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How to Make Spy Toys

Spies have lots of case secrets that they often need to describe to their fellow agents. Sometimes the only way that a spy has to communicate sensitive information is through written messages. But this is dangerous, because it's so easy for the notes to fall into the hands of the enemy counterspies. The perfect solution to this dilemma is to write your messages with invisible ink, which you can make yourself.
Your mission--should you decide to accept --may not even cost you any money for this excellent spy essential. Everything you'll need is probably in your kitchen already. You and your friends will have a great time sending invisible notes back and forth. The best fun will be in confusing your adversaries with a fake message that they'll be able to easily read.

Things You'll Need

White writing paper
Pencil or pen
Lemon juice
Toothpicks
Candle

Instructions

- 1
  Write a message with fake details about your case on plain white paper with a pencil or pen. Skip every other line. Give false names and addresses, wrong dates and times, and bad directions. Include a silly poem, which will make counterspies think that the message is written in some kind of top secret code, should they happen to intercept it.
- 2
  Pour a little lemon juice into a shallow cup or bowl. Dip the tip of a toothpick into the juice and write your real message with it. Write in the blank lines that you skipped, and even use the margins if you need more room to complete your secret notes. You'll be able to see what you're writing until the invisible ink dries, when it will be much less noticeable. Only your fellow agents will know what you've done.
- 3
  Put the secret message on a flat surface in a cool location and let the "ink" dry completely before you move it around. If it dries and you think that the writing is still too visible, add a small amount of water to the juice and create a new message. Don't forget to destroy the old one.
- 4
  Ask an adult for help with lighting a candle when you're ready to reveal the invisible message. Hold the paper above the flame, close enough to heat it without burning it. The lemon juice writing will turn dark when it's heated, and you'll be able to read what you wrote.

Childrens Toys