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For a ticket stub and the back, the red is definitely the way to go, but the front of the tuck is hard to read. I would do the red, but add some black on the front where needed. The text on the red back is white on red, but the front loses it, try something like this? Maybe also make the Str8 and Alive black too?

funny I hadn't even thought to use both colors on the box -
I like. ok - will change it up - I don't want the title to get lost in the sauce.
One more question - I'm messing around with some fun "add on" ideas right now - do you guys like this font for SIDESHOW more than the one I had chosen for the box? Maybe the one on the box looks too generic??

I definitely like the original font better.

sweeet- do you agree that the single color box is a little difficult to read???

I'm gonna mess around with some colors - I think adding some black might look cool!! I think that was a good suggestion!!

flashcards wrote:Gina,

You might also want to check out Sawdust by Emmanuel Jose on Kickstarter. https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/em ... escription

Although this is more of a circus theme rather than a carnival theme like yours, there are some similarities, especially the back of card being an admittance ticket. Mr. Jose is one of the most respected card designers out there and is very popular with collectors. You can see that he has very few "bells and whistles" in his project. Notice the tuck case is simple but very strong and distinctive. He just builds from a base of solid quality artwork which, by the way, is all done from paper cutouts! He sets the bar pretty high but I think you might get some inspiration from his work.

I'm sure you've also noticed the strong printers bias here. USPCC and EPCC are more expensive and have higher minimums but they produce the kind of quality product that many collectors demand.

I throw my vote in with the others: a deck with a strong theme, good artwork, printed by a quality printer is the way to go. Best of luck to you.

TL;DR: Simple, easy to calculate and don't overextend is the best way to go.

At the bottom, Emmanuel puts this information in the FAQ:

These two fantastic articles detail the costs behind Kickstarter projects, and they make a compelling case for taking a simple approach:

1. The Pain of the Wind: A Lesson in Scale

http://www.albinodragon.com/blog/book-1 ... -in-scale/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

2. Fate Core Kickstarter Breakdown To-Date and What We Actually Kickstarted

http://www.deadlyfredly.com/2013/11/core-ks-breakdown/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

It's a must read for anyone trying to do a Kickstarter.

Right after flashcards suggested I check out the Sawdust link, I read those two articles you're referencing TGunitedcardists!!!! TOTALLY, 1000% makes sense. I also liked the comment made in my thread by JacksonRobinson explaining all these frills are really "tools" for designers, and I should look at it that way instead of as "bells and whistles". That makes sense to me too!
The Sawdust deck is so incredibly cool.

OK- since I'm new to how forum's work, I feel very satisfied with how my first conversation topic has worked. I'll get my revisions done and post the pics in the correct spot on here for deck reviews and design feedback!!! Ooh- this is exciting!!! PHASE 2!!!! I had said it earlier but please know that if my KS campaign is a success, I'll send everyone who had given me their opinions in this "bells and whistles" thread a free deck as a thank you!!!!

Shermjack - took your advice on the font!! Now this is starting to get fun for me!!!!!

Hello Gents! You've been giving me feedback and I'm digging it. This is where I'm at!! I didn't know about the SAWDUST deck until this forum, and Mr. Jose's design work is absolutely amazing. As much as I want to go with red for my box art, I think it would just be too similar to his color scheme... I'm going to tie in the red with some of my add ons for my campaign instead.

I'm only going to do one stretch goal but I'm having a lot of fun with the add ons!!! I want to make my kickstarter campaign a 30 day EVENT so if you "follow" me on instagram, you'll automatically be entered into my contests!!! I'm going to give away prizes each Friday of the campaign, even if you're not pledging! If the campaign is a success, I'll give one lucky winner a super fan package!!!

Inspiration for my deck comes from old school banner art at sideshows!! I'll do my best to explain why I love them so much in my little 2 minute kickstarter video! (wish me luck with that - heh heh)
I'd like to launch the campaign the first week of September so please post feedback and suggestions!! It was already suggested that I add some splashes of color to the box art, so I'm working on that right now!!! Not sure if posting all my cards like this at one time is bad etiquette, but I'm going for it. Not sure if I'm supposed to build up the suspense with one card at a time.
Hope to hear back from you! (my newly created instagram account is here: https://instagram.com/str8games/

Nice Gina! Unfortunately, the beige does not contrast well with the red, resulting in an image that is hard to discern what it is.

If I want to stick with a red background on this, do ya think I should go with white instead of beige??

Shouldn't this be in the Drafting board?

I put a post on there!! I was just following up with a suggestion from Shermjack Princess Trouble!!
(funny - never thought I'd say SHERMJACK and PRINCESS TROUBLE in the same sentence... or I guess ever)

Agree with Princess Trouble that this thread should be moved to Drafting Board...can a mod merge the topics?

Gina, as for the color combination, why don't you try red and white and maybe red and black?

Gina, I really like what you have done with these so I'll be a backer for sure. My sister-in-law is really into carnival/circus sideshow themes so I will have to get her a deck as well. Last Halloween she decorated her house as a dark carnival. (I went as a magician and that's wear I got into the whole collecting/cardistry/magic thing- but that's another story.) Great job so far and best of luck with the campaign.

PS: I don't do Instagram or Facebook so I won't be following you. The contest sounds cool. "Super Fan Package" - yum.

Don't forget you get a free deck for helping me out with that other forum thread!!!! We're doing the dark carnival theme at our house this halloween!! Too funny!! We did the whole asylum / evil hospital theme last year!!! Halloween is the best!! I really appreciate the kind words about the design and passing the word about the campaign. Yeah - the "super fan package" is gonna be cool!! More details in a few weeks!!! Expert Playing Card Company is printing for me, and I asked the Gambler's Warehouse to handle all the card shipping and handling!! Have you worked with them before????

heh heh - not trying to keep the last word here but I'm officially in the drafting board section now under SIDESHOW
Shermjack - noted and notated. I'm on it hoss.

Bunch of slacker mods, the lot of 'em. Specially Dan. Merged the topics.

Cool deck you've got going here!

dammmmit - can't let me keep the last word.
heh heh - I like your moves. I just posted again in the drafting board section. I'm creating a cut card. So this will officially be the last message for this thread. For reals this time.

You know what (in my mind) be pretty cool? If the paper stock on the tuck resembled the paper the admission tickets are made of. You know with a kind of rough, cardboard feel to it? Instead of the cheap glossy default tuck most printers go with.

Are you trying to get me kicked out of this forum? heh heh
I like the suggestion about the tuck box - here's a quick pic to show you my motivation. I have an idea for the custom seal I'd like to do - will post it in the DRAFTING section so I don't get in trouble. This is me, leaving to the drafting section now. heh heh

I think you should keep everything related to the deck in the same thread. It'll be hard to keep track of things. :lol

Have you focused on a printer yet? They can provide you with stock samples.

i wanted to stay in this thread but I thought I had to move to drafting??? no?
I chose EPCC.. they were super nice.. tell you the truth, the girl at USPCC was super nice too but I thought I'd go for a small run for my first kickstarter campaign! I chose Gambler's Warehouse to handle the shipping/handling of the decks. They were nice too!

I'm waiting on a sample deck from MPC. It cost me like $40 but I cannot STAND not seeing what my deck will look like in real life. Which company have you had the best experiences with?

I can only speak of my own experience, but EPCC where great, you might wait a while for an email response but it all went smoothly their end. Love the theme, best of luck

I can't WAIT to get this sideshow going!!! I'm waiting on my "add ons" to arrive to make sure I like how they look in real life before I promote them!!
wooooooooooooo!!!

I don't know which one is my favorite - maybe sweet marie or the tattooed girl.

OK gents!!! My kickstarter campaign is live as of 10 minutes ago! I really appreciate all your feedback! I'll post the link in the correct spot on the forum - just wanted to close out this thread with a thanks!!! MontecarloJoe, Kleetz, ECNate, IamtheChin, Shermjack, flashcards, Magazaki, Mike Ratledge, Jackson Robinson, Vasta 41, TGunitedcardists, Eoghann and 52 Ravens.... you were kind enough to give me constructive feedback so I want to send you a free deck of cards (if my campaign is a success)!! I also want to send you a free ceramic plaque!! They turned out very cool!! (I have them sitting right here next to me!) Please send me a PM with your mailing address and the poker chip plaque will go out in Monday's mail to you!! - Gina

Best of luck, Gina! I'm in for a couple of decks and will send you a PM shortly. Next time however, give us a day or two warning. Some of us set our alarm clocks for release time so we can get in early. Even without advance notice I'll bet Pierre was first, since he uses magic pixie dust instead of an alarm clock.

I appreciate it!! Day or 2 warning?? Dammit I didn't know that!! Don't forget you get a free deck if the campaign is a success flashcards so don't buy anything!! Just pass the word for me!
Looking forward to your message for the ceramic plaque! It turned out cool!!

flashcards wrote:Best of luck, Gina! I'm in for a couple of decks and will send you a PM shortly. Next time however, give us a day or two warning. Some of us set our alarm clocks for release time so we can get in early. Even without advance notice I'll bet Pierre was first, since he uses magic pixie dust instead of an alarm clock.

Wait wait you're moving quicker than me!! You just pledged for decks??? I really appreciate it and I won't forget to send the extra one!!!

I like it!


Look like you had a pretty solid start to the project, it stands a good chance of funding. I know Emmanuel Jose mentioned his decks to circus groups for Sawdust and got mention in bird magazines for Clipped Wings, perhaps you can do the same?

http://www.circushistory.org/about.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://www.sideshowworld.com/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://www.circusesandsideshows.com/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://www.cultofweird.com/about/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;