How to Trim a Tarot (or Oracle) Deck - UPDATED

[@DaniMystic]

This was so helpful! For someone who tends to say "YOLO" and chop away, I am definitely going to measure first from now on LOL

[@DawnMichelleTarot]

Once you get the hang of it, it gets faster too! 🙂 Thank you for watching! ❤️

[@fuumaxkamui]

I can’t believe 3 people disliked this vid! Probably folks who have more puritanical views on deck modification. Thanks for this vid, I love watching people mod their decks; the before and after is always so stunning

[@DawnMichelleTarot]

I always get a few of those on my mod videos, some people think trimming a deck is disrespectful... I see it as a work of love. 🙂 Thank you for watching! ❤️

[@gnomie2.0]

I think there are some people who cruise around KZbin disliking anything Tarot related. Just seems there are a few on every video, no matter the topic or the content creator.

[@DawnMichelleTarot]

Oh that's true too. Sometimes you get a thumbs down the moment the video goes live. It's all counts the same according to KZbin so it still helps with stats, which amuses me. 🙂

[@Leelahel]

I have done this for many years and I am so happy I found a video that taught me more about the process. This tutorial is amazing!! I will be sure to forward people here when they come to me to ask about this process.

[@DawnMichelleTarot]

How wonderful, I am so glad you found it helpful. 🙂 Thank you for watching! ❤️

[@ravneetcaur]

Hi Dawn. Thanks a ton for this video! It was my first time trimming a deck, and your tips were super helpful. I followed your advice step by step, and it made the whole process a lot easier. Really appreciate it!

[@DawnMichelleTarot]

I am so glad you found it helpful and your trim went well! 🥰

[@carmenb9020]

Love your advice & explanation. I purchased some decks cause the images were calling me but once ii get the decks something isn't working it for me. To finally connect & love & appreciate these decks I end up trimming mainly. Only lately did I start edging. But trimming does miracles. At least for me it does. So I'm quite happy in that way. First ones aren't perfect cause I only used scissors up till now. But all this made me satisfied & very happy. Really your explanation helps. Thank you. I just trimmed the Lost Forest & my Darkness of Light tarot. Plus I have very small handed, I can now finally shuffle the cards. ❤ *** Attention : always trim from the front. Cause some fronts don't go with the back and you can risk scrapping your card& deck.

[@Fatima_Garabandal2251]

This is the best instructional video on this topic I've seen.

[@DawnMichelleTarot]

I am so glad you enjoyed it! 🙂 Thank you for watching. ❤️

[@EmmaGaywood]

You’re fantastic at tutorials and I appreciate your tips on how to start practicing and seeing how the deck might look. Thank you xx

[@DawnMichelleTarot]

I am so glad you found it helpful! 🙂 Thank you for watching! ❤️

[@nishasankaran]

Excellent, thank you! Using this as my guide to trim an Oracle ✨

[@raomzk]

The deck got so much more beautiful. Great video and thanks for all the tutorial ♥

[@DawnMichelleTarot]

Thank you so much, I think so to! I am so glad you enjoyed it. 🙂 Thank you for watching! ❤️

[@JK_70]

This was super helpful. I had never thought to mod my deck and this was great advice, thanks! From your suggestions I trimmed a deck that I was never comfortable with because it was too big for my hands. I probably trimmed too much of it by taking away the border, but the deck feels so comfortable and welcoming in my hands now that I've brushed away my initial regrets. Thank you!

[@DawnMichelleTarot]

I'm so glad to hear that! I love deck mods, they are a wonderful way to connect to a deck. 🙂 Thank you for watching. ❤️

[@biglizzzard]

Recently switched to a guillotine trimmer from a slide trimmer and it made a huge difference! I actually re-trimmed my Druid craft tarot to even it up. Your recommendations are great! Thanks!

[@DawnMichelleTarot]

How wonderful, I am so glad to hear your trimming adventure is going well. I love the guillotine, it works beautifully for me. 🙂 Thank you for watching! ❤️

[@RootsAndWaves]

I practiced trimming my first deck using this same Fiskars trimmer and corner rounder. I chose to practice with my Enchanted Map oracle deck and then I edged it with a light green Sharpie. Thank you so much for your informative tutorials! I have always been too scared to chop my decks but this one turned out pretty good! I love learning and trying new things. Thank you Dawn Michelle. xo ✨✨✨✨

[@DawnMichelleTarot]

I am so glad that you enjoyed it and that you have had fun with your own trimming process! 🙂 Thank you for watching! ❤️

[@PaulamiD]

The trimmed ones look so good and maybe their feel is different too. Loved it, thanks for the share.

[@ABirdOnTheMoon]

I am sitting here trimming my deck .. and somehow listening to you talk about it makes me less anxious :) .. I wanted to trim "tarot of the magical forest" for awhile .. and I am already finishing with it .. then I am going to edge it with dark green if possible .. I am so excited :)

[@DawnMichelleTarot]

How exciting and I'm glad I could keep you company while you worked on it! 🙂 Thank you for watching. ❤️

[@ThatsSoBeba]

I just trimmed my every day enchanted tarot with these exact tools from a previous video of yours. They didn’t come out perfect like yours since the cards were so massive to begin with and one of them came out a bit smaller than the rest and it always falls out 😭 but thanks to you I’ll be better in no time! Thank you for all these tutorials!!

[@DawnMichelleTarot]

My first few trims weren't great either, but I've found it gets better with practice. 🙂 Thank you for watching! ❤️

[@madamecoupeboeuf]

This second tutorial about trimming cards is perfect!! I will follow your instruction to trim my The wisdom of the oracle deck by Colette since I hate white borders. Thank you!!

[@DawnMichelleTarot]

I am so glad you enjoyed it and found it helpful! 🙂 Thank you for watching! ❤️

[@amandaaustin8691]

I'm awaiting my Llewellyn and Baur tarot and will trim once I'm comfortable with the cards and their meanings. I will definitely scan copies and play around with different trims, what a great idea!! Thank you for your inspiration and guides :)

[@DawnMichelleTarot]

I am so glad you found it helpful! Good luck with your trims! 🙂 Thank you for watching! ❤️

[@fpwest1526]

I totally loved this updated version. I wish I had watched it before my latest modding effort.

[@DawnMichelleTarot]

I am so glad you enjoyed it! My first few mods were a disaster. It gets better the more you do it. 🙂 Thank you for watching! ❤️

[@annseidl208]

You have created such a great process for trimming decks! I have never trimmed a deck yet but would like to. When I do, I will definitely follow your process. Thanks Dawn Michele! 🥰

[@DawnMichelleTarot]

I am so glad you enjoyed it and found it helpful. I love modifying my decks, really makes them feel like my own when I'm done with them. 🙂 Thank you for watching! ❤️

[@witchofthewildwoods3496]

Your videos have been my inspiration for trimming and edging my own decks. I’m definitely not as neat and precise about it as you but am thrilled with the results anyway ;) Thank you also for recommending the FB group Tarot With Scissors!

[@DawnMichelleTarot]

I didn't use to be either, but practice really does make perfect when it comes to mods. 🙂 Thank you for watching! ❤️

[@YoSmitty55]

This video was right on time. I just got my trimmer yesterday. 🥰

[@DawnMichelleTarot]

How exciting! I wish you much joy on your deck trimming journey. 🙂 Thank you for watching! ❤️

[@loladelvalle7937]

omg !!! So much work!! Need a lot of Patience !! Looks so much fun though !!

[@DawnMichelleTarot]

That is it but I enjoy it. It gets faster the more often you do it. 🙂 Thank you for watching. ❤️

[@gnomie2.0]

Great video!! All the versions look great! 💚

[@DawnMichelleTarot]

Thank you so much, I am so glad you enjoyed it! 🙂 Thank you for watching! ❤️

[@lauralu4175]

Could you please talk more about the different Llewelyn tarot decks? Thank you. Thanks for this video. Very helpful 🎉❤

[@DawnMichelleTarot]

As in the different versions of them or the different decks by the publisher?

[@MATT-dw3lu]

Amazing! I think it would be interesting to see a compilation sideshow of yr subscribers deck mods

[@DawnMichelleTarot]

That would be fun! 🙂 Thank you for watching. ❤️

[@jessicamira4676]

Thank you!

[@EmilysTarotandMagick]

This was great thank you! I saw your previous tutorial but I will definitely follow along with this next time I mod a deck! 🙏 💓 😊 Xxx

[@DawnMichelleTarot]

I am so glad you found it helpful! 🙂 Thank you for watching! ❤️

[@MB-kg7gp]

I would rate 10/10 stars for this incredibly wonderful video. I loved that detailed explanation right from the start to the end. Grateful for your additional tips too..❤️ Only I didnt get your ruler tip... What do you actually check with the ruler? Please can u help..

[@DawnMichelleTarot]

I am so glad you enjoyed it and found it helpful. The ruler is just to allow me to see exactly where the blade is going to come down. Because the guard over the top is clear, sometimes it's hard for me to tell exactly where it's going to cut. It just gives me a better idea. I hope that helps! 🙂 Thank you for watching! ❤️

[@MB-kg7gp]

@@DawnMichelleTarot TYSM DEAR😘

[@rea_lv]

I’ve been thinking of trimming my Llewellyn (got it back in October) and this video couldn’t be more perfect. Exactly how I want to trim mine. It’s gonna be my first try at trimming so I’m getting a deck of playing cards this week to practice haha. Thank you thank you thank you for your in-depth process and sharing it with us. You are a deck saver!

[@DawnMichelleTarot]

I am so glad you found it helpful! I do hope you enjoy the process, I love all my Llewellyns. 🙂 Thank you for watching! ❤️

[@nancymills1884]

I just modified a deck after using your guidelines. It turned out really well. The deck was cool to begin with, but… it had double card names on the Majors and Court cards. That I found strange. And had a black border that took away from the dynamics of the images. I well edge it next. Thank you for such a great video.

[@DawnMichelleTarot]

How wonderful, I am so glad it turned out well for you. I love modding my decks, it's such a fun process. 🙂 Thank you for watching! ❤️

[@indigodande4345]

Cutting starts at 15:36

[@quantquill]

It's so satisfying and yet terrifying to hear that blade come down... Thank you for the detailed walk-through. I've modded one deck and I think I sweated through my clothes during it, ha. Turned out okay, because I followed a previous deck mod video of yours. 8-)

[@DawnMichelleTarot]

It gets much easier and less stressful the more you do it! 🙂 Thank you for watching! ❤️

[@CarosLines]

I love how you share what you do and the way it changes the decks! Do you have a way to remove the gloss from overly high gloss decks?

[@DawnMichelleTarot]

I am so glad you found it helpful. I have yet to find away to fix super glossy cards. Nothing I've tried to date works, but if I find something I'll be sure to share it. 🙂 Thank you for watching! ❤️

[@CarosLines]

@@DawnMichelleTarot Have you tried something called Fanning Powder - its used by magicians to help them control their cards - I've just watched a video on it... but of course they aren't trying to reduce glare!

[@DawnMichelleTarot]

I've heard of it but never tried it. Most sure that would help with glare, bit it might make them easier to handle. 🙂

[@CarosLines]

@@DawnMichelleTarot So maybe a partial solution - hmm... I might give it a go.

[@myblondiesnova]

Ty for doing another trimming video! You gave me the gumption to fix my first deck I did. I would actually say it's at least 80% better 😊.. Question... When I edge a deck it seems to come out darker in the corners and I just had my first deck that the ink keeps rubbing off.. I never had this problem.. Any advice w/ darker corners and ink rubbing off? Ty so much for all your videos 💞🕯️Blessed Be 😊

[@DawnMichelleTarot]

I am glad you enjoyed the video. In my experience the corners get darker because we have a tendency to push a little harder on the corners as we're trying to follow the rounded edge and it soaks up more of the color. Maybe try a bit of a lighter touch and see if that makes a difference. As for the transfer on to your hands, it really depends on what medium you are using, but generally I've found if I use a paper towel to really wipe down the edges it helps get a lot of that extra off. Alternatively you can seal them with something like mod podge. I did that with my Mystical Goodness Tarot (there is a mod with me on my channel) because the blue wouldn't stop coming off. It's great now! I hope that helps. 🙂 Thank you for watching! ❤️

[@myblondiesnova]

Ty so much! 💞🕯️Blessed Be 😊

[@shashakeeleh5468]

Nice!

[@DawnMichelleTarot]

I'm glad you enjoyed it. 🙂 Thank you for watching. ❤️

[@Thewillowmoon]

I love this mod, I’m yet to do my copy so this video is right on time 🙏🏼 What did you use to edge your completely trimmed deck please? That colour is perfect!! 💛💛

[@DawnMichelleTarot]

I am so glad you enjoyed it! I used mildliners in gold for my deck. It's my favorite yellow color for decks. 🙂 Thank you for watching! ❤️

[@AntoinetteTarot]

Items ordered & 1st ever deck to be trimmed is imminent lol. I don't see me making it a thing though, not enough patience lol 🌞

[@DawnMichelleTarot]

The more you do it, the faster you get it. Hehe. Good luck with it and let me know how it turns out! 🙂 Thank you for watching! ❤️

[@21imcute]

ty 🙌🏻

[@DawnMichelleTarot]

I am glad you enjoyed it! 🙂 Thank you for watching! ❤️

[@TempestGetchell]

Have you ever done a video on why you have so many copies of the llwelyn tarot? No judgment, just super curious

[@DawnMichelleTarot]

Hehe not a video no. It started out with me wanting a backup of my Llewellyn because I take mine everywhere with me (well back in the day when we could travel.) When I got my second copy in, it had a difft cardstock than my original one so then I went on the hunt for the exact same edition I had. Luckily I got one in a trade, but it had been trimmed down on three sides so I decided to keep it and both the first back up (and leave the borders on.) Then I got the last one to use in my trim tutorial. That's how I ended up with so many lol. 🙂 Thank you for watching! ❤️

[@TempestGetchell]

@@DawnMichelleTarot ahh cool lol. Thanks for answering

[@kaddenmathews2901]

Any suggestions for edging this deck?

[@DawnMichelleTarot]

I always edge my Llewellyn in the mildliners yellow (they list it as gold). I think it's a perfect match for the yellow accents on the deck. I have seen people do brown as well which looks really nice too. I hope that helps! 🙂 Thank you for watching! ❤️

[@kevinsloan3892]

if you dont have a corner rounder, use a toenail clipper

[@DawnMichelleTarot]

I've totally done that before! Before I got my current rounder I used a clipper a couple of times to fix up a deck. 🙂 Thank you for watching! ❤️

[@Strongbabiix3]

I'd like to cut off the borders on my cards, but since i've been using them since november they're definitely bent! Should I just use extra tape to pin them down or should I just avoid doing it?

[@DawnMichelleTarot]

I've trimmed lots of heavily bowed cards, I just make sure I hold them down well and press them flat the board. Seems to work fine for me. I hope that helps! 🙂 Thank you for watching! ❤️

[@bryantpettey5462]

What's the name of the silver gilded deck you have on there?

[@attaunan]

Ostara Tarot

[@NKHTAROT]

🖐💙💜🖐💙💜🖐💙💜🖐💙💜🖐

[@user-dq1qy9go4t]

just wondering why someone would do this?

[@DawnMichelleTarot]

It depends on the person and the cards, but for me it's most often to make the deck smaller and easier to use. Sometimes it's to remove intrusive borders or to help open the deck up energetically. And sometimes it's for aesthetics because people prefer borderless decks. Just personal preference and how people like to work with their decks. Kinda like hemming a pair of pants that don't quite fit or adding patches to a jacket. I hope that helps!