The Magic Crayon

Can you tell the color of a crayon without seeing it, simply by feeling it?

Hold your hands behind your back, and have someone choose a crayon of any color and place it in your palm.

Grasp crayon in one hand and run thumbnail of other hand over end of crayon.

Then quickly raise your hand to forehead and pretend to be concentrating, at the same time stealing a peek at the bit of crayon on your thumbnail. After uttering a few magic words, reveal the color of the crayon.

Materials: Several crayons of different colors.

The Mastermind

Could you tell which of a group of cards was touched while you were out of the room?

This trick is lots of fun, and is especially good after dinner while a group is still sitting around the table. Place some cards on the table, and then ask somebody to touch one of them while you are out of the room. Tell him you will be able to pick out the one he has touched. The secret of this trick is to have a confederate (someone who knows the trick) sit next to you at the table.

When you come back, sit down, and start touching the cards one at a time. When you touch the right card, your confederate will tap you lightly on the foot. You can't go wrong! And you can do it several times before anyone catches on.

Materials: Twelve to fifteen playing cards, placed on a table.

Match Box Trick

Do you want to make your friends believe you have some strange power? You will have to prepare a small box of matches beforehand, then you can do the trick on the spur of the moment.

Break or cut one of the matches so that it is just long enough to wedge across the drawer of the matchbox (this must fit snugly as the trick depends on this wedge match.)

Insert drawer in box and put box where it will not be disturbed.

Now you are ready any time to bring out the box and tell your friends that you can make the matches stick to the inside of the box. Open the box part way (be sure the wedge match does not show) so that everybody can see there are matches in the box. Close the box.

Now turn the box upside down and pull the drawer all the way out, holding it so everyone can see you are not using your fingers to hold the matches in.

Your friends will be amazed that the matches stay in the box. To prove that the matches are still there, tap the drawer sharply against the table edge, still keeping the drawer upside down. The wedge will dislodge and the matches will fall in a heap. Pick them up (pocketing the wedge), put them in the box, and let your friends try to figure out how the trick was done!

Materials: A small box of matches

The Matchstick Trick

Can you make ten out of nine matches? Place nine matchsticks in a row. Keep up the patter as your friends struggle to do this trick.

Say, "I'll make ten out of these nine matches."

You simply pick up some matches and spell out the word "ten" in capital letters!

This one is easy - once you know the trick!

Materials: Nine matchsticks (or toothpicks).

You will amaze your friends once you have mastered these tricks!