Feminist Playing Cards is a project from Homoground, a music website that promotes visibility for minority musicians. The deck features custom illustrations of 52 feminist musicians drawn by 14 feminist artists. Some of the musicians featured include Joan Jett, Liz Fair, Nina Simone, Loretta Lynn, Joni Mitchell, Grace Jones, PJ Harvey, and more. Each card is different. This is a 56 card deck, with two jokers, still sealed in its original package. The tuck box is not a standard tuck box, and the edges are not glued securely. I have to tape the edges to keep the box together.  For all of the card faces, and information from the artist who drew it, visit Feminist Playing Cards.

Feminist Playing Cards By Homoground Riot Grrrl Inc

Front of deck

Design on the backs of each card

Card back design

This is a standard bridge sized deck of playing cards from Maryland. The cards read “Deal me out… I’m Crabby!” with an angry caricature of a crab. He definitely doesn’t want to be a part of your crab cake. These are typical souvenir shop style cards you would pick up in a tourist shop, made in China, still sealed in shrink wrap. Date unknown, but there appears to have been other souvenir offerings featuring this crab and theme, such as coffee mugs (Claws Off My Coffee!”

Deal me out... I"m Crabby!

Front of deck

Joker card shown. Made in China.

Back of deck

MPC Impressions Touch & Feel

Front of deck

MakePlayingCards.com (MPC®) is a professional custom playing cards printing and manufacturing company, who make custom and promotional playing cards for customers. They recently entered the branded playing card game.  Their second offering is called Impressions.  Impressions cards are made from a linen finish, and sport sleek raised card faces. Because of this, extra space between the cards makes this deck thicker. Impressions comes in several editions. This deck is the Stealth Edition, which is a high gloss, UV black on black, making this a striking deck. The image here is actually brighter than the actual box, and the white is a piece of paper or packing that got caught in the plastic when this deck was sealed at the factory (not damage).. This is a standard 52 card deck, including two jokers, and an extra MPC card.

Artifice in purple

Front of deck

Artifice is a line of playing cards designed and produced by Ellusionist, printed by USPCC using an exclusive performance coating to make these work well for cardistry and magic performances. The purple deck is one of the second edition colors. There are also second edition, version 2 options that have a white border on the card back, which is better suited for magic tricks. The face cards and pips are custom colored to match the deck color. This deck has a sleek and sophisticated feel, with a pinstriped, silver metallic lined art on the tuck case, and modern lined royalty cards. This is a standard poker sized deck with 52 standard cards, two custom jokers (one showing a card reveal), and a double backed gaff card. This deck is still sealed in its original packaging.The top of the card reads “Ars Est Celare Artem” which is Latin for “it is art to conceal art.” 

Bicycle Mayhem

Front of deck

Mayhem is a Bicycle branded, custom deck created by the Cardicians. They were published by USPCC, and was a Kickstarter funded project. The name Mayhem was chosen due to the the mix of styles brought into the composition, giving it a feeling of chaos. The deck includes custom face cards, custom pips, and custom joker cards.  The tuck case is black with a deep burgundy/blood red and gold designs complete with a custom seal with a stylized M. The card faces are a rich burgundy/blood red, with black and gold detailing. Visit the (now completed) campaign page for images of all of the cards included in the deck. This is a standard poker sized deck containing 52 cards plus two jokers, still sealed in its original packaging.