by 
Prism Night Box and Ace
Hold on to your holly-hocks!!!! There’s a new kid on the block and he has hit the Playing Card World with full force. Ben Jones, from the very promising new Australian design company Elephant Playing Cards, has released his first ever playing card deck onto Kickstarter and it’s (as they say) a real beaut! Please allow me to introduce the ‘Prism: Night’ deck of playing cards. Continue reading
by 
by I’m thrilled to say that after reading my review on their ‘Back to the Asylum’ playing card deck, which is being funded on Kickstarter right now, designer Milan Colovic and Roman Kotiv from NoirArts very kindly agreed to do an interview with me. To those of you who don’t know the full story, you can click here for more details, and to read my review. To those of you who are familiar with the original story, please enjoy…… :)
Back to the Asylum
by 
by 
Glassbacks Playing Cards by Simon Bruna & Hyun Yoo
I know what you’re going to say, and you’d be absolutely right – I DON’T normally go for the ‘minimalist’ type designs of playing cards. But these ones struck me. Struck me good. The Glassbacks Playing Cards designed by Simon Bruno and artist Hyun Yoo are, well, just, different. Admittedly, the design elements of this deck are only on the backs, Jokers, Ace of Spades and the tuck box itself. All the pips are just ‘standard’, which (yes, I know you’re screaming at me right now) I’m always saying that I don’t like in current decks. But Glassbacks was very quickly forgiven because just look how striking that stained glass design is, and the bold primary colours just make it all pop. Continue reading
by 
by 
The Hallucinatory Deck of Playing Cards is being funded right now on Kickstarter and this is sure to be a deck worth checking out. It’s already past it’s funding goal of $4000 but there’s only 6 days left to go before funding closes so I’d get in there quick if I were you.
The makers, Newt’s Playing Cards, have used psychedelic yellows, greens and pinks coupled with glow-in-the-dark inks to make this one extra special deck. There are pipes, googly eyes, crazy patterns and barcodes on both the front and back of these cards with a dazzling black background, making them super weird to look at and nearly impossible to stare at for too long before becoming nauseous. {How they ever expect anyone to get through a game of Gin Rummy I’ll never know….. sigh..} Continue reading
by 
by 
Bicycle Club Tattoo Spread
I love tattoos. Don’t actually HAVE any of my own. But I love them. I just hate pain… Which is why the Bicycle ‘Club Tattoo’ deck of playing cards is perfect for someone like me. I watch ALL the shows. It started with Miami Ink (love Chris Garver) then LA Ink because Kat Von D left and opened up her own shop – and she does the most amazing black and grey portrait tattoos – and now I can’t get enough of Tattoo Nightmares.
For those of you who haven’t seen it, it’s a TV show based in a tattoo shop in Los Angeles, where the 3 tattoo artists – Jasmine, Big Gus and Tommy – basically cover up old, embarrassing or artistically inept tattoos of its’ customers. It’s not actually a ‘real’ shop, it’s just a front for the show, but the artists are real and the tattoos they cover up are very, VERY real….. When I think back to the different tattoos I’ve wanted over the years but my fear wouldn’t permit me to get, I am soooo relieved that I’m not having to go get cover-ups done because there’d be plenty…. Sylvester the Cat being one of them…. :/ But I digress. Back to the review. Continue reading
by 
by ** Gory Images Alert **
Ok, I know we’re all adults here (maybe) but I had to pre-empt this review with a warning – these cards are not to everyone’s taste. But they are definitely to mine, especially when you know the story behind their design.
So, you’re still reading….? Good. I shall continue. You may get settled because this is my longest review to date.
by 
by
Pippoglyph Playing Cards Jack of Spades
I am very proud to be the owner of the First Edition of the Pippoglyph deck by Ben Crenshaw, now of Bent Castle Workshops. When my deck was printed in 2004 it was the first time I had ever seen a completely bespoke deck – not only the back but each and every card was designed from scratch. I loved that. This deck excited me and I had to have it. Continue reading
by 
by 
Karnival Inferno Box
The ‘Karnival Inferno’ playing cards deck by French graphic design artist Sam Hayles is one very special pack of cards. Printed on USPCC Bicycle stock – though for some reason unbranded – with their famous air flow finish, these cards are a pleasure to handle.
Each card has been meticulously designed with skulls, fire, Egyptian hieroglyphics and an ominous sense of the macabre on each one – including the pip cards. The deck has an aged look about it and the tuckcase is made to look like an old book – maybe the Devil’s naughty or nice list…? The court cards have a very unique feel in that instead of holding swords, axes, flowers, staffs and whatnot, they are each holding a pitchfork. To top off the devilish look they each have demonic red eyes too. Continue reading
by 
