DIY Cardboard Magic Wallets
Children are fascinated by magic tricks, and often wish to participate in the illusion. One very simple-to-perform illusion is the magic wallet. When an object is placed inside, then opened a certain way, the object appears to have "jumped" to the other side and under a pair of retaining straps. You can make this easy and fun magic trick out of ordinary cardboard and art supplies at home.
Things You'll Need
- Scissors
- Ruler
- White glue
- Pencil
- Cardboard or poster board in several colors
Instructions
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1
Cut two 7-by-3 1/2-inch rectangles of cardboard to make the main body of the wallet.
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2
Cut an additional four strips measuring 1/2 inch wide by 5 1/2 inches long out of a second sheet of cardboard.
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3
Place the two larger rectangles on a flat surface alongside each other.
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4
Slide one of the narrow strips under the right-hand rectangle, spanning its width about 1/2 inch from the upper short end. Place another the same distance from the end closer to you. Position the strips so their ends stick out the same distance on either side, with the left ends overlapping the other rectangle.
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5
Glue the left ends down to the left rectangle where they lay with white or school glue.
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6
Fold the other ends on the right side up and over the edge of the right half of the wallet and set aside.
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7
Lay the other two strips on top of each other in an X shape, and glue them together with a small drop of glue in the center where they cross. Allow them to dry.
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8
Slide the dried X strips under the left half of the wallet, poking the right ends of the X through the gap between the two halves so they overlap the right half, much like you did with the other pair of strips. Position the center of the X in the center of the left half's underside; then glue the right ends to the right half where they lay.
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9
Fold the left ends of the X up and over the outside edge of the left half; then glue them down to the inside of the wallet as you did on the other side.
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Tips & Warnings
To perform the magic wallet illusion, turn the wallet over so the horizontal strips are on the left-hand side and the crossed strips on the right hand side. Place an object, such as a playing card or a coin on the side with the horizontal strips. Close the wallet by folding the right side over the left; then open it from the right-hand side. The object which was free before will appear to have jumped to the other side, where it is now trapped under the X straps.
Try decorating the magic wallet by using different colors of cardboard or poster board, gluing glitter to it or coloring the outside with markers.
