News: The Blue Crown Announces New Playing Card Release- Nautical Playing Cards

Yesterday The Blue Crown teased us with images of an upcoming deck release but left no details. Today the details came with more information on the deck itself including a release date.

Announced today in an event created by The Blue Crown's Alex Pandrea, the new deck is called The Nautical Deck. Designed by artist Edo Huang, The Nautical Deck boasts a heavy sea and ship-inspired theme and will be available in a red and blue back design with nautical design elements such as boat rope, life preservers and other "nautical" type elements. The deck will also be released in a limited edition white back design, which will come with a limited edition tuck case and new Ace of Spades.

If you need more than the design to reel you in, The Nautical Deck is not a USPCC playing card deck. Being printed in Shanghai, China the new deck will be printed on thin playing card stock with an embossed finish. According to The Blue Crown, "the more they are used, the better the cards perform." This is the first time The Blue Crown has used a non-USPCC printer.

It is not clear whether or not what other card decks use this same stock and printer as the Nautical deck. Although just this summer Conjuring Arts Research Center had their new entity's first release Expert Playing Card Co. Global Titans printed in Shanghai as well. Both releases show a search for new products and quality to provide to customers and fans.

The Nautical Deck is set to be released this upcoming Thursday August 29th at 8pm on The Blue Crown's website.

Here is a peak at The Nautical Deck courtesy of The Blue Crown.

Designers: Joshua M Smith of Altruism Playing Cards

Getting hired for a playing card design gig by one of the more successful playing card companies these days is no easy task. Great designers and their ideas are shelved all the time in this industry. We previously heard about how designer Lee McKenzie's first go at Ellusionist was even shelved. It is the nature of any industry that prides itself on only releasing the BEST designs and companies have no problem turning down or shelving great designers. These companies have excellence in their eyes and do not compromise.

Enter Joshua M. Smith, a tough but humble designer with even tougher skills and designs. Joshua is the man behind the design studio, Hydro74. Although Hydro74 is one man studio, Joshua has worked his way from small design jobs to design gigs for some heavy hitting clients all while giving the finger to anyone trying to stomp his style or hold him back.  Joshua knows first hand what it is like working with one of these playing card companies as he has been through the design process with one of the best in the biz, The Blue Crown. He was eventually picked up for a gig that went on to be one of The Blue Crown's most successful projects - Altruism Playing Cards including the very limited, Altruism Snow Owl deck. Currently, the Altruism Snow Owl deck is on Ebay for double the original asking price.


TuckCase spoke with Joshua recently about his work with The Blue Crown and his design career. Read further to get an inside look at the design studio that has accomplished so much yet is just getting started.

Tuck Case: Can you talk a little bit about your design background?
Joshua M. Smith: I’m a college drop out. I never wanted to be a designer. It was just one of those things that came forth out of spite towards my advisers in college. I went to college for elementary education since I wanted the good ol’ suit and tie sort of job and wasn't smart enough to be a lawyer or a doctor. You have got to love redneck DNA. When I found out I was ‘too punk’ for the student teaching part of the degree (I wasn't, I was just dirt poor and shopped at goodwill before the hipsters took it over), I decided to do liberal arts until I decided what the next choice was going to be. I could of stuck with it and changed, but it was the principle of a Christian college being judgmental without consulting me first that I just had to give the middle finger to.

Long story short - I took easy classes in art, drawing and painting just to keep the GPA up. I then discovered a class called visual communications. The professor was learning Adobe Photoshop at the same time the class was so I really  wasn't learning anything revolutionary. However, after posting some stuff online I started to get a gig here and there. Getting $500 to draw shitty anime characters back in 1997-1998 was kind of a big deal. I ended up dropping out shortly after that when my main adviser suggested I take drawing and painting classes instead of focusing on graphic design. I was perplexed because I knew that those classes wouldn't help me land a job or pay the overpriced cost of this school. In the end, I quit and forced myself to learn on my own. I remember doing shirts for $25 to $50 just to be able to get food. I was also working a full time job at Best Buy.

I stuck with it. Several years and several jobs later (from designer, production artist, art director to creative director), I called it quits on that hustle and started my thing full time. I hate the word freelance since it seems lesser than, so technically, I started up my own company Hydro74. The company is just me but I created an LLC (Limited Liability Company) and pushed forward. I've always freelanced but when I went independent more opportunities came forth with working with Hasbro, Lucas Films, Burton Snowboards, Mattel, Nike, Adidas, The Blue Crown and so on and so forth. Not bad for a college drop out.

Tuck Case: How did you team up with The Blue Crown?
Joshua M. Smith: Alex over at The Blue Crown is a great guy. He hit me up a while back when I went on this rampage so to speak of trying to develop playing card backs. Theory 11 contacted me earlier, which eventually went no where. However, it was fun to work with them so getting an email from Alex was exciting since my mindset was already involved in that style. We went back and forth a few times trying to figure out what to develop and we eventually landed on the owl concept. I wish I invested more time into the actual cards rather than the backs, box and a few other tidbits. However,  something is planned soon with The Blue Crown.

Tuck Case: Why didn't the Theory 11 project work out?
Joshua M. Smith: Not sure, they have pretty high standards and this was the first time trying to figure out a deck. I don’t think I nailed what they were looking for. And if I did, I have no clue what or if anything is getting used. They are a great company and always producing amazingly inspiring pieces so hopefully, I’ll get the offer to re-do and create something epic.

Tuck Case: Altruism is an incredible design and highly sought after in the playing card industry, how did this project develop? 
Joshua M. Smith: That I didn't know. I am glad it got a great response in the field. The concept took a bit to figure out. First, we talked about mystical, masonic and secret society hints. However, since I love drawing owls I mocked up a raw concept and Alex really dug it. There is so much symbolism with an Owl but I always used it as a basis of selflessness. Even though the owl is a predator and an individual, as it goes forth with it’s life there is a selflessness or "Altruism" expressed because the needs become habitual and it’s actions are natural and not about proving anything.

We still threw in hints of different symbolism in the deck, but one thing I enjoyed most with working with The Blue Crown is the fact that they allowed me to make this deck mine. This was my first time doing this project so I’m excited to see what we can do next.

Images of Altruism courtesy of TheBlueCrown.com:

Tuck Case: You posted some playing card back designs on Behance that weren't used, can you talk a little bit about some of the designs that didn't get used? Any plans to use them in the future?
Joshua M. Smith: Those designs came from me just exploring some ideas. I guess it can be considered bait in a way to get The Blue Crown to say "lets do this."  Actually, I love working with symmetry and ornate objects so designing playing cards is a great practice. A few of those designs turned into or will turn into silk screen prints.

Tuck Case: In your first response after being asked to do this interview with us you mention playing cards is an area you are looking to get into more, have you ever considered Kickstarter.com or any other avenues to release your own deck?
Joshua M. Smith: I have actually. One thing that is planned is a portfolio deck. I just wish I was good at marketing.


A lot of illustrations will change on that design, but the goal was to create something I can give to clients that is unique and different but is still all me. It will be something that defines what I’m into but is something that they can use even if they choose not to hire me. It can serve as more of a constant reminder that I am wanting to work with them. Also, it is great for friends and fans of my work. Ultimately, it will show something different than the norm.

My goal with the kickstarter project (if it ever happens) is to create two decks. A design that is just over the top, but also a portfolio deck or a design that shows my work and range as an artist. I also want to make gold coins, silk screen prints and stickers as bribes or add-ons for the backer list. It is just a matter of finding someone to help me put together a video, the right connections with USPCC and moving forward.

Tuck Case: Do you have any favorite playing card decks?
Joshua M. Smith: Yes I do. It is a deck that I got as a kid from my step dad. It’s a set of naked girls. You have got to love that 80’s hair and adult ‘fro'.

Tuck Case: You mention on your website being ripped off or having your work traced by lazy designers, is this something you run into a lot? What kind of advice can you give artists looking to protect their own work from being ripped off?
Joshua M. Smith: Sadly, there isn't much you can do. I’m not a fan of legal since it’s never been about protecting people but protecting people who have money. I come from the old school concept that design has ethics. It is not a religious idea or spiritual standard, but a common core of respect and knowing what you can do and what you shouldn't do. We are all inspired and emulate, but it is the people who directly steal a piece for their own selfish gain. Those people should have their hands broken with a hammer. Well, maybe not that directly, but the lack of ethics in what we do only makes things worse.

My advice is just get a good fan base that believes in you and has no problem calling people out when something is truly stolen. IF it is a higher company then you can take legal action, but good luck with that. Sadly, there isn't much we can do except bitch. It is really a sad state for designers who want to protect themselves.

Tuck Case: What kind of music do you listen to when you design? Any favorite bands?
Joshua M. Smith: My music tastes are all over the place. I tend to always resort to stuff I grew up with. Siouxsie and the Banshees, Dead Kennedys, Front242, Dead Can Dance... I am also into electro crap and classical music if I am in the mood... Most of the time it is just whatever playlist I’m listening too at the time.

Tuck Case: A question I ask all designers, what advice can you give someone looking to design their own custom deck of cards?
Joshua M. Smith: Just do it, do it again, then keep doing it again and again. The more you discover in techniques, the better off you get. Post it online and people will find you. If you have a solid idea, contact them. Eventually, the right opportunities will arrive.

Personally, I wish there was a good site or blog that showed nothing but designs and the designers who did the designs. There is so much history, symbolism, beauty and insight in seeing what people have done before that could inspire something more glorious years to come. The past has built the road, but now it is up to us to honor and respect that road and make it better.

Check out Joshua's design studio -  Hydro74 

News: The Blue Crown Releases Crown Luxury Deck: Diamond Edition (Only 2500 Printed)

Tonight on 12/26 The Blue Crown released the next playing card deck in their Crown Luxury Series and it is limited to only 2,500 decks. The new deck, which is dubbed the Diamond Edition, was designed by Randy Butterfield and boasts a brilliant white, silver and gold color scheme. According the The Blue Crown, the "faces are a classic Arrco design with custom coloring on the court cards."  They also custom designed the Ace of Spades and Jokers.

With the release of the Luxury Diamond Edition, The Blue Crown has released an even more limited edition deck that they are calling handmade. According to The Blue Crown, "This special deck features a real metal plaque autographed by Alex Pandrea (The Blue Crown Founder) instead of the gold foil plaque found on the main Diamond deck. The Handmade deck also has a custom sticker seal, and comes inside a custom Pack Jacket, also rendered in brilliant white and gold with an autographed plaque."

Kevin Reylek Talks Kickstarter and House of Playing Cards

A couple of days before Randy Butterfield launched his latest project, Imperial, last week on 8/13 he posted a letter regarding the way it would be released. Earlier this Summer it was announced that House Of Playing Cards (HOPC), part of The Blue Crown Network, would take on the full release but in Randy's letter we were made aware that both Randy and HOPC changed directions and Imperial would launch on Kickstarter. This would be the company's first attempt at a Kickstarter project. It was something that came as a surprise as well as a blessing given some of the scams that took place on Kickstarter in the past year. The letter also left some very important questions about the state of HOPC and where they were headed, which you can read here in our response to Randy's letter. After all, the majority of fans felt HOPC was a Kickstarter alternative and vice versa. As mentioned, it was surprising to see them join Kickstarter train but overall, it was a positive response.

When Imperial eventually launched on the 13th, funding  took a steady pace. In less than a week the project reached the funding goal of $10,000. It was no surprise. However, the questions about HOPC still lingered.... until now!  This week we spoke with HOPC and The Blue Crown's Director of Production, Kevin Reylek, about Kickstarter, HOPC and how everything fits together. Read further as Kevin lifts the veil on their world at HOPC, The Blue Crown and you will ultimately learn their thoughts on one of the biggest marketing tools in playing card history - Kickstarter....

Tuck Case: With Randy Butterfield's Imperial Deck being launched on Kickstarter, is this something we will see more often going forward with House Of Playing Card (HOPC) releases?
Kevin Reylek: Additional Kickstarter campaigns from HOPC are certainly not out of the question. Doing the Imperial project with Randy is obviously a sort of testing ground for us.  Depending on how it goes (and whether or not we find [out if] it's easier or more complicated than a more standard release format) will determine if we continue to use Kickstarter in the future.

Tuck Case: What are your thoughts on how Kickstarter has changed the playing card scene?
Kevin Reylek: Kickstarter has undoubtedly changed the playing card market. It's allowed anyone with strong design skills to offer their art to the community for very minimal risk. Also, it lets the market decide. If a design is weak and nobody wants it, the campaign will not be successful. If the design is great and everyone loves it, it will be a smash. It also helps to eliminate some guesswork. Instead of a creator just blindly running 2.5k, 5k, or 10k decks, they can see how much demand exists and print accordingly.

So for the most part, I'd say that Kickstarter is a good thing.  Naturally, there are some drawbacks. For example, those who are good designers, but lack the business skills to see the project through to the end, or don't have the time/facilities to ship large quantities in a timely manner.  But for a well-organized and motivated individual, it's a great platform.

Tuck Case: Out of the decks that you see launch on Kickstarter, do a lot of them come to you for funding first?
Kevin Reylek: Some decks come to us first, some don't. I would say that a majority of the decks that are on Kickstarter do not come to us first.

Tuck Case: Why do you think some designers opt to try Kickstarter instead of trying to go through House Of Playing Cards for a release?
Kevin Reylek: It could be because the creators have not heard of us, or they simply like the Kickstarter environment. If a creator wants to do a really limited and specialized release with a lot of community feedback, Kickstarter is a good place for that. Others have their own brand/market strategies that they want to pursue.

Tuck Case: Some designers have made mention that they do not get approved or picked for release through House Of Playing Cards, what is the approval process like at HOPC?
Kevin Reylek: We would love to say "Yes" to a lot more projects at HOPC.  At the end of the day, we are one small company, and we can only produce so many designs per year. We get a TON of submissions coming in daily. We have to say "No" to several designs simply because of volume issues. I think if you were to send all of our submissions and divide them amongst us, Dan & Dave, Ellusionist, Theory 11, and Conjuring Arts, we still could not produce them all.

Luckily, we are not the only game in town. People have many different options to produce their decks. Naturally, we love for people to submit their designs to us, and highly encourage it. But if we can't accept a deck for one reason or another, we hope that people will still find a way to share it with others.

Tuck Case: What advice can you give designers looking to submit their designs/ideas to you?
Kevin Reylek: For those who are wondering what to submit, I'd say that they should keep an eye on our site and see what kinds of things we've already been producing. Designs like Americana, Mechanic, Curator, and Ornate. All wildly different, but all equally awesome. We're looking for designs that will make us (and others) say "Wow." We're also looking for something new. A design may be well-executed on a technical level, but just be too similar in theme/design to something else that has already been produced. Generally, we're not looking to re-do what's already been done, we want to break new ground.

Tuck Case: When a deck is submitted and approved by HOPC, who ends up owning the artwork or is this a case by case basis?
Kevin Reylek: Artwork ownership is mixed on the site. If we approach an artist and commission them to design a deck for us (like we did with the Crown deck, Vaudeville deck, and a few others) then we usually retain those rights. For submitted decks that come to us fully-formed, we usually leave the ownership with the creator, and HOPC is simply granted the printing rights for decks. This allows the artist to also produce other related items on the side; like posters, t-shirts, etc....

Tuck Case: Recently, you released the Summer NOC through The Blue Crown Summer Club and then the mass release through House of Playing Cards. How do decide whether to release a deck through House of Playing Cards or The Blue Crown or through both?
Kevin Reylek: Deciding which site a particular deck is featured on depends on several factors. One big factor is who we think a deck will appeal to - magicians or collectors. Obviously there's some overlap there but generally, we find that collectors are into the more fancy, 100% custom designs like Randy's ORNATE series. Magicians tend to be looking for something a little more standard that they can use for all of their effects. A good example there would be the White Aladdins. The special stack and other features that we put into the Aladdins are GREAT for magicians. But a collector could probably care less what order the cards are in.  What other decks we have in the pipeline and where we think they'll fit best are also factors in deciding which decks go on which site - or if they're featured on both.

Ornate deck released through HOPC in 2012. 

White Aladdins released through The Blue Crown in the Summer of 2013.

Kevin continues....
Ultimately, we created HOPC as a solution to allow artists to be artists. Some artists want to wear multiple hats and create the deck, plan the marketing, do the shipping, etc. But there are many more who do not want to do that. They want to share their art with the world, but the thought of having to do all of the other "Stuff" can be daunting. We want to raise the bar and push the envelope with playing cards. We originally put ourselves out there to artists as an alternative to Kickstarter, but over the past year and a half, we've realized that Kickstarter does not need to be excluded. We can still provide excellent design and marketing feedback, shipping services, etc, while still offering the community involvement and broad audience that Kickstarter provides.

When I first created the Lefty deck about 4 years ago, I did not have a social funding option, and the minimum print run at USPCC was five thousand decks. I had to fund that run out of my own pocket, and ship all of the decks myself. If an option like HOPC had existed then, I would've jumped at the chance.  I can speak from experience in saying that I do not want to personally ship thousands of decks by myself ever again!

Editor's note: The Lefty Deck was just re-released on HOPC in mid-July.  

It is interesting to highlight a key point that Kevin brought up - HOPC gets a ton of submissions (answered in question 5) but only a small amount end up on Kickstarter (answered in question 3). Since HOPC does not put out decks on a weekly basis, the new question is - Where are those decks that were not released? The only people that can answer that question would be the designers and people that submitted those designs in the first place. It is a shame that there are means for people to release decks by using Kickstarter but they are not being brought to that market. Kickstarter is extremely "crowded" and it is amazing that it could get even more crowded if these designers moved forward. Some designers move forward but it seems that the majority don't. What does everyone think about that? Does this open doors for new opportunities? 

Designers: Interview with Randy Butterfield of Midnight Card Company

Randy Butterfield is one of the playing card industry's most dynamic designers. By day he works in product/display design and by night he works on some of the industry's most sought after designs. So sought after that two of his decks are currently sold out. With news of another deck on the way, we got in touch with Randy to see if he would be interested in doing an interview about his career and with his involvement in the playing card industry. Randy agreed and gave us insight into a lot more than just his playing card designs. If you are a young designer looking to make your mark in this world, Randy's insight and knowledge can serve as great advice to your budding career. Read further for the interview, Randy's designs and even some family photos....

Tuck Case: How long have you been a designer?

Randy Butterfield: Well, I graduated from Central Michigan University in 1995 with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Graphic Design. During the first few years after college I was working in the pre-press department of a print shop in Toledo, OH. I learned a lot about how to build clean files for print and how to fix any file problems that could bring any postscript printer to it's knees (you would not believe how bad some of these "print" files were built)! That job really molded how I work to this day.

While in Toledo I would also freelance design for some local clubs and did a lot of design for a local Music Magazine called The Glass Eye. In 2000 I moved to San Francisco and found my dream job with Motive Marketing (www.motivemktg.com). I met my wife in California and around six years ago we moved to Indianapolis to start a family in the midwest. I continue to work at home for Motive during the day, and then work on any personal projects and card designs at night after my wife and kids are sleeping - the main reason for the name "Midnight Cards".



Tuck Case: How did you get into playing cards?

Randy Butterfield: Seeing the Kickstarter project of a fellow Indy designer is what inspired me to create my own Deck. It was Adam Clarkston's Revision 1 Deck back in August 2011 (it's sad to see what's happened with Adam's Army Men Deck). After seeing the KS project, I searched around and found the playing card forums and the various playing card & magic companies. Shortly after, I got to work on the Ornates with the goal to design a very unique deck that could still be playable.

Editor's note: Long story short, The Army Men Deck was successfully funded on Kickstarter last fall. However, Due to various reasons in and out of the creator's control, it was unable to be completed. 

Tuck Case: Do you have any favorite playing card decks?

Randy Butterfield: I enjoy collecting all varieties of playing cards. Some of the more recent decks I like include Artisans, Bohemia, Curator, Origins, Aurum and Federal 52. I feel that even a deck with re-colored standard courts can be a real piece of art. The Back Design and AOS (Ace of Spades) on the Artisans are unbelievably beautiful!

The only type of decks I don't get into much are the comic-style illustrations found on a lot of the mediocre Kickstarter decks. I'm hit or miss when it comes to minimal designs. They have to be done extremely well to be worth the price of admission.

Tuck Case: How has your work with Motive Marketing prepared you for designing playing cards? Any challenges?

Randy Butterfield: Even though we're a very small team at Motive, we churn out a ton of work for some demanding and high-profile clients. After spending the day working on anywhere from 8-14 projects, all with tight deadlines and unique challenges, it's refreshing and peaceful to switch gears to work on cards at night. The best luxury of working at night is the absence of distractions - no phone calls, e-mails or kids beating each other up (the downside of working from home during the day). I may only work a couple hours a night, but it's definitely some of my most productive work throughout the entire day!

Tuck Case: How is designing for alcohol clients different from playing card design?

Randy Butterfield: Almost all of the work for my day job eventually has to get approved by our client who needs the work, lawyers within the spirits company and sometimes even a brand team. The brand teams get involved if we're working on a large program or if it's something that will be used nationally for a big brand like Absolut or Jameson.

Some of Randy's Alcohol packing designs (Click on link to view full size):

 

Designing playing cards is a relief from the hectic day. The challenge is finding the happy medium of working enough each night to feel creatively satisfied and also not too much to make me exhausted the next day. My wife always lets me know when it reaches that point! I'll definitely be taking a nice break after the Imperial designs are finished up.

Randy's Wife, Susan, and Kids

Tuck Case: How many playing card decks have you designed? Which ones are they?

Randy Butterfield: Soon it will be four overall deck designs. A couple of them have color variations to add to the number, but it's really just the Ornate Series, the Blue Crown Luxury Decks, the United Cardists Deck and the upcoming Imperial Deck.

Tuck Case: Your first deck, Ornate, was distributed by HOPC (House of Playing Cards), how did you get hooked up with HOPC?

Randy Butterfield: In January of 2012, I posted some images of the Ornates onto The Discourse forum and got some very positive responses. A week or two later I received a PM from Kevin Reylek of The Blue Crown. He informed me about a new company (House of Playing Cards) they were starting that would concentrate on custom playing cards from designers and artists all over the world. It sounded very promising, so I signed on!

Tuck Case: Ornate is currently out of stock on HOPC, will it be printed and sold again?

Randy Butterfield:  All I can say is the original series of four will never be reprinted.

Tuck Case: A lot of decks are put out today with Kickstarter, is there a reason you chose to not use Kickstarter for Ornate?

Randy Butterfield: At first the plan was to go with Kickstarter. After learning about HOPC, I decided it was worth the wait to see how it played out (it was still months away from the site launch and the Ornates were in line after the launch Decks).

Being part of the HOPC "family" has been a real thrill ride. I have absolutely no regrets on the decision of going with HOPC over Kickstarter.



Tuck Case: How did you get involved with the Blue Crown Luxury deck project?

Randy Butterfield:  Shortly after the Ornates' release Kevin mentioned that they were planning to do a Luxury version of their Crown Deck. He asked if I was interested in designing it, and I jumped at the opportunity!

It was exhilarating working for The Blue Crown. Alex Pandrea served as the Creative Director for the project and had a great vision of how he wanted the deck to look. After the rigorous work on the Ornates it was a relief to concentrate solely on a few elements - Tuck Box, Back Design, AOS, Jokers and re-colored Arrco Faces.



Tuck Case: A question I like to ask all interviews - What advice can you give someone looking to create and produce a deck?

Randy Butterfield: I've noticed a lot of young designers trying to create decks for Kickstarter. My advice to the younger designers would be to go to college and try to become successful in the design industry before trying to tackle something as daunting as a deck of playing cards. If I would've attempted this when I was young it would've been horrible! Of course, nowadays some kids think they're fluent in Photoshop before they're even out of high school. I'm old. I still remember working with Photoshop 2.0 while at CMU. No layers!

I guess another piece of advice I would suggest is to checkout the designs from the card and magic companies. Designers should look at the company decks to gauge the level of quality to strive for, not Kickstarter. For every one beautiful Kickstarter deck, like Federal 52, there's about four or five eyesores, like the Brite Neon Deck.

In the coming weeks we will be releasing news about Randy's upcoming playing card deck called Imperial. 

In the meantime, check out Midnight Card Company on Facebook.

Here are some more of Randy's designs:

EXCLUSIVE: Sky Island Airways Playing Cards by the Blue Crown

Multiple new Black Friday ads have been posted around the internet in the last few days, but none is as intriguing as those from the Blue Crown. The teaser ad features vintage photos of a luxury airline called Sky Island Airways. Little is known about this particular airlines and scouring the internet did not turn up much...

Except for this one little write-up on The News:

In the 1960s, a luxury airline called Sky Island Airways offered an exclusive getaway unlike any other. Passengers were whisked away on private jets to a secluded tropical island known only as "Sky Island". The island offered the very best in food, drink, entertainment, and relaxation. The airline served no other destinations - it was devoted purely to bringing customers to paradise. 

With a small fleet of aircraft and only 10 occupants allowed on the island at one time, it was truly a privilege to access this modern Eden. 

One day, it all vanished. The planes, the airline, and even the island itself. The only evidence that it had ever existed was a supply of the playing cards that were handed out to passengers during each flight. 

To this day, nobody knows exactly what happened to Sky Island or the airline. Did the island sink to the bottom of the ocean, bringing the planes with it? Was it a hoax? A dream?

Thanks to the Blue Crown, here's an exclusive first look at the Sky Island Airways playing cards that have been amazingly preserved for nearly five decades.

More images and information in Part II of this exclusive reveal. Stay tuned!

First Look: Check Out the Stunning 2018 NPCCD Playing Cards

For those of you who didn't know, it's National Playing Card Collection Day (NPCCD) today (October 17th)! NPCCD celebrates the collection of one of the oldest forms of portable art (circa 1200s). Playing cards are literal galleries of art and inspiration, showing and communicating the intentions of an artist to the public while also archiving the cultural values of their time. Collecting these art pieces allow us to be curators of our own galleries to display representing different checkpoints in time. These collections can be seen as extensions of the collector and this day is a time to celebrate and share their collections to the public.

To celebrate this special day, Alex Chin has released the 2018 Official NPCCD Deck. The deck was first unveiled during the 52 Plus Joker Convention in Cleaveland, Ohio. On the design inspiration, Alex said,

The design started with the initial sketches that led me to play around with the classic Vase or Face illusion that deals with foreground and background perception. From there the design theme got further entrenched into the idea of playing with perspective on a level that we have not yet seen before in the card world. I wanted to create something TRULY special that others haven’t seen before and ended up creating the 2018 NPCCD series featuring the world’s first light filter deck that literally changes design based on the box that you receive.

The theme of the series is about PERSPECTIVE and what we see. Since the holiday is about sharing with the world how we see cards as art, Alex created a piece that displayed that sentiment. The result is a truly remarkable deck that literally changes your perspective based on the filter each person sees noting that we can see the same design differently based on these filters.

The deck is fully custom and meticulously designed. The back design features a mobius strip that reveals a sphere of 2 heads. Inside the head of one person is the exterior head of another represented by different colors. Small suit symbols hide in them and are revealed to show what they are thinking about which change based on which “reality box” you use. There is a crown above each head and a line of chess pieces that head the top and bottom of the card. They are interspliced with one another to mimic columns.

The Aces is meant to blend the lines where the box stops and the cards begin. It shows through the front facing window. Each bulb of the club holds a different chess piece. In total it holds 6 different chess pieces but will only show specific ones based on which reality it is in. The red filter boxes will show the King while the blue filter boxes feature the Queen.

The beautiful tuck box features gold and silver intaglio engraving onto astral pearl stock that exudes a feeling of luxury. Each box contains 2 large die-cut windows featuring either a red or blue “worldview” that shows the deck inside. According to Alex,

The color of this window is what determines the design of your deck. The tuck flap is a side loading custom die that is shaped like the famous ribbon face. It is part of the innovative “kinetic diecut window” I designed which allows the diecut to change shape through layering. The opened window shows more information on the cards. When closed it completes the illusion of a pawn chess piece between the faces.

There are 6 different decks! Each one represented by a different chess piece shown on the back. 2 decks feature all red filter box. 2 decks feature all blue filter box. 2 decks feature a mix of one red and one blue filter on the box.

The white and black decks are hand gilded in red, blue, and holographic. Only 500 of each deck is run. Orders are mystery deck. You don’t know what color you will get. There will be a Special Supporter pricing for the first 48 hours. Head to NationalCardCollectionDay.com on October 17th to cop these stunning decks. Don't miss out!

News: The Bicycle Inspire Red Deck by The Blue Crown

The Blue Crown released three decks of playing cards this holiday season. The first is the Bicycle Inspire Red deck. Designed by Randy Butterfield of Midnight Cards, the concept is to have a deck that will motivate you to do whatever you want. Alex Pandrea, founder of the Blue Crown told Kardify,

I wanted to have a deck that means something rather than just slap a generic logo on each side of the back design like everyone does. Nobody has any creativity or care about what their playing cards mean to them or their customers. I really tried to change that. FIRST is to instill a childlike feeling of the first time you achieved something- like riding a bicycle. You might fall, but you get up. you might doubt yourself but you find the confidence to get on it and achieve your goal.

For Alex, the Bicycle cards as a brand have lost any sense of meaning. Alex continued,

I'm trying to put a feeling back into this brand. The phrase Never Give Up on the back relates to how we should all live our lives from the time you first got on a bicycle to right now holding a deck of cards in your hand and wanting to perform magic for the crowd. Never give up on whatever you want to do. 

Crafted for the magicians in mind, the Bicycle Inspire Red deck features standard court cards, simplistic card back, a bold custom Ace of Spades, custom Joker, a gaff card and the deck is fully marked. Perfect for everyday use! 

Available now from thebuecrown.com for only $5.95!

Collections: Boardwalk Papers by The Blue Crown

Inspired by the Carnival atmosphere of the classic American Boardwalk, Boardwalk Papers by The Blue Crown did a truly stellar job capturing the "Atmosphere" of Coney Island and all of those other wonderful sea side summer walk ways that feature entertainment, food and fun.

The color palette used on this deck is a perfect fit to the inspiration, the earthy tuck paper color with it's beautiful typography and intricate line work just pop off the surface with some nice embossing and gold foil accents. The interior design is awesome, going with warmer colors and staying away from any stark white, really helps the look and feel of the presentation of the deck. The matching striped seal just finish the package really well.

The back design is spot on with it's mirrored ferris wheel design and continuing the intricate line work. The back also features a well balanced and designed frame to tie all the design elements together. The fan like design in the corners, which can also be a carry over of the ferris wheel design anchors not only the look but the overall concept of Boardwalk Papers.

Boardwalk Papers also feature a custom Ace of Spades and a set of Jokers, all of which pull heavily on typography. The pips and court cards remain pretty much standard in the deck, which should please those looking for familiarity in their playing cards, but have a bit more "Eye Candy" than a completely standard deck.

For me the biggest attraction to Boardwalk Papers is the perfect presentation of the concept. Some decks have flashes of what their trying to be or depict, but Boardwalk Papers truly nails what it's about in a really well thought out deck. At first glance there is no need to explain the deck, you know exactly what it's going for. Printed by the Expert Playing Card Co. which continues to open possibilities to designers and artists to make the end result a perfect match to the vision they had in mind. Still available in the market for about $10.00 USD, Boardwalk Papers is a really nice deck that shows some attention was spent on the project as a whole and not just a unique back design. Worth picking up as an addition to your collection as well as a unique usable deck of playing cards.


The Collection segment is produced by Anthony Ingrassia of Kardify. No part of this article, images or video can be reproduced without written permission from the author and Kardify.com. 

News: The Story Behind Alex Pandrea's X-Deck

Ok... where do I begin with this one? The X-Deck is an Uber-Limited deck with only 250 decks in circulation and is the third deck released following the Bicycle Inspire Red and the NOC Outs Black Edition. Not much is known about this deck when it was released as part of the Blue Crown holiday giveaway. So we asked Alex Pandrea, founder of the Blue Crown about the design and the significance of the 3 X's.

This deck was designed to celebrate my 30th birthday. X is 10, and 3 X's is 30 - DUH lol... ALSO I was born on October 10th (10/10).... and at 10:00 ... so that's another 3 10's. You can see how all this comes together - enough said haha..!

The tentative name given is the X-Deck. Alex continued,

I am familiar of another x deck on the market so I might change the name not to have this confused with other "deck"... if you can even call it that.

This limited edition deck is given free when you spend $100 on the Blue Crown's 2017 holiday event promotion. Head to theBlueCrown.com and grab a bargain, particularly the EXCLUSIVE NOC 9 Pack for a cool $35! 

News: House of Playing Cards to Release Limited Summer NOC v2 Playing Cards

Exclusively released in early July for members of The Blue Crown's Summer Club, the Summer NOC v2 Playing Cards have finally been given a release date for the masses or until they are all gone.  In a Facebook event created by Alex Pandrea of the House Of Playing Cards (Part of The Blue Crown Network) tonight on July 31, the NOC v2 Playing Cards are set to be released for purchase on August 6th at HouseOfPlayingCards.com.

Here is the official announcement courtesy of Alex Pandrea's Facebook Event:

We are happy to announce limited-edition Summer versions of the NOC v2 deck in bright orange and light blue! 

A VERY limited number of each color have been made, and they will never be reprinted! These beauties will be available at 8PM eastern time on Tuesday, August 6th at www.houseofplayingcards.com. 

For the first time ever with a NOC deck, we will also be offering collectible BRICK BOXES for those who purchase 12 decks! The brick boxes will be available in solid colors only.

Like the other NOC v2 decks, the Summer NOCs feature thin borders, simplified and re-colored court cards, and feature a hidden marking system that allows you to determine the SUIT of each card. Every purchase includes a free video download starring Alex Pandrea that teaches you how to use the marking system, as well as the duplicate card that's included with every deck. 

The release is also coupled with a few contests in order to win free Summer NOC v2 decks.

The Summer NOC v2, which come in light blue and orange, join the rest of the NOC v2 collection that already has 5 color variants. With the addition of the Summer colors, this makes the NOC v2 the custom deck with the most color variations.  The original NOC v2 are not limited release and can be found on both TheBlueCrown.com and HouseOfPlayingCards.com.

[Updated] News: Black Friday Offer, Deals and New Releases 2015

Black Friday is just around the corner, which means your favourite retailers from Ellusionist, Theory11, Dan and Dave, Conjuring Arts, the Blue Crown and more... will be slashing their prices!

From special discounts to new releases, we will bring you everything you need to know about Black Friday, and also give you some information about Cyber Monday. Information will be added as and when it comes in.

Conjuring Arts Research Centre

Two new releases, Red Royal ZEN and Liars & Thieves. The ZEN features black foil on the card back genies and a beautifully embossed pearl-finished tuck.

The Liars and Thieves deck is designed by Odysseas Spiliotis. The deck features a synthetic tuck, a custom Ace of Spades and borderless courts, which is a modified set of Expert's standard courts. The card backs reflective of the timeless circular pattern design that give the deck its signature appeal. No doubt a very versatile deck suitable for the working magician and poker players.

Finally, a half-brick box will be offered at a Black Friday Special price of $6.00, the half brick box will also be offered for FREE with any purchase of 6 decks or more.

Collectable Playing Cards 

Offering 15% off storewide from Friday through to Monday. Use coupon code BF15 during checkout.

Stockholm17 

Various deals on 3 decks, bricks and split half-bricks of Heretic/Requiem.

Theory11

It's hard to keep up with all the releases from Theory11, their Black Friday offerings are simply stunning! The highlight is the fully customised UNIONS Playing Cards, designed by Jay Fletcher - the same designer who brought you the stunning Rarebit Playing Cards. Priced at $9.95.

Also teased on their social media outlets are the Red and Gold Monarchs. Any shipped order of over $100 will include the Gold Monarchs.

David Blaine

Releasing the Black Lions Playing Cards, beautifully illustrated by Mark Stutzman. We reckon these will go pretty fast like all his other releases. $7 per deck.

Also 30% off storewide!

Art of Play

On top of the customary Black Friday discount, two new playing cards releases this year: the DKNG Studio's Red Wheel Playing Cards and Camp Cards by Bradley Mountain.

20% off everything. Coupon code: BLACK

Three of Clubs & Kardify

50% off storewide from Friday through to Monday. If you missed out on the stunning Limited Edition Aquila Playing Cards, now's your chance!

The Blue Crown 

New release of the NOC Signature Series by Dani DaOrtiz feature Erdnase Green colour and like the White NOCs, fully marked. Also, the Black Friday (500 limit) by Alex Pandrea and Edo Huang.

WhisperingImps

30% off storewide! Sign-up on the site to receive the newsletter for the discount code.

Thirdway

Some CRAZY deals from Thirdway Industries... from the fun EVIL deck to the extremely gorgeous OMNIA. Discounts up to 40%.

Metropol Cards 

If you've missed these eye-catching decks, up to 50% off various items at Metropol Cards.

Card Experiment 

40% off everything through the weekend. Use promocode: BLACK40OFF