From playground trades to vendor tables — rediscovering the joy of the hobby.

Like a lot of kids in the early 2000s, I carried Pokémon and Yu-Gi-Oh! cards everywhere — stuffed in my pockets, wrapped in rubber bands, ready for any trade or playground battle. Those cards sparked some of my favorite childhood memories.

Then, somewhere along the way, I convinced myself it wasn’t “cool” anymore. The teasing, the pressure to grow up — it all pushed me away from a hobby I genuinely loved. I boxed up my cards, but I never lost the spark completely. My Game Boy and a few cherished cartridges (Fire Red, Emerald, Platinum) stayed with me as quiet reminders.

Years later, as the pandemic reignited the collecting world, I found my way back — this time as both a collector and a vendor. I saw a new community forming: people who grew up, came back, and embraced what they loved without apology.

Beyond the Foil is my place to share that story — the lessons, the wins, the frustrations, and the excitement of being part of a hobby that never really left me.