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How to Do the Mystery Box Magic Trick

The mystery box is a magic trick featuring a magical matchstick box. One second the box is full of matches, then, before your eyes, the box is opened a second time to reveal that no matches remain. Just a few seconds later the box is full again. Although the trick may sound complicated, the construction of the trick box is an easy job that makes performing the trick a simple manner of adjusting the placement of one finger.

Things You'll Need

2 match books
Scissors
Matches
Match book sleeve

Instructions

- 1
  Cut one short side of a match box off, then repeat on the second match box. Each box will now have three sides.
- 2
  Make an angled cut along each long side of one of the boxes, starting at the bottom corner on the cut-off side and angling up to the top corner on the opposite side. This will create a wedge-shaped box.
- 3
  Slide the box with only the one side cut off into the box with the angled sides, with the open ends facing each other, then press together. With the two pieces together you will again have a matchbox with four sides.
- 4
  Place the match sticks into the box with the heads facing toward the short wall that is taken from the box that was not cut at an angle.
- 5
  Insert the combined boxes into the matchbook sleeve.
- 6
  Display the box to the audience, then press up on the bottom of the box so the boxes are slightly raised above the sleeve.
- 7
  Pull up on the side of the exposed boxes to show the matches inside, then close the box.
- 8
  Push up on the box slightly again, then pull on the sides while using a fingernail of the hand holding the sleeve to catch the tip of the box cut at an angle to show an empty box. As the fingernail keeps the angled box, serving as the bottom wall, from rising, the matches are not pushed up and exposed.
- 9
  Close the box and repeat, if desired, holding down the lip when an empty box is desired or letting it be pulled as well for a full box.

Spectator Hobbies