diff --git a/scripts/seed-collections-with-cards.js b/scripts/seed-collections-with-cards.js
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+++ b/scripts/seed-collections-with-cards.js
@@ -0,0 +1,239 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env node
+
+import dotenv from 'dotenv';
+import { neon } from '@neondatabase/serverless';
+import { generateUniqueSlug } from '../lib/slug-utils.js';
+
+dotenv.config({ path: '.env.local' });
+
+async function seedCollectionsWithCards() {
+  const sql = neon(process.env.POSTGRES_URL);
+
+  try {
+    console.log('🎮 Seeding collections with cards and thumbnails...');
+
+    // First, get Alice and Bob's user IDs
+    const users = await sql`
+      SELECT id, email FROM users 
+      WHERE email IN ('alice@tcgvault.com', 'bob@tcgvault.com')
+      ORDER BY email
+    `;
+
+    if (!users || users.length !== 2) {
+      console.error('❌ Could not find Alice and Bob users');
+      console.error('Expected 2 users, got:', users?.length || 0);
+      return;
+    }
+
+    const alice = users.find(u => u.email === 'alice@tcgvault.com');
+    const bob = users.find(u => u.email === 'bob@tcgvault.com');
+
+    console.log(`👩 Alice: ID ${alice.id}`);
+    console.log(`👨 Bob: ID ${bob.id}`);
+
+    // Clear existing data
+    console.log('🧹 Clearing existing collections and cards...');
+    await sql`DELETE FROM collection_cards`;
+    await sql`DELETE FROM collection_permissions`;
+    await sql`DELETE FROM collections`;
+    
+    // Add some sample cards if they don't exist
+    console.log('🃏 Adding sample cards...');
+    const sampleCards = [
+      // MTG Cards
+      { name: 'Black Lotus', set_name: 'Alpha', rarity: 'mythic', game: 'MTG', market_price: 50000, image_url: 'https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/b/d/bd8fa327-dd41-4737-8f19-2cf5eb1f7cdd.jpg' },
+      { name: 'Lightning Bolt', set_name: 'Alpha', rarity: 'common', game: 'MTG', market_price: 25, image_url: 'https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/c/e/ce711943-c1a1-43a0-8b89-8d169cfb8e06.jpg' },
+      { name: 'Ancestral Recall', set_name: 'Alpha', rarity: 'mythic', game: 'MTG', market_price: 8000, image_url: 'https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/2/3/2398892d-28e9-4009-81ec-0d544af79d2b.jpg' },
+      { name: 'Serra Angel', set_name: 'Alpha', rarity: 'uncommon', game: 'MTG', market_price: 15, image_url: 'https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/9/0/9067f035-3437-4c5c-bae9-d3c9001a3411.jpg' },
+      { name: 'Shivan Dragon', set_name: 'Alpha', rarity: 'rare', game: 'MTG', market_price: 100, image_url: 'https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/2/2/227cf1b5-f85b-41fe-be98-66e383652039.jpg' },
+      
+      // Pokemon Cards
+      { name: 'Charizard', set_name: 'Base Set', rarity: 'rare', game: 'Pokemon', market_price: 350, image_url: 'https://images.pokemontcg.io/base1/4_hires.png' },
+      { name: 'Blastoise', set_name: 'Base Set', rarity: 'rare', game: 'Pokemon', market_price: 200, image_url: 'https://images.pokemontcg.io/base1/2_hires.png' },
+      { name: 'Venusaur', set_name: 'Base Set', rarity: 'rare', game: 'Pokemon', market_price: 180, image_url: 'https://images.pokemontcg.io/base1/15_hires.png' },
+      { name: 'Pikachu', set_name: 'Base Set', rarity: 'common', game: 'Pokemon', market_price: 50, image_url: 'https://images.pokemontcg.io/base1/58_hires.png' },
+      { name: 'Machamp', set_name: 'Base Set', rarity: 'rare', game: 'Pokemon', market_price: 75, image_url: 'https://images.pokemontcg.io/base1/8_hires.png' },
+      
+      // Lorcana Cards
+      { name: 'Elsa - Snow Queen', set_name: 'First Chapter', rarity: 'legendary', game: 'Lorcana', market_price: 25, image_url: 'https://example.com/elsa.jpg' },
+      { name: 'Mickey Mouse - Brave Little Tailor', set_name: 'First Chapter', rarity: 'rare', game: 'Lorcana', market_price: 15, image_url: 'https://example.com/mickey.jpg' },
+      { name: 'Simba - King of Pride Rock', set_name: 'First Chapter', rarity: 'rare', game: 'Lorcana', market_price: 20, image_url: 'https://example.com/simba.jpg' },
+    ];
+
+    // Insert cards (or update if they exist)
+    const cardIds = [];
+    for (const card of sampleCards) {
+      // Check if card already exists
+      const existingCard = await sql`
+        SELECT id FROM cards WHERE name = ${card.name} AND set_name = ${card.set_name}
+      `;
+      
+      if (existingCard.length > 0) {
+        cardIds.push(existingCard[0].id);
+      } else {
+        const result = await sql`
+          INSERT INTO cards (name, set_name, rarity, game, market_price, image_url, created_at, updated_at)
+          VALUES (${card.name}, ${card.set_name}, ${card.rarity}, ${card.game}, ${card.market_price}, ${card.image_url}, CURRENT_TIMESTAMP, CURRENT_TIMESTAMP)
+          RETURNING id
+        `;
+        cardIds.push(result[0].id);
+      }
+    }
+
+    console.log(`✅ Added/updated ${cardIds.length} sample cards`);
+
+    // Create collections with different states
+    const collectionsData = [
+      // Alice's Collections
+      {
+        owner: alice,
+        name: "Alice's Power 9 Collection",
+        description: "The most powerful and expensive cards in Magic history. My crown jewels!",
+        tcg: "MTG",
+        isPublic: true,
+        tags: ["power-nine", "vintage", "expensive", "mythic"],
+        cardIds: [0, 2, 4], // Black Lotus, Ancestral Recall, Shivan Dragon
+        customThumbnail: null
+      },
+      {
+        owner: alice,
+        name: "Pokemon Starter Collection",
+        description: "The classic starter Pokemon from the original Base Set. Nostalgia at its finest!",
+        tcg: "Pokemon", 
+        isPublic: true,
+        tags: ["pokemon", "starters", "base-set", "classic"],
+        cardIds: [5, 6, 7, 8], // Charizard, Blastoise, Venusaur, Pikachu
+        customThumbnail: "https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1606890737304-57a1ca8a5b62?w=400&h=300&fit=crop"
+      },
+      {
+        owner: alice,
+        name: "Empty Future Collection",
+        description: "This collection is waiting for the perfect cards to be added. Coming soon!",
+        tcg: "MTG",
+        isPublic: false,
+        tags: ["future", "planning", "wishlist"],
+        cardIds: [], // Empty collection
+        customThumbnail: null
+      },
+      
+      // Bob's Collections  
+      {
+        owner: bob,
+        name: "Bob's Budget MTG Deck",
+        description: "Affordable but effective cards for competitive play. Proof you don't need to break the bank!",
+        tcg: "MTG",
+        isPublic: true,
+        tags: ["budget", "competitive", "affordable", "deck"],
+        cardIds: [1, 3], // Lightning Bolt, Serra Angel
+        customThumbnail: null
+      },
+      {
+        owner: bob,
+        name: "Disney Lorcana Heroes",
+        description: "My favorite Disney characters brought to life in card form. The magic of Disney!",
+        tcg: "Lorcana",
+        isPublic: true,
+        tags: ["disney", "lorcana", "heroes", "characters"],
+        cardIds: [10, 11, 12], // Elsa, Mickey, Simba
+        customThumbnail: "https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1578662996442-48f60103fc96?w=400&h=300&fit=crop"
+      },
+      {
+        owner: bob,
+        name: "Secret Project Collection",
+        description: "A mysterious collection that's still under construction. What could it be?",
+        tcg: "Pokemon",
+        isPublic: false,
+        tags: ["secret", "mystery", "wip"],
+        cardIds: [9], // Just Machamp
+        customThumbnail: null
+      }
+    ];
+
+    // Get existing slugs
+    const existingSlugsData = await sql`SELECT slug FROM collections WHERE slug IS NOT NULL`;
+    const existingSlugs = (existingSlugsData || []).map(row => row.slug);
+
+    console.log('🏗️ Creating collections with various states...');
+
+    for (const collectionData of collectionsData) {
+      // Generate unique slug
+      const uniqueSlug = await generateUniqueSlug(collectionData.name, existingSlugs);
+      existingSlugs.push(uniqueSlug);
+
+      // Create collection
+      const collectionResult = await sql`
+        INSERT INTO collections (name, description, tcg, is_public, tags, user_id, slug, image, created_at, updated_at)
+        VALUES (
+          ${collectionData.name},
+          ${collectionData.description},
+          ${collectionData.tcg},
+          ${collectionData.isPublic},
+          ${collectionData.tags.join(',')},
+          ${collectionData.owner.id},
+          ${uniqueSlug},
+          ${collectionData.customThumbnail},
+          CURRENT_TIMESTAMP,
+          CURRENT_TIMESTAMP
+        )
+        RETURNING id, name, slug
+      `;
+
+      const collection = collectionResult[0];
+
+      // Create owner permission
+      await sql`
+        INSERT INTO collection_permissions (collection_id, user_id, role, status, created_at)
+        VALUES (${collection.id}, ${collectionData.owner.id}, 'owner', 'active', CURRENT_TIMESTAMP)
+      `;
+
+      // Add cards to collection
+      if (collectionData.cardIds.length > 0) {
+        for (const cardIndex of collectionData.cardIds) {
+          const cardId = cardIds[cardIndex];
+          const quantity = Math.floor(Math.random() * 3) + 1; // Random quantity 1-3
+          
+          await sql`
+            INSERT INTO collection_cards (collection_id, card_id, quantity, created_at)
+            VALUES (${collection.id}, ${cardId}, ${quantity}, CURRENT_TIMESTAMP)
+          `;
+        }
+      }
+
+      const statusEmoji = collectionData.cardIds.length === 0 ? '😢' : 
+                         collectionData.customThumbnail ? '🖼️' : '🃏';
+      const statusText = collectionData.cardIds.length === 0 ? 'Empty (crying emoji)' :
+                        collectionData.customThumbnail ? 'Custom thumbnail' : 
+                        `${collectionData.cardIds.length} cards`;
+
+      console.log(`  ${statusEmoji} "${collectionData.name}" → "${uniqueSlug}" (${statusText})`);
+    }
+
+    console.log('\n🎉 Database seeded successfully!');
+    
+    console.log('\n📊 Collection States Created:');
+    console.log('   😢 Empty collections → Show crying emoji placeholder');
+    console.log('   🃏 Collections with cards → Show white card boxes with images');
+    console.log('   🖼️ Collections with custom thumbnails → Show uploaded images');
+    
+    console.log('\n🎮 Test Scenarios:');
+    console.log('   👩 Alice has: Power 9 (cards), Pokemon (custom thumb), Empty (crying emoji)');
+    console.log('   👨 Bob has: Budget MTG (cards), Lorcana (custom thumb), Secret (1 card)');
+    
+    console.log('\n🔗 Ready to test the new thumbnail layouts!');
+    console.log('   • Login as Alice or Bob');
+    console.log('   • Visit /collections to see your collections');
+    console.log('   • Visit /community/collections to see public ones');
+    console.log('   • Each collection will show different thumbnail states');
+
+  } catch (error) {
+    console.error('❌ Failed to seed collections with cards:', error.message);
+    console.error('Full error:', error);
+    process.exit(1);
+  }
+}
+
+if (import.meta.url === `file://${process.argv[1]}`) {
+  seedCollectionsWithCards();
+}
+
+export { seedCollectionsWithCards };
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