About

‘The Stretch Tarot’ is a mixed-media tarot deck by first-time creator, J.E. Stretch. Featuring rich, collaged artwork and vintage imagery altered using a wide variety of methods and mediums, the unique style of ‘The Stretch Tarot’ is designed to help both new and experienced readers see the cards in a different perspective, illuminating traditional meanings in a new light.

The artwork of ‘The Stretch Tarot’ is inspired by decks that have come before; chiefly, the famous Rider-Waite-Smith and Alister Crowley’s ‘Thoth’ tarot. Teachings and symbolism from the masters are brought together in a new aesthetic which is at once fresh and familiar. Following the conventional structure of the tarot, ‘The Stretch Tarot’ includes the full cast of tarot archetypes in a complete set of 78 cards, with a fully illustrated Major and Minor Arcana. Both artistic and practical, the deck is intended to aid in interpretation, enabling you to explore, celebrate, understand and foresee the details of our human experience.

In response to feedback, ‘The Stretch Tarot’ evolved into a diverse deck including people of colour and removing the traditional boundaries of gender, specifically in the court cards. Despite their ‘vintage’ appearance, the cards are designed to combine the old and new in a way that reflects the modern reader and our current world. The tarot has endured for centuries due to its ability to adapt to circumstance and context; ‘The Stretch Tarot’ is no exception to this.

The Rider-Waite 'World' compared to 'The Stretch Tarot'

The history of the tarot is muddled and shrouded in as much mystery as the symbolism of the cards themselves holds to the layman. Yet we all share the same image - a Victorian fortune-teller, fanning the cards in the low, orange haze of gas lamps and candlelight in a dingy parlour. In ‘The Stretch Tarot’, this stereotype is embraced and heightened through the use of public domain, 19th-20th century photography and illustrations - bringing you the ‘authentic’ atmosphere of the tarot and making this mystic fantasy an exciting reality.

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High quality scans of the entire deck can be found at www.stretchtarot.com, so take a look!

I discovered the tarot when I was about 13 years old, my first deck being a second-hand copy of the Rider-Waite-Smith brought from Ebay (which to this day is my favourite deck). I have always been a creative person, studying art and photography at school but never on a serious level. However, this creative streak manifests in the need to give back to the things I am most interested in. Making a tarot deck of my own was always something I found appealing, and an idea I toyed with for a few years. Never intending for it to be for anything other than my own enjoyment and use, I set out making cards and posting them on Tumblr. ‘The Stretch Tarot’ gained a following, and I realised that I was actually making the tarot deck I had fantasised about.

Nearly two years in the making, the artwork is now complete and ready to be self-published. I am thrilled to be at this stage and am thankful to everyone who has watched the project grow and bloom.

Original artwork

‘The Stretch Tarot’ is near total completion save the card backs and additional material. It is time to get the deck mass printed and on offer to people like you!

Companion book

The target of £9,000 covers the cost to print a run of 500+ copies of the deck, in addition to packaging and the materials needed to create the campaign’s rewards. No profit is included in this figure; all of the money will go into production and giving back to you who have pledged and made the final result a reality.

There are a number of interesting rewards available (some limited only to this campaign) giving you greater incentive to help the funding. There are one-of-a-kind, handmade items up for grabs for those pledging higher amounts, and even exciting rewards for the smaller pledges – any donation will be highly respected and received with gratitude. There are a few reward bundles to choose from, and there’s something to suit everyone’s budget.

THANK YOU

A thank you page will be set up on ‘The Stretch Tarot’ website, and your name could be listed among those who have pledged. Even small rewards are very valuable, so this is my way of acknowledging your contribution!

BOOKMARK - NEW REWARD!

The first of a few new rewards to be added to the campaign are these simple, handmade bookmarks. Measuring 7 x 12 cm and featuring artwork from the deck, these lovely bookmarks are another way in which you can enjoy the art of 'The Stretch Tarot'.

Please note that although not listed, these will be included in the £50, £78, and £100 tiers.

The eight designs on offer are:

The High Priestess

The Lovers

Death

The World

II of Cups

Page of Cups

Knight of Cups

Queen of Wands

To take a look at each of the designs, click here!

SIGNED PRINT

The first physical reward on offer is a high-quality print of the artwork that will be featured on the tuck box, signed by the artist. A great way to celebrate the publication of the deck, this limited A6 print will look beautiful on display and will only be available to those who pledge to this campaign.

THE STRETCH TAROT

With a pledge of £25, you are essentially pre-ordering your own copy of the deck. You will be among the first people to receive ‘The Stretch Tarot’ shortly before it goes on sale, making this a perfect opportunity for those interested in owning a copy to finally get one!

JOURNAL

Journal sample design

These A6, spiral-bound notebooks are hand-decorated with unique artwork, each in the style of ‘The Stretch Tarot’. Where else would be a more perfect place to journal about your journey with the deck, invent new spreads, or record your readings?

DECK POUCH - NEW REWARD!

Cotton pouches

Now on offer are these lovely, handmade deck pouches! There are two designs available, the first featuring a yellow/gold cotton with a navy lining, the second a reversal of this combination. The pouches will be kindly handmade by my mum!

Please note that these will also be included in the £100 reward tier, although they cannot be listed now that it has already been backed.

Design option 1

Design option 2

WOODEN BOX

Box sample design

Gold leaf detail

With this very special reward, your package will come nestled in a beautiful, one-of-a-kind, hand decorated pine box, featuring artwork in the style of ‘The Stretch Tarot’ and showcasing images considered for use in the deck. Flecked with 100% gold leaf and finished with an antique crackle, the boxes suit the deck brilliantly yet stand as an art piece on their own. Large enough to fit the deck comfortably, these boxes would be perfect to store additional metaphysical items such as smaller card decks, incense, tea-lights, crystals and stones; a great home for ‘The Stretch Tarot’ and a huge thank you for the immeasurable contribution you'll have made.

SPREAD CLOTH - NEW REWARD!

Spread cloth

The final reward on offer is this wonderful spread cloth. Also handmade by my mum, this navy, velveteen cloth is finished with beautiful gold trim, makes a perfect place to spread the cards and adds a luxurious quality to your reading experience. Measures approximately 45 x 60 cm. Again, a huge thank you for the immeasurable contribution you'll have made!