The first choice is to get your deck printed in modest quantities and sell it locally without formally releasing it as a book product. If you plan to sell your deck mostly online, on Etsy, or in neighborhood book stores, this is a terrific option.
If you’re willing to handle the majority of the shipping yourself and anticipate selling a realistic number of decks each month, it’s a simple way to get started.
As an alternative, you can have a print-on-demand business like MPC or The Game Crafter produce your deck. Since each of these businesses has a physical location, you can sell your deck there directly, have orders transported straight to clients, and have individual copies made whenever someone places an order.
The benefit of this approach is that you won’t have to handle any of the packaging and shipping yourself, and you won’t have to make any initial outlays of money. The drawbacks of this strategy include very low profit margins per sale and lower-than-expected final product quality due to digital printing instead of offset printing for your business cards.
In This Article...
Self-Publishing with Your Own ISBN
The second option is to self-publish your deck with an ISBN number and have it produced in bigger quantities (beginning at 5001000 copies). You’ll need to conduct study to learn the precise steps to take for your deck because they may vary depending on the country.
The benefit of this approach is that you have the option to publish your deck as a physical book product and distribute it to book stores and online sellers all over the world once you have an ISBN number.
If you want to sell a lot of your decks, it would be excellent if you worked with a business that could store and ship your goods for you. A popular solution for this is Amazon FBA. This is a service that many of the bigger printing firms also provide.
(Note: You might need to publish your oracle or tarot deck along with a guidebook in order to obtain an ISBN number. Playing cards are not officially eligible for ISBN numbers as a stand-alone product. There are, however, some exclusions to the norm. If in doubt, get in touch with your ISBN organization for more details.)
Getting Your Oracle Deck Published by a Publishing House
Finally, you might want to think about submitting your deck to a publishing house that specializes in oracle cards and/or spiritual literature.
However, working with a reputable publisher has certain special benefits as well if you feel compelled to pursue this path.
You won’t have to bother about printing, distributing, or sending your deck to clients yourself, to start. By utilizing the network of booksellers that your publisher already has, you can reach a far wider audience with fewer upfront costs. A portion of the promotion will also be done for you by your publisher. (However, you will be required to contribute to the promotion as well.)
To Sum Things Up …
The process of getting your oracle card deck published can take many different forms. Ultimately, you must decide what is ideal for you based on your objectives, vision, plans for using your oracle deck to generate money for your company, and the time and resources you are willing to commit both now and in the future.
If I were to make a recommendation to you, it would be as follows:
Develop your vision first. Describe the specifics of your deck, including its subject, number of cards, preferred card size, whether a box and/or booklet are necessary, how you want to use the deck in your business, and other details.
To create the first physical prototype of your deck, work with a prototyping business.
Choose your next course of action once you are satisfied with what you have. If you want to self-publish your deck, print a small quantity (up to 1000 decks, or print them as needed, based on your budget and preferences) and then start marketing your cards to your target market. You can send your prototype and proposal to publishing houses if you’re thinking about finding a publisher for your oracle card deck.
Aim higher. Invest in the tools and services you’ll need to reach more people and sell your deck. This could involve employing a warehouse and distribution service, setting up Amazon FBA, printing and publishing your cards with an ISBN number so you can distribute your deck to book stores, etc.
As a general rule, give yourself the room and resources you’ll need to expand into your vision without feeling constrained, honor the trip, and ground your idea as swiftly or gradually as is appropriate for you and your business at this moment.
Want More In-Depth Support to Bring Your Vision of Your Own Oracle Deck to Life?
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How can I create my own Tarot deck?
How to make your own tarot cards: the steps
- Select a smooth or linen card stock for your project.
- Choose how many cards you want, then complete.
- Include a choice box in your deck.
- Here’s our tarot card generator online.
- Upload picture files, then drag and drop them onto the front and back of cards.
- Preview and checkout.
Can tarot cards be printed?
- Create your own tarot cards by printing the front and back in full color.
- Printable on more than 40 different types of paper
- Ideal for artists to display their tarot card artwork
How much does printing an Oracle deck cost?
Most print-on-demand businesses let customers place orders as low as one deck. This is ideal for testing reasons or if your initial printing budget isn’t too large.
On the down side, this printing technique has very high production costs, which means your profit per sale will be modest. Additionally, you won’t have a lot of design freedom, so it would be a good idea to think about some additional options in the long run.
The good news is that almost all print-on-demand playing card manufacturers also provide bulk discounts for larger purchases.
As an illustration, the production cost for a regular size oracle card deck printed by MPC will be roughly $30.10 USD for 42 cards plus packaging. The printing price drops to $13.70 per card if you can order 100 decks at once. It costs $7.36 each deck for 1000 decks, and so on.
Say you intend to sell each card in your deck for $35: Your profit per deck will only be around $5 if you print your cards on demand. If you purchase 100 decks in bulk, your profit per deck rises to $21.30 after subtracting shipping and other costs. You can make $27.64 per deck after expenditures at 1000 decks. so forth.
This choice works best if you anticipate receiving orders frequently, you feel confident sending the cards yourself, or you want to sell the cards locally but would rather print them in smaller quantities initially.
I need to publish a card.
You can submit to member publishers of The Greeting Card Association online. If you are unable to locate the ideal publisher, think about self-publishing your line and making it available on your website.
Where can I sell the oracle cards I have?
You have three basic options for selling your own oracle card. using your own website first For this, Shopify is a reliable and simple platform. The second is through Etsy, which is competitive yet an excellent location to acquire devoted clients.
Step 1: Check Out Other Oracle Decks.
Check out the various oracle decks that other people have made on Pinterest. Which decks do you gravitate toward? Do you like playing card size or larger cards? Which form do you favor? If you prefer circles or triangles, they don’t have to be rectangles! What color palettes appeal to you? Keep in mind the objectives of each deck. Some are intended for divination, while others are just meant to brighten your day with a little inspiration.
You’ll begin to see certain patterns as you look around at what’s available. Topical or character-based oracle decks are the two main types of oracle decks. A topical deck might, for instance, include a different affirmation on each card. Each card in a character-based oracle deck can depict a different animal.
Step 2: Brainstorm Themes for Your Cards.
Take some time to write down ideas for your own deck now that your mind is overflowing with fantastic oracle deck concepts. Allow your imagination to run free while you complete this. Without filtering or judging, jot down every thought that comes to you. You could be pleasantly surprised by the themes you generate.
Consider the aspects of your life that “feel magical and spark something within of you” if you find yourself in a rut. Nature, sacred places (in your neighborhood or throughout the globe), magical objects you use in rituals, shapes, notable figures from literature, musicians, affirmations to stay motivated, food, quotes, or poetry could all be included.
Make a list of all the unique card design ideas you have after choosing a topic. Choose whether you want words or just an image on the cards. Sort through the design concepts and choose the ones that speak to you the most, even if you have no idea why. You can arrange your oracle deck’s cards in whatever number you like. The rules are up to you as this deck is exclusively yours.
Step 3: Pick Your Materials.
There are many options available to you. You can either buy the supplies at a nearby craft store or just use what you already have. Witches are resourceful individuals, and I think it’s entertaining to search through my home for unusual creative supplies.
Here’s what I’ve used to make oracle decks:
- Notecards that measure 4 by 6 inches These are excellent since they are stronger than standard paper and are all the same size. And they already have a card shape. No cutting is necessary!
- a stack of cards
- On this paper, you can trace your playing cards and cut them out one by one. This allows you more flexibility when choosing card sizes and shapes. (Remember that these cards don’t have to be square either. Circles, triangles, and hexagons can also be used.
- cardboard from cracker and cereal boxes, etc.
- Oracle cards made on this sturdy, thin cardboard will last a long time. Additionally, it’s a fantastic way to reuse items you already have around the house! For my card designs, I typically paint white over the cardboard to create a blank canvas.
- Always useful is Elmer’s Glue-It.
- Mod Podge or Gloss Medium
- This can be used for image transfers or to adhere paper to items that aren’t made of paper.
- paint brushes
- These can be used with gloss media, glue, or paint.
- Paint
- Because they are less textured as they dry, acrylic paint and watercolors perform better than oil paint.
- Aerosol Paint
- It’s ideal for stencils. Use this outside only, please. There is a fume!
- Calligraphy pens, colored pencils, or markers
- Your oracle cards will have a completely unique appearance if you handwrite the words and draw your own designs.
- GlitterI’m kind of obsessed with the stuff, but use it with caution because it gets everywhere.
- vintage mags
- Using tape or glue, attach the images that go with the subject of your oracle deck to the cards.
- If you have any personal images that fit your topic, use them!
- birthday cards or postcards
- You can boost the potency of your oracle deck by including symbols that have personal significance in your deck.
- It’s all earthy with the pressed dried grass, flowers, or leaves! When you paint the gloss medium or mod podge directly on the paper and again immediately over the plants when you’re gluing it to your cards, they stick to the paper more effectively.
- sanitary paper
- I enjoy cutting out tissue paper forms and adhering them with gloss medium or dilute Elmer’s glue. This gives the effect of stained glass.
- Paper Gift Wrap
- This is useful for creating a consistent appearance on the back of the cards.
- Sticky tape
- I transfer images with this.
- packaging tape in clear
- This works for image transfers and to give your cards a nice finish. It resembles laminating somewhat.
- Exactly what you want!
Step 4: Design the Back of Your Cards.
Choose whether you want all of the cards’ backs to be identical or more distinctive “jumbled up. In the past, every deck of cards had an identical “backs. This has the advantage that you won’t be able to tell which cards you’re drawing for a reading.
I suggest using masking tape, scrapbooking paper, gift wrap paper, or pattern stencils to create this uniform appearance.
The alternative is to customize each card. Although unconventional, this is a lot of fun. You’ll have to keep your eyes closed while drawing a card because you’ll be aware of the variations in your deck, but others who aren’t familiar with the cards might find the reading to be interesting. Their intuition might help them choose a specific hue or pattern from among your collection of miniature works of art during readings.
Paper weaving is a different technique I adore doing for the backs of my oracle cards. I take two identically sized pieces of colored paper and cut them into strips. I’m going to tape one pair of strips vertically side-by-side on a flat surface. After that, I horizontally weave in the second set of strips, alternating over and under, until all of the strips are woven in. You can glue the resulting checkerboard-style design to the back of your playing cards.
Step 5: Design the Front of Your Cards.
Recall the list you created in step two? Check it out by taking it out. Give each card in your oracle deck a design concept.
To create and embellish your cards, you can choose whichever medium you choose. Just bear in mind that you need to be able to shuffle these cards. Treat the textured materials gently.
Try outlining your symbols or characters on the cards if you can draw. Find photographs that go with your topic and attach them to the cards to give them a collage-like appearance if you’re not too confident in your artistic abilities.
Working on one card at a time can help you avoid getting overwhelmed. Only work on them when you’re feeling inspired because making them should be enjoyable rather than a duty. While you’re creating your cards, your energy will be absorbed, so have fun!
Step 6: Create Your Card Meanings.
Take a moment to connect with each of your finished oracle cards after gathering them all. Hold just one card at a time, giving it your whole attention. When you close your eyes, pay attention to the card’s energy. Describe how it feels in your hands. Does it evoke any feelings in you? After that, open your eyes and go over the card’s details. Keep track of the thoughts that run through your head. What does this card represent, ask yourself? Make notes on your observations and assign meanings to each card in light of your observations.
Additionally, you can do this as you design your cards. Writing down thoughts, associations, and meanings that come to mind throughout the creative process so that you can review them later can be quite helpful for this phase. Additionally, when you learn to know your cards better, don’t be hesitant to revise meanings. It should be a smooth and enjoyable experience. Do not overthink it.
Step 7: Make a Unique Cover For Your Deck.
Choose how you wish to store your cards while you’re not using them to prevent losing or destroying them. They can be kept in a pouch, tied with a ribbon, or kept in a pretty box. I like to preserve my oracle cards wrapped in a piece of white fabric that I used to wipe my paintbrush when creating them. Now I have a lovely fabric that matches the hues of my deck and has been imbued with my creative energy.
Step 8: Discover How to Use Your Oracle Deck.
Try out some oracle card combinations. Aim to pick a card each day, or design some spreads centered on the subject of your deck. If you like, you may add or remove cards from your deck. Let your oracle deck develop and adapt with you as it is YOUR design!
Am I able to create my own oracle cards?
Since the meanings of oracle cards are typically stated directly on them, there is no need to learn the meanings of each individual card, making it an even simpler hobby to start than tarot cards.
Variability: You can make your deck as distinctive as you want it to be because the format for oracle cards allows for so much flexibility. In addition to the meanings on their cards, some artists also include rituals for the user to do.
Oracle stands itself from other card games by being a collector’s item in addition to a game and a hobby. It’s difficult to stop after purchasing just one deck because there are so many decks available with various sorts of artwork. Printing oracle cards is a creative approach for artists to promote their work in a way that is both aesthetically beautiful and practical.
How many cards make up a whole deck of tarot cards?
The Venetian or Piedmontese tarot served as the inspiration for the typical modern tarot deck. The major arcana, which contains 22 cards and is also known as the trumps, and the minor arcana, which has 56 cards, make up the 78 cards that make up this deck.
