Kickstarter: Sardines Playing Cards in Tomato Sauce

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/squ......to-sauce

Luxury playing cards illustrated by Stacey Jay Kelly

Cost: £12 per deck
Project ends: 9th December 20:00 GMT



Squiddle Ink is the brand name of artist Stacey Jay Kelly, who has lots of experience with the playing card industry. Two of her previous decks include Fishing For Compliments and Legends Digital Petroglyphs. She also gave a presentation at one of the virtual conventions for 52 Plus Joker (the world's largest playing card club), which you can view here, in which she discussed her playing card designs, as well as her work with the Worshipful Makers of Playing Cards.

The goal for this fully-customized deck was to create a clean design, that blends a modern and vintage style, so that the deck looks like it comes from an artisanal Spanish sardine-canning factory.



The tuck box will be made from pearlescent stock, and have embossing, a custom seal, and internal printing with a wave pattern set on a yellow background. It has a nautical theme using anchors, rope and marine vegetation with the back of the tuck being reminiscent of the traditional sailor's tattoos.

The card back features a two-way design depicting a sardines tin with the lid being peeled back to reveal four sardines inside, which are placed so that fans reveal fish along the sides. One of the stretch goals is to have the area on the card back that depicts the tin peeled back printed in hot foil, creating a silvery metallic effect.



The Kings depict sea fishermen, the Queens mermaids, and the Jacks skippers-in-training.







The custom Ace of Spades includes nautical details and a sardine tail.



The pips are also completely customized, with the Spades featuring a sailor's knot, the Diamonds an anchor, the Clubs a starfish with seaweed, and the Hearts a shell design.



The Jokers feature the sea otter holding a playing card.



The deck will be printed by Legends Playing Card Company on their popular Viper Finish, and the goal is to have silver hot foil on the card backs.



Another stretch goal is a customized embossed printed tin to house the deck. Other add-on items include t-shirts, an enamel pin, uncut sheets, and art prints, so Stacey has thought of everything!



I've followed Stacey's work in the past, and really enjoyed her 52 Plus Joker presentation, so I'm excited about this project, and am confident that playing card enthusiasts and collectors will just love the quality and look of this great custom deck she has created!

I also like the fact that despite being fully customized, it's still very functional and usable for playing card games. I've got quite a few decks that use LPCC's Viper Finish, and really like the handling feel and quality, so this really does tick all the boxes. Bravo Stacey Jay Kelly!

Project link

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/squ......to-sauce