Why a card game?

You could blame the pandemic for fueling my passion for board games.

You might wonder if I wasn’t just a little opportunistic as my Leadership Knoxville class wrapped up.

You could certainly pin it on my need to be original and buck the status quo.

And while these things are true…

Elisa Trentham, Owner of Sherwood Media, demonstrates how to use the Living Legacy Conversation Cards.

I believe the reason I am still thinking about these Living Legacy Conversation Cards today is my lifelong passion for legacy, honor, and creating moments for meaningful connection.

I created this card deck for everyone who told me they love the idea of legacy films, but don’t have the resources to create one.

I can’t tell you how many people I’ve talked to who said they wish they had taken the time to have more meaningful conversations with their loved ones before they passed.

What can feel even more disheartening is how often people share their hopes and dreams for a meaningful legacy story, which disappear into “someday.”

A card game makes legacy storytelling accessible to all.

A legacy film can be ambitious, intimidating, and expensive.

I didn’t intend to design such an exclusive service, but to truly preserve and honor someone’s story with heirloom-quality at the level that I believe is possible… well, I was running away too many great people who wanted something a little simpler.

I hoped to equip anyone with a cell phone and an hour with someone you love to begin capturing legacy stories.

So, I decided to create a tool that literally anyone could use to have better conversations and begin thinking about their own story and legacy.

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Practically, it was pretty simple to design the game.

To start, I jotted down a few questions, started grouping them into categories, and did some research on the most affordable way to have a custom deck of cards printed.

I decided to start with a half-deck of 36 cards. That would include a couple of cards for instructions and a thank-you/shameless plug for my business, plus 33 of my best interview-focused questions I’ve used in my own films.

The design came together really simply using Canva.

I had an idea for a color palette that would be shades of green so that the cards all fan out and create a really classy gradient. I decided each color would represent each of the 6 categories of questions, so I had several cards with each color.

I designed the backs, designed the fonts, and duplicated the designs so each question had its own card image. In case you’re curious, I think I spent about 2-3 hours doing this.

Original design for our Living Legacy conversation cards by Elisa Trentham, owner of Sherwood Media.

But how would I actually get this game made?

I heard about the Game Crafter through a friend and fellow board gamer, and it was a great fit for this project. They had very clear instructions, including technical specs for the print files I needed to deliver, and their customer service team helped answer my questions.

I created the first run of prints and gave them to my Leadership Knoxville classmates before our graduation. The cards were extremely well received and used with family members around the table, and with each other.

Later, I spoke to the Maryville Rotary Club about legacy storytelling and gave out a couple of decks of cards as door prizes. Many people afterward came up to me and asked if they could buy their own deck of cards!

I’ve had several friends and family members share how intentional these cards and questions are, and how much they appreciate having something that can bring them together across generations. Parents are using them with their kids, kids are using them with their grandparents, and friends are using them to get to know each other better.

I am so happy to offer these cards to you today. I’ve made them affordable, of high quality, and from the deepest part of my heart.

You can order them here at this link. I believe the website also handles bulk orders if you want a deal, though they take a bit longer.

Whether you decide to order a deck of these cards or not, I hope you’ll take the time to ask more intentional questions of the people around you and always share stories with honor, truth, and love.