Card holder for most of the cards that make up your ship in Firefly. This is a companion instructable to my previous one that describes how to make a good deck/discard and pieces holder for the board game: Firefly Board Game Case From Foam Core

Step 1: How Do You Manage All of the Cards?

Half of the major footprint of Firefly the board game is the mass of cards that create your hand: Crew, Jobs, Money, Equipment, Ship Mods, Etc. So, tried to figure out a way to mitigate some of that footprint into a more manageable device. Please please share any modifications or other ways you manage your hand!! This is just a first attempt and always looking for something better.

Step 2: The Test and the Plan

I grabbed a piece of scrap foam core and started cutting to see what I could come up with. I liked the curved carousel as it provided an easy to see setup for all of the cards. Here you can see the progression from very rough concept to a semi rough template.

Step 3: Dimensions and Tools

Since I have plenty left over and out is extremely easy to work with, will be using foam core. Need a ruler to measure, hobby knife and / or specialty foam cutting tools, and glue (hot or elmers white is fine).

Dimensions are 4"x8". The area that holds money is 1 1/2"x4". The holding slits are set every 1/2" up the sides and every 3/4" around the curve and are 1" long. Space was left on the left side so cards would fit well between the curve and side but feel free to set up the holding slits however you like your hand. Experiment with a couple games to see what works for you.

Step 4: Measurements

Use a cup or other appropriately sized thing to inscribe a half circle on one side of the panel.

On the other side of the panel measure 1 1/2" and draw a line across. That will be the start of the 1" long 45° cuts up both sides of the panel. Make a mark every 1/2 inch up the right side for 4". Make a mark every 1/2 inch up the left side for 3". Also make one mark at the 4" on the left side.

At the top, where the half circle is inscribed, make a mark that is in the middle (2" from either side). Use the marks made at the 4" for a guide.

Now we are going to make the marks on the circle. We are just going to be using simple chords to make the marks for where the lines will go. Feel free to go big and use exact measurements with protractor and angles, but it's a card holder. Start with any number of your ruler touching the first measuring dot on the right of the circle. Then rotate the rule until it bisects the circle 3/4" from the starting number. Repeat until you have about 6 marks going around the circle.

Once you have the marks measured out, go back and make your 1" guidelines. When making the lines for the circle, line up the outer dots with the center dot.

Step 5: Cutting

This can actually be a little sloppy. A slightly wavy cut will give a better grip to the cards. I cut most of the way thru with the specialized foam cutting tool at a 45° angle. Then I finished the cut freehand and didn't even try to make it pretty.

I also cut a small slit on the side in the area that will hold the money. This will be used to slide in the paperclip that will hold the money.

Cut some small pieces of scrap and glue to the bottom. This will allow the cards to poke out the bottom a bit and makes it easier to slide them in.

If a basic card holder is all you want or need then you can stop here. You're done. Next step is beautification only.

Step 6: Finishing Touches

Once the glue is try for the bottom feet, grab your favorite color spray paint and make your new card holder pretty. Or go crazy and add hand drawn art, beads, wire, steam punk... those actually sound cooler, do those.

After the paint is dry, take an old rewards card you have laying around and test fit all of the slits.

I whipped up a quick demonstration to show how much space the card holder saves. It can also be picked up and moved much easier. In a pinch for space? Lay the card holder on the board and just move them when you need to for ship movement.

Hopefully this will give you ideas. Fill the comments with your improvements!