Magic With Props & Everyday Objects

Playing cards and specially made magic props are cool, but the magic tricks you do with everyday objects are what people will most remember. There’s something organic about doing a magic trick with a bill, or a coin. It makes the magic feel a lot more real, and even more unexplainable.

Magic Trick:

Self Folding Money

Needed:
Play paper money

This is a really fun trick to do with paper money. It’s best to use play money, especially if you live somewhere like Canada. (Technically, it’s illegal to purposefully destroy money in Canada. And this trick involves putting a tear in the bill!)

This is something I perform often, and have performed often since I was a little kid. It’s easy to do, but does take some practice to get comfortable with it. You can perform it in your first magic show, or just for fun. My suggestion is to keep this cool trick in your pocket and perform it casually when no one suspects a trick is about to happen. Then you can watch their eyes bug out!

Magic Trick:

Snapper Puzzle

Needed:
One Snapper Prop

This is the Magic Snapper Puzzle. The Snapper is a prop that you can buy from magic shops, or from many online toy stores. It’s also a common thing to find in beginner’s magic sets. It isn’t actually a magic trick, thought it could be presented as one. Normally this is shown like a puzzle. You show your friend the tube that has a rubber band in it, and the hook. You ask them to put the hook into the tube, and try to attach it to the elastic band.
Unless they know the secret, they won’t be able to do it. What’s the secret? The secret is that the Snapper is impossible!
It’s not actually possible to hook the elastic band. The hook isn’t long enough to reach!!! Still, when you pick it up you make it look like you’ve hooked the elastic. Hand it back to your friend and watch them keep trying.
To make it look like you hook the elastic band with the hook, all you have to do is pinch the tip of the hook while it’s in the tube. It will snap forward, as though being pulled by the elastic band. Watch the video to see the Magic Guy perform and demonstrate the trick.

Magic Trick:

The Paddle Trick

Needed:
Magic Paddle

The Magic Paddle uses one of the oldest magic priciples in the world. The illusion is that magicians show something that appears on two sides of a paddle. Then the image changes, or moves. In the above video, The Magic Guy, a Toronto magiciain, demonstrates the paddle trick with a popular rabbit paddle. Here, there is a picture of a hat that looks empty. Then a picture of a rabbit appears in the hat!
If you got a magic paddle in a magic kit, it may look different than the one in the video. The instructions still work though, so watch it and enjoy your fun prop. It’s a great one for amazing friends and family. It’s also easy to learn. It takes some practice though, and it may take a bit of time to get the hang of it.
Your paddle will have an image on one side, and a different image on the other. You have to turn the paddle over in a special way that makes it look like you are showing both sides, while really showing just one. To do this, hold the paddle loosely between your thumb and fingers so that one side of the paddle is facing away from you.
Rotate your wrist, as if you are about to turn the paddle over to show the other side. As you rotate your wrist, your thumb and finger will spin the paddle away from you, just half a rotation. The result is that even though you turned your wrist, the same side is facing towards your audience.
To make the magic happen, give the paddle a shake. While it’s shaking, actually turn it around. When you stop shaking there will be a different image facing out. This may sound complicated because it’s hard to visualize what is happening. So take a look at the video and see how it’s done.

Magic Trick:

The Magnetic Wand

Needed:
A magic wand
You can also use a pencil

One of the most popular items in The Magic Guy’s loot bags is the wand. The Magnetic Wand is a great trick to perform with your magic wand. You can even use a pencil, pen or similar shaped object. If you’re at school, try this with a ruler, and amaze your teacher!
When you perform this, your friends will see you hold a magic wand in your left hand. You’ll open up your fingers, and the wand won’t fall. It will look like it’s just stuck to your hand. It’s a really cool illusion, and the secret is simple. Try it a few times and you’ll be ready to perform it for anyone.
To perform it, hold the wand in your left fist. Your right hand grabs your left wrist. You’ll tell your friends that this is to steady your hand, or to slow your pulse. Just say something so it makes sense that you’re holding your wrist. The secret to the trick is that while you hold your wrist, you’ll extend your right index finger and push it against the wand inside your left fist. When your left fingers open, it will looks like the wand is just stuck there, because the finger is hidden behind your hand and arm. For a better idea of how this looks, check out the video and watch the performance and explanation.

Magic Trick:

Fun Magic Twisty Worm

Needed:
A Twisty Worm Toy

Magic Twisty Worms are a fun toy and a favourite of kids all around the world. By themselves, these are little, cute, fluffy “worms”. But, when you know the secret to making them come alive, a magician can do some pretty incredible things with them. With experimentation you’ll be able to make your magic twisty worm crawl around you hand, over pencils, into glasses and much, much more.
This video shows the very basic handling of this exciting prop, to help get you started. The idea is to take the string, and unwind it so the string is about a foot and a half — you’ll figure out the exact size with some play. One end of the string is already attached to the magic twisy worm’s nose. The other end should be tucked into your belt, or anchored into your pocket. Then, let the worm and string hang over your hand. Move your hand away from you and back again, and look how the worm reacts. Check out the video and see how it’s done.