Big cards, little hands!

Fawsley

Hello all!

Just wondering if anyone had any tips on shuffling - I love the larger size of the DruidCraft cards as there's so much more detail to absorb, but it does make shuffling very difficult for those with smaller hands. Plus I have both arthritis and Multiple Sclerosis so manual dexterity is not exactly my strong point.

Usually I end up swirling them all up in a heap, but that doesn't feel either very professional or respectful towards the cards.

I know that some people crop their cards and I'm tempted to try that, but then I'll end up with sharp corners which is something I *hate* on cards, and the corners will no doubt get worn/bent/split in time too.

Any tips or thoughts much appreciated!

Of the five packs I have, the DruidCraft is by far the one I feel most drawn to, though possibly that has something to do with being a member of OBOD. I'm really looking forward to exploring all the threads in this study group and gaining even more insight from the wonderful images.
 

celticnoodle

I have that deck too and I love them as well! :D i also have small hands. so, one method that i use, that works well is to hold the cards upright in my hands, so that the smaller edge is pointing upwards.

and, I shuffle the deck that way, like you'd shuffle if the long side were facing upwards. does this make sense to you?

if that fails, try putting the cards face down on the table and mixing them up well. then, bring them all back together. I sometimes have my clients w/small hands do the shuffling in this matter. it works well too.

i hope this will help you.
 

nortytiger

I do the same as celticnoodle, shuffle them long-side up rather than on their side but I have to do it really slowly otherwise I end up playing 78 card pick-up :)

If I feel that they havn't had a really good mix up I deal them into piles randomly. I make 7 or 8 piles of cards and deal them onto each pile then put the piles together and do the same again. sometimes I do this 3 times dealing from the top and the bottom of the deck and cutting the deck a few times as I'm dealing them out to make sure all the suits gets mixed. It doesn't look terrible to do it this way, you can make it look organised and "professional" if that's what you want, then I do a quick final "normal" shuffle and cut the cards and they are ready.
 

Heavensent

I too have little hands (i'm only 5 feet tall for goodness sake...lol) and just got the DruidCraft which I am in love with except for the fact that the cards are so huge. I hold them long ways and pick it up with my left and shuffle up and down if that makes sense. I also put them in piles and do it that way or split it up and shuffle then bring them back together. It seems to be pretty well shuffled and accurate so far but I agree, I am drawn to this deck too but if it ever comes in a smaller size, I'm buying it!!!
 

nisaba

Fawsley said:
Just wondering if anyone had any tips on shuffling - I love the larger size of the DruidCraft cards as there's so much more detail to absorb, but it does make shuffling very difficult for those with smaller hands.
I have tiny, stumpy little paws and great big cards, two of my decks being significantly larger than the Druidcraft.

I turn them through ninety degrees and use a longer, slower stroke-movement. They shuffle just fine, even for my short fingers.
 

Miss Divine

Heavensent said:
I too have little hands (i'm only 5 feet tall for goodness sake...lol) and just got the DruidCraft which I am in love with except for the fact that the cards are so huge. I hold them long ways and pick it up with my left and shuffle up and down if that makes sense. I also put them in piles and do it that way or split it up and shuffle then bring them back together. It seems to be pretty well shuffled and accurate so far but I agree, I am drawn to this deck too but if it ever comes in a smaller size, I'm buying it!!!

Hahaha...I thought I was small (I'm 5 ft 2).

My best friend has this deck, and I have tried shuffling it the way you mentioned. But it's still a challenge for me let me tell ya.

My Heart tarot is impossible for me. So cards I absolutely cannot shuffle, I fan out.
 

flying black kat

Ladies:

Over in the Tarot Talking section there is a thread (Note#2) that has pictures of the Druidcraft trimmed.

There are also 2 Oracle Decks - The Druid Animal Oracle - and the Druid Plant Oracle.

In my opion only - I have 2 copies of each deck. 1 copy of each deck is in the process of being trimmed. The other copies, I am not going to trim.

I have very large hands for a woman, and have no problem shuffling these decks.

I prefer how all three (DCT - DPO - DAO) look trimmed. I am speaking for myself I like the way these trimmed decks look. These are the only decks that I am going to trim.

Be at Peace.

Kathy
 

rwcarter

Instead of riffle or overhand shuffling, you can also randomly deal the cards into X # of piles and randomly pick the piles back up to reform the deck. Repeat as many times as you like.

You can also learn how to shuffle like the dealers in casinos, who hold the cards and shuffle in such a way that only one corner from each pile interlaces and then they push the two piles together.

As others have suggested, if you can't grip both short ends of the deck together so you can shuffle the short ends together, hold the deck by the long ends and shuffle those together.

Rodney
 

Grizabella

I just don't like big decks. Period. I have to riffle shuffle because that's the only way I feel "in the groove". And I just don't do a good job at all with trimming. So I don't use big decks. Or very, very, very seldom do I use them.
 

kaesrel

I have this exact problem with my Thoth. I can just barely hold the deck across! Shuffling hurts my fingers to the point where I'm really turned off using (and subsequently, learning) it. The worst part is that I can't trim it because it's a greenie and I love the tinged borders. :(