Certain aspects are directed to a portable and compact card holding and playing system comprising a card caddy with a detachable rotating mechanism, a flexible retaining device with at least one weighted element, a plurality of retaining discs, and a game plate using a number of flexible retaining mechanisms. The game plate is single and/or trifold with the trifold plate comprising a ferrous core with top and bottom laminate materials connected via hinges. The retaining disc is stackable, which can be placed on a number of cards or on each other. The card tray is preferably detachable from a base with a center divider that includes a magnetic component used to securely attach the card tray to the magnets embedded in the flexible retaining device and the base, thus allowing the kit to operate via magnetic and gravitational forces and be used in the presence of wind, turbulence or on uneven playing surfaces.

A two-card sleeve apparatus is described. The two-card sleeve apparatus may include a first transparent layer, an opaque layer, and a second transparent layer. The two-card sleeve apparatus may be used to safely store or display two or more trading cards.

A card-handling device and related methods may include a card intake, a card rotation device, and a card output. The card rotation device may be configured to rotate at least one of the one or more playing cards about a minor axis of the one or more playing cards to randomly alter an orientation of lateral edges of the one or more playing cards. A card-handling device and related methods may be configured to recognize unreadable cards and move the unreadable cards to a designated position.

A card-handling device and related methods may include a card intake, a card rotation device, and a card output. The card rotation device may be configured to rotate at least one of the one or more playing cards about a minor axis of the one or more playing cards to randomly alter an orientation of lateral edges of the one or more playing cards. A card-handling device and related methods may be configured to recognize unreadable cards and move the unreadable cards to a designated position.

An intuitive music composition game platform with various modes of operation in a single reader system and a music mash up collectable card game and method using cards with tags and unique identifications. A single reading platform includes a cover for card storage and for supporting a smart device platform for reading many Near Field communication (NFC) embedded cards, with stacking features and colored light indicated input lanes selection for user identification and selection. Various game modes include individual, studio mix, party modes game play features in music mash up collectable card games, which may be used together with or independent of accessory devices as controllers, or smart device user interfaces with Bluetooth™ or Wi-Fi for communicating user selection and operation.

A two-card sleeve apparatus is described. The two-card sleeve apparatus may include a first transparent layer, an opaque layer, and a second transparent layer. The two-card sleeve apparatus may be used to safely store or display two or more trading cards.

A two-card sleeve apparatus is described. The two-card sleeve apparatus may include a first transparent layer, an opaque layer, and a second transparent layer. The two-card sleeve apparatus may be used to safely store or display two or more trading cards.

A kit for regulating emotions and feelings by kids. The kit includes a main article that has avatars implemented to express different emotions, calming cards that include instructions to manage emotions by the kids, and calming articles that can be used by the kids to calm their emotions based on the instructions in the calming cards.

A kit for regulating emotions and feelings by kids. The kit includes a main article that has avatars implemented to express different emotions, calming cards that include instructions to manage emotions by the kids, and calming articles that can be used by the kids to calm their emotions based on the instructions in the calming cards.

Various embodiments include apparatus, systems, and methods relating to protective packaging for shipping items. In some embodiments, a protective packaging system may include a shipping container and a foam insert assembly. The shipping container may encase an interior portion. The foam insert assembly may be configured to conformally encapsulate one or more shipping items within the interior portion of the shipping container, e.g., so as to protect the one or more shipping items from mechanical impact damage (e.g., bending) and/or environmental damage (e.g., exposure to moisture) during shipping.