turns, and dead ends. 

The card offers no visual clues as to what it contains. To reveal the court, the maze must be solved. When the correct path is traced from beginning to end, it resolves into the full form of the King, Queen, or Jack. The portrait is not printed on top of the design, it is formed by the solution. The puzzle and the image are one and the same.

Adding another layer to the concept, the maze solutions and the court figures they create are printed in invisible UV-reactive ink. Under normal lighting, the cards show only the maze structure, with no answers or hints. When exposed to ultraviolet light, the hidden path illuminates and the court figure emerges. What was previously concealed becomes instantly visible, reinforcing the deck’s central theme of discovery.

Originally conceived and drawn over seven years ago, Labyrinth’s full vision was delayed due to the high cost and technical limitations of UV-reactive printing at the time. Recent advancements in printing technology have made the process far more accessible, allowing the concept to be realized as originally intended.

Labyrinth continues Jackson's tradition of detail-driven, concept-forward playing card design. Rather than relying on ornate illustration alone, the deck invites interaction. It rewards patience and attention, offering both a functional pack of cards and a layered puzzle experience within the courts.

Printed by KWPCC and pledge starts at $14 on Kickstarter.  

Bicycle Disney Beauty and the Beast Inspired Playing Cards

Step into the timeless magic of Disney’s classic tale with Bicycle Disney Beauty and the Beast Inspired Playing Cards. Housed in an elegant gold-foiled tuck box, this enchanting deck transforms family game nights into a moment of storybook wonder.

Inside, each court card has been custom-designed to bring beloved characters... Belle, the Beast, Mrs. Potts, and others, to life in stunning detail, while the card backs feature the iconic enchanted rose, adding a touch of fairy-tale charm to every game.

Printed by the USPCC on premium Bicycle cardstock with the signature Air-Cushion finish. Available now for $.12.99 on Cardtopia.

Deck View: Fiamma Rossa Playing Cards

Fiery. Tempting. Opulent.

Fiamma Rossa from Thirdway Industries explores the seductive pull of danger through rich materials and symbolic design. Created as a 2025 Q1 Patreon release, the deck features fully custom faces highlighted with gold cold foil, while the backs shimmer with layered red and gold hot foil. 

Black gilded edges frame the cards, amplifying the dramatic contrast and reinforcing its theme of forbidden allure. The tuck box mirrors the intensity, dressed in multiple layers of foil inside and out, finished with a numbered seal. 

Limited to 1,000 decks and printed by LPCC. Available now for $32 on Thirdway Industries.

Cryptids Playing Cards: Black Shuck & Mothman

Launching on Tuesday 17th February at 4pm UK time (11am EST/8am PST)- the latest campaign from A. Haines Playing Cards: Cryptids Playing Cards: Black Shuck & Mothman.

Combining a long-held love of fantastic creatures with their love of hand-drawn vintage playing cards, the new project from AHPC pays homage to two mythical monsters: from England, the phantom hound Black Shuck, and from the USA, the infamous Mothman, each character being honoured with their own deck of playing cards in a collectable two-deck set, using a colour palette of deep red and black set against aged paper. 

The legend of Black Shuck goes all the way back to the year 1577 when the beast was reported to appear as a terrible form at a village church during a large electrical storm. Reports of the ghostly dog endure up  until the current day, with some witnesses reporting Shuck to be as large as a horse and with burning red or orange eyes, he is often encountered by lone walkers out at night, deep in the countryside of rural Suffolk and Norfolk on the East coast of the UK. 

Mothman first appeared in a graveyard in West Virginia in 1966 and haunted the area around the town of Point Pleasant for a year until the collapse of the Silver Bridge, when he vanished just as abruptly as he had appeared. The legend of Mothman lived on however, and in recent times he has been sighted all across the Great Lakes areas, and is even known to frequent Chicago on a dark, rainy night.  

The courts are original and adapted from a one-way British design, hundreds of years old, here transformed into symmetrical two-way cards for optimum functionality. The entire project is hand-drawn and uses no stock elements or A.I. 

Both decks are housed in matte tuckboxes and printed on premium classic finish by Legends PCC - and available in standard and gilded editions, with Shuck's edges being a matte black and Mothman's being a smooth red. 

Have a look at the pre-launch Kickstarter page here! Early Bird deals will be available during the first 24 hrs of the campaign -  and there will even be one or two extras to look out for on launch day!

Now Available! Bicycle Baroque Playing Cards

Bicycle Baroque Playing Cards are a lavish tribute to an era when opulence was not optional... it was expected. Drawing inspiration from the Baroque period (1600–1750), this limited edition deck by Mark Stutzman channels the grandeur, drama, and ornamental excess commissioned by Europe’s most powerful monarchies. 

At the heart of the deck is a richly reimagined take on Bicycle’s classic Maiden Back. While the original is known for elegance and symmetry, the Baroque edition amplifies it with 17th-century flair. The back design is densely layered with floral motifs, mythical creatures, and angelic figures arranged in perfect symmetry. Metallic gold accents, lace-like borders, and an interior rope frame evoke the look of sculpted plaster ceilings and cathedral reliefs, giving the cards depth and a distinctly old-world presence.

The court cards are where the Baroque theme truly comes alive. Illustrated with ink and watercolor washes, they are fully custom and designed for two-way play. Rather than sticking to the standard four solid color palette, the courts embrace a broader, painterly range inspired by period art. 

Each suit represents a different European monarchy: England (including Scotland and Ireland), France, Denmark, and Spain... reflecting the power struggles, alliances, and rivalries that defined the era. Every court card is captioned, grounding the artwork in real historical figures and inviting deeper exploration of the symbolism behind each character.

The number cards depart from modern conventions in favor of a more archaic aesthetic. Roman numerals replace standard indices, and the elongated, rustic suit symbols are arranged in clusters that feel antique yet readable. This design choice reinforces the deck’s historical tone while maintaining functionality for gameplay.

The Ace of Spades features two mirrored knights locked in a tense sword clash beneath a crown, an image that perfectly captures the uncertainty of power and allegiance during the Baroque age. The “813-ISH” mark pays homage to Bicycle’s original Maiden Back (No. 813), nodding to tradition while embracing reinterpretation. 

The two Jokers are framed to match the courts and presented in a two-way design, one embodying joy, the other sorrow... mirroring the emotional extremes so often depicted in Baroque art.

The tuck box is a statement piece in its own right. Printed by the USPCC on uncoated stock and flooded with warm gold-toned ink, it’s accented with cream and powdery aqua hues. Select decorative elements are stamped in gold foil and subtly embossed, while an additional bronze foil highlights intricate line work. Inside the box, a repeating fleur-de-lis pattern in metallic gold awaits.

Available now on Mark Stutzman's online store for $14.99.