Storing Decks
Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 11 Dec 2002, and now archived in the Forum Library.
| Ophiel |
11 Dec 2002 |
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As a collector with a constantly expanding collection of decks, I have a number of cards that were packaged in larger pacakges with no snug-fitting box for the cards. I need a better way to store these cards because
1) space is an issue
2) money is an issue
While it would be nice to store each deck in its own box or bag, this is not practical for me. I need a new storage system and thought perhaps someone has found a generic sized box that could be bought. You know, something that is used for something else, but just happens to be about the size of most tarot decks.
Suggestions?
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| allibee |
11 Dec 2002 |
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Hi Ophiel,
I've just started buying old - early 1900's - wooden decorated cigar boxes off of ebay. You can get two decks at a time in them, and they are quite beautiful, especially the decorated ones.
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| Ophiel |
11 Dec 2002 |
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That was rude, Pollex, VERY rude. LOL. Actually, I did search the archives but not that the heat is on, can't recall what search word(s) I used, but obviously not the right ones! I only had a few hits, and the posts were more about pretty boxes and collecting those as well. Please don't embarass me [further] by demanding my search criteria.
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| Logiatrix |
11 Dec 2002 |
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O.,
i know what you mean about storage, ophiel. if you are collecting, you need a practical way to store decks, and pretty velvet or silk bags at an average of $20 is NOT practical. i reserve the fancy accessories for my three "working" decks, my runes, and my i-ching set.
what you are seeking is of a different ilk, and it ain't silk!
here's what i do:
as a collector who often gives, trades or sells my tarot and related items, i ALWAYS keep the box. ALWAYS, even if it is on it's "last leg". glue, tape or bronze that box, 'cuz it seriously influences the value of the deck, not to mention the valuable identifying information on it, such as artist, publisher, ISBN, etc.
be that as it may, how then do i store decks that belong in a box big enough for the full-sized book? even the llewellyn "generic box" is too big for the decks it comes with. other publishers leave "wells" for the decks, but the cards still float when they are freed from the cellophane.
i wrap my decks first in tissue, then in plastic wrap. i've even found colored plastic wrap, which is great for giving, trading, or re-selling my tarots. i wrap them with the tissue first in case the plastic sticks to the cards. both tissue and plastic wrap are inexpensive.
anyway, i've found this to be a viable form of card storage--as good as the original seal.
again, try to hang on to the original boxes if you can.
:)
P.S.
i just re-read your post...if you STILL insist that you can't keep the original boxes, how about a hanging shoe rack? they are usually cloth or soft vinyl, with several large, individual pockets--each large enough for a pair of shoes, of course--and they hang in a closet or on a door. this would be a reasonable, one-time cost.
okay, that's all...
:)
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| Laurel |
11 Dec 2002 |
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Ophiel, you might consider a small cedar chest if you want something fancier and more durable than a cardboard box. Cedar also has a certain cleansing property that makes it compatible with silk, imo and will last forever, move well, and hold a LOT of decks.
Laurel
(PS: Pollux's response didn't set off my own personal 'rude' meter. I feel like you over-reacted, probably due to frustration in having tried his suggestion in the first place and getting nothing? On your behalf though I can vouch that the search feature, while very handy, often misses the threads I'm looking for and if I didn't have some idea they were there and who posted what in them, I'd never ever find them again.)
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| Teal |
11 Dec 2002 |
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I went to the Dollar Tree awhile back and they had a selection of wooden boxes with a latch and hinged top for only a dollar a piece, so I stocked up on them. They stack very nicely and fit even larger decks. Or maybe you could get some of those plastic shoe boxes-----here in Oregon they go on sale at Bimart for 88 cents each every now and then. I use those for a lot of different things. Other than that, I also have baskets in many sizes and I sometimes will just make an attractive arrangement out of decks in a basket on a side table or shelf. There's always the old faithful rubber band for keeping the cards together if they don't have a box that does that. I know that may sound irreverent, but hey-----it's more reverent than having loose cards floating around all over. Agreed?
I'm not really a collector and wouldn't have as many decks as I do if I had listened to good advice here in the forum to begin with. Namely, to start with a Rider Waite or clone. Not only that, but the decks I don't use aren't of interest to most people for trade either, so I'm stuck with the little darlings. LOL But who knows? Someday I may use them after all.
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| Dark Inquisitor |
11 Dec 2002 |
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I have recently started using big old jewelry boxes for storage- some of them are nice looking & can hold 8-10 decks. I look for ones that have a bunch of the right size drawers , or a large space that can be cleared out of jewelry hangers , etc.
I just finished ripping out the old lining of one & replacing it with some black velvety material. It wasn't as hard as I thought. You can find old jewelry chests in thrift stores or on ebay for very reasonable prices.
I can't recommend rubber bands though- they will crease the cards over time.
Tarotphelia
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| Teal |
11 Dec 2002 |
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Really? Thank you for mentioning that the rubber bands can crease the decks over time. I usually wrap mine in fabric or put them in a bag or something. Once in a great while, I do put a rubber band around a deck if I have to leave it out for a little bit to do something else. Usually I can't find a rubber band anyway. LOL
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| Ophiel |
11 Dec 2002 |
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Thanks for all the great ideas.
RE Pollex' comment (the public slapping, I mean)...I wasn't at all offended, and was under the impression that "LOL" or " ;) " told you that. I mean no offense to Pollex, and was not offended. I certainly don't need *more* Tarot enemies, and I certainly don't need to banned from yet another Tarot group! I'm running out of options. :o LOL.
I really do like those ideas, though, and I'm gonna hit the Dollar store tomorrow and see if I might be so lucky myself. Laurel...doesn't the cedar scent the cards? My mother used to keep cedar boards in our closets, and I could even keep old sox in there! Smelled great, too.
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| Teal |
11 Dec 2002 |
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The Dollar Tree is where I found these. Everything really is a dollar at that store, where in the Dollar Stores they can be other prices, too.
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| Keslynn |
12 Dec 2002 |
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Do NOT use rubber bands to keep your decks together if at all possible. As was mentioned, they can crease the deck. Also, I've worked in a few archives, and I've seen how deteriorated rubber bands can stick to papers and damage them. And I'm not talking 30 year old rubber bands, I'm talking a year or sometimes less (depending on other conditions). The fact is, if you have several decks, and you don't use them all regularly, letting one of them sit with a rubber band around it could be harmful.
If all else fails, you could try plastic sandwich bags? They're not classy but you can get a lot for cheap, and you can see which deck it is inside.
:) Kes
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| Osher |
17 Dec 2002 |
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I would agree with the use of rubber bands. I had some stuff (not tarot) which I use rubber bands for, and I found that the rubber had deteriated (after a short time) to the point it snapped, or worse, it had melted onto the items.
Saying that, I am using rubber bands at the moment...but only as a temporary measure (a few months maximum)
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| Trish |
17 Dec 2002 |
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Yeah ... I'm having a prob with storing now too.
I have finally reached the point where my decks don't fit into my little box anymore! hehe! Hooray ... I guess.
All I gotta do I suppose is get a bigger box. sigh. Maybe I can ask for one for the Holidays.
Here's another question, and forgive me if this has been brought up somewhere else: does anybody use stones to store/bless their decks? Or am I mixed up and is that only for deck cleaning?
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| cjtarot |
18 Dec 2002 |
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Hi,
I love revisiting subjects...you always get something new..
I love the idea of the dollar store chest...It can be locked..lol
I tried a suggestion from before, since all my decks are in bags, I stored my decks in an open squarish wicker basket(pretty display, easy access..)..it worked wonderful until my 3 yr old decided to count my cards..several decks at a time..lol.
I know tag sales (garage sales) are a few months away, but they are great for baskets and other interesting ideas..
good searching..
CJ
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| Ophiel |
20 Dec 2002 |
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I wonder...if the card manufacturer/packagers that market the box sets also own stock in companies that sell boxes? Why would someone sell a deck of cards without a tight-fitting box to store them in? Does the actual box cost any more than all that molded plastic? I find this very annoying. Where's the complaint department? Do we have a complaint department around here? ;)
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| tarotbear |
20 Dec 2002 |
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Metaz - I like that idea of the hanging shoe bag - that would keep all the decks together, off the floor and clean.
I'm sorry guys, but the idea of putting tarot cards in anything PLASTIC bothers the tar out of me! YUCK! Plastic is a man-made chemical creation...you really want your cards in that? eeeeeeeeeeeEEEEEEEEEuuuuuuuuuuuuuuWWWWWWWW!!! Why not just wrap them in an old polyester leisure suit ?
It's the holiday season - there should be a selection of cheap silk scarves out there somewhere!
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| RedWood |
20 Dec 2002 |
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Most of my decks are in Polyester..the way i see it..You use what you can..natural is nice..But I am realistic...i got my poly scarves for 5 cents ap iece...isnt it more of a waste to go out and find natural stuff..when you can recycle old stuff ..even if it is plastic or man made?
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| violinlily |
20 Dec 2002 |
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over the next week or so (winter break, yeah!!!!), I'm planning to make my own bag **looking forward to the work, but under-estimating the amt of time it will take**. I found some old-ish fabric in a desk drawer, and am going to try to sew seed-beads onto it. gotta make the bag first though, lol. Uhh, that's sorta me, though, w/ a lotta time on my hands, but I REALLY like the shoe hangy thingy idea!!! I'm currently keeping candy in mine...... my feet/shoes are too big.
Happy Holidays!!!
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| tarotbear |
20 Dec 2002 |
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Redwood -
One does what one must do.
Of course, I also do NOT advocate using leather for a tarot bag (despite what native American friends think) since leather is the skin of a slaughtered animal. Leather on my feet is o.k., but not around my tarot cards. {Although my Animal Medicine cards are in a bag made of faux seude.....}
Silk, Wool, Linen, Cotton, Ramie, Challis, Rayon (Rayon is a man-manipulated natural fibre) are all natural fibres.
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| RedWood |
20 Dec 2002 |
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Whatever works for you..i admit..it weird..you can step on the slaughtered animal..but not have tarot in it? Sounds funny..
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| raeanne |
21 Dec 2002 |
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Originally posted by RedWood
Whatever works for you..i admit..it weird..you can step on the slaughtered animal..but not have tarot in it? Sounds funny..
It doesn’t sound weird to me. There are a lot of things that I do in the physical world that I don’t take into my spiritual world. I wear blue jeans in my garden but I don’t wear them to church. Well, I didn’t wear blue jeans to church, back when I went to church, before I was told to pay more money or leave and I chose to leave, but that’s another story. I also have some of my tarot decks wrapped in silk but I look really tacky dressed in silk!
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| RedWood |
21 Dec 2002 |
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Very true Raeanne...
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| Logiatrix |
21 Dec 2002 |
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james wanless says in his "new age tarot", that if you like to adorn yourself, then you will probably want to adorn your cards. that being the case, then my tarots are better dressed than i am!
;)
hey, BTW, tarot-bear--long-time-no-see!
(((((((tarotbear)))))))
:D :D :D
glad you're back, to stay?, i hope!
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| Shadow Wolf |
22 Dec 2002 |
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My husband used to smoke cigars and had good sized box to keep them in. I'm now using this to stor my tarot cards. It presently contains 4 decks, I have them stacked. It could easily contain more though. I lucked out, I didn't have to buy mine,
but I think you can get one at a reasonalbe price.
I'm also thinking about sewing pouches for my decks, but then the same problem arises , where do I store them ????
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| tarotbear |
22 Dec 2002 |
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Shadow Wolf -
At this Yule season, you can go to any large fabric chain store and buy a large sewing box or basket - they have them by the ton. I always thought that was funny, since no one sews anymore and those baskets LOOK beautiful, but you can never find your supplies in them! Some have drawers, some open into little sections, etc. Big and Spacious- and available around Mother's Day, too.
**PS - it's pronounced 'rela-carry'**
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The Storing Decks thread was originally posted on 11 Dec 2002 in the Talking Tarot board, and is now archived in the Forum Library. Read the active threads in Talking Tarot, or read more archived threads.
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