PA N D O R A

LIAM MONTIER

LIAM MONTIER

PANDORA
 PA N D O R A
LIAM MONTIER

Trick Tastic and Screw Loose Productions

Present

PANDORA
WRITTEN BY
Liam Montier

EFFECTS CREATED BY
Liam Montier

PRODUCED BY
Jamie Daws

LOGO DESIGN BY
Ade Gower
www.monster-creations.com

BOOKLET DESIGN BY

Copyright © 2011 of Liam Montier and Jamie Daws.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any
form without the written permission of the writer and publisher.
Do NOT illegally share this booklet on the internet.
www.JamieDaws.co.uk www.TrickTastic.com
 PA N D O R A
LIAM MONTIER

Contents
Jamie Daws INTRODUCTION | THREE

HALF CUT | FOUR

SCORCH | EIGHT

STAPLED | ELEVEN

TARDIS | FIFTEEN

GRAFFITI | SEVENTEEN

Bonus Section MOONIE | TWENTY

FOLD OUT | TWENTY ONE

THRU AND THRU | TWENTY TWO

THANKS AND OUTTRO | TWENTY FOUR

TWO
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LIAM MONTIER

Introduction
On behalf of both Liam and myself (Jamie Daws), we welcome you to Pandora -
collection of card effects worthy of the big man himself!

If you haven’t come across Liam’s work before, you have really been missing a
hugely creative force in the magic community. It was a wish of mine to
produce Pandora through the Screw Loose brand when he showed me one
particular effect about 2 years ago now. It was his take on the ‘card through
window’ plot, and one of those moments that left me dumbfounded. It was clever,
practical and fooled the pants of me! That made it into this collection and is now
called Graffiti!

Amongst the others, Scorch was shown to me at the beginning of 2011 as well
as Moonie which is Liam’s take on the ‘moving hole plot’ but using the half moon
cut out of the box. Again, both effects were so well thought out and solidified the
feeling of wanting to put it out. As time went on, Liam included a few other great
effects into the mix as well.

Pandora’s name came about, quite obviously because a large part of this
collection utilizes the infamous ‘Box Front Gimmick’. Something with so much
potential, never truly explored. I feel Liam has created the strongest possible routines
using this gimmick and your about to discover them for yourself!

Jamie Daws
July 2011

THREE
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LIAM MONTIER
Half Cut
EFFECT

You give the pack of cards a shuffle, and ask a spectator to cut the deck and mark the position where they cut, in time
honoured tradition. The card that they cut to is the Six of Diamonds, for example.

You explain that the card case has a prediction stapled to it, and show the staple from inside the box, having it felt to
check it is genuine. Then the box is turned over to reveal a mini card, the Jack of Clubs, stapled to it. Again, the
spectator checks the staple to make sure it is genuine.

However, then comes the soul crushing news – the prediction is wrong! They gleefully name their card as the Six of
Diamonds…

No problem, you take some of the deck off of the table and make a fan, and wave it over the box for just an instant.
Immediately the mini card changes into the correct card, the Six of Diamonds! You immediately hand the box to the
spectator, and they can examine it to their hearts content!

DISCUSSION
This was the effect that started off my obsession with a little known and under-exploited gaff that I refer to as the ‘Box
Front Gimmick’. I found a couple of them, specially printed, when I was working at Kaymar Magic, and the idea of using
it to change a card that was stapled onto the box eventually evolved.

Although I would certainly comment that this isn’t the strongest trick in this collection
using the box-front gimmick, I think it has merit as the first step in the evolution of the
other effects, and as such, you might enjoy making it up and playing around with it.
1

THE GAFF
To make up the gimmick, you need to grab a deck of cards in the box, a
duplicate card box, a pair of scissors and some glue, a stapler, and two
mini cards (although you could also use quarters torn from duplicate cards
as a work around).

Begin by cutting out the front panel of your duplicate card case, and
discarding the rest of it. Make sure when you are cutting, that you cut
‘large’. At this point, you would much prefer the panel to be too large, 2
rather than too small. (Image One)

Next, staple one of your mini cards onto the centre of the panel. It is
important that the staple is horizontal, so that it will match the mini-card
on the regular box later on. (Image Two) Once the mini card is stapled in
place, flip the panel over, and use something (like the handle of the
scissors) to push the arms of the staple flat. This isn’t essential, but just
helps keep the gimmick invisible with use. (Image Three)

Take an indifferent playing card, and stick it onto the panel so that it
covers the little flattened staple arms. Ideally, use a card with a middle
pip, or a court card, just to hide the position of the staple, even if it wears in
over time. (Image Four)
FOUR
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3
Once the indifferent card is stuck in position, use your scissors to carefully
trim around it, ensuring that the panel now stuck to the back is a perfect fit.
This completes your first box front gimmick!

All that remains is to staple the other mini-card to your regular card case.
Do this by folding the ‘tongue’ flap inside the case, and then stapling the
mini card into a central position, being careful to ensure that the staple
just goes through the box and the mini-card – NOT through the ‘tongue’
flap that you have just pushed inside. (This is the voice of frustrated
experience!) (Image Five)
4 Complete the assembly of your cool new toy by putting the cellophane
from your deck back around the regular case, and then slipping the box
front gimmick in the cellophane, over the top of the regular front panel. The
end result looks like just a single mini card stapled to the card case when
viewed from outside AND inside! (Images Six and Seven))

Once your case is set up in this fashion, you can just drop your regular pack
into the box and you are ready to go into the routine at any point.

PERFORMANCE
5

To set up on the fly, simply cut the card that matches the mini-card
stapled to your regular box to the top of the pack. So, if you are
following our example from the pictures above, you will need to cut or
cull the Six of Diamonds. You should also make sure that the card box is
on the table, with the stapled cards facing downwards, so that they are
hidden.

First step in the actual performance is to force the card. Now, although
all kinds of different techniques can be used here, I actually use
and recommend the old Cross Cut Force. There is perfect time
misdirection, and it also justifies part of the colour change, as you
will see later on.

So, table the pack (perhaps after throwing in

any false shuffle, keeping the Six of Diamonds
on top) and have the spectator cut the
deck into two piles. (Image Eight) Once they
make the cut, pick up the lower packet
(that is, the packet that used to be the
bottom half of the deck) and drop it on
top of the other half at an angle, so that
the deck makes a cross shape. Do this as
6 you make a comment about ‘marking
the cut’. (Image Nine)
7

FIVE
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Now comment that you had a prediction and stapled it onto the
8 card case. Say that you don’t want them to see it just yet, but you
can prove your claim. Pick up the case and pop it open, so that
the spectators can look inside and see the staple. You can even
invite them to feel it with their finger to make sure it is genuine.
(Image Ten) Close the box back up, and table it again.

This has served two purposes – firstly, when the prediction is

introduced in a moment, the spectators will be convinced that it
is stapled firmly in place, as they saw and felt it themselves,
and secondly, the whole process has acted as time
9 misdirection for the Cross Cut Force.

Turn back to the pack and lift off the upper half with the right
hand, so that your left can remove the top card of the lower
portion. This appears to be the card that they cut to, but in
reality, is your Six of Diamonds. Table the card, and then replace
the upper section back into place, still in the cross formation.

Emphasise how the spectator could have cut the pack anywhere,
and then pick the card case back up and turn it over, settling it in
the left hand dealing grip. This brings your mini-card into view. With
the right hand, grip the top edge of the case and the gimmick
(where the cellophane doesn’t reach) and hold tight while the left
hand pulls the cellophane from the
case. (Image Eleven) The
motivation for this is so that the
11
spectators can feel the staple
again, to check that it is genuine.

Once you have removed the

cellophane, settle the box and
the gimmick into your left hand
dealing grip and hold it pretty
tight, so that you can allow a
spectator to rub their finger
10 over the staple in the middle
of the mini-card.

Now call all attention to the

tabled selection, and have it flipped face up. This
reveals the selection as the Six of Diamonds, which of course doesn’t
match the mini card – the trick has apparently been unsuccessful.

With the right hand, pick up the upper portion of the deck and make a
one handed fan with it (this is the other reason why I use the Cross Cut
force, as it justifies picking up just half the pack a little better). (Image
Twelve) You are now in position to use a colour change to visually
change the prediction to the correct card.
12

SIX
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Do this by swinging both hands together on the count of one, and again
on two. On three, your left hand effectively tosses the loose gimmick off
of the box, towards the right hands fan. The right hand catches the
gimmick between the curled first and second fingers underneath the
fan, and then the hands move away from each other to reveal the
change. (Images Thirteen and Fourteen)

Casually table the right hands cards face up, where the gimmick will
simply blend in with the other cards in view, and call all attention to the
box and the changed mini-card, and then hand it out to be examined!
(Image Fifteen)

RESET 13

Reset the routine by simply slipping the card case back into the
cellophane, which can be done in full view, and then later just sliding
the gimmick back into position.

OTHER CHANGES
Depending on your technical expertise and personal preferences, and
performing situations, you will find that all kinds of techniques can be 14
used to ditch the gimmick and make the change happen.

For an implicit change, you could simply lap the gimmick directly, or use
the Vernon Transfer to steal the gimmick as you table the box and
move the deck out of the way.

For more visual changes, you could experiment with a one card pass,
or a pull. Or, simply holding the full pack in the right hand Biddle Grip,
and waving it over the box, picking up the gimmick and
immediately turning the hand palm down to disclose both the
change, and the fact that the face card of the deck is regular
could be effective.
15

SEVEN
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LIAM MONTIER

Scorch
EFFECT
A card is genuinely freely chosen from the deck, and returned to the centre. The deck is then placed into
the box, in order to keep the cards safe, as you declare that you will try to find the selection using fire!

You bring out a lighter, which a spectator lights and waves underneath the card case and suddenly there is
a bright flash of fire! Turning the box over, you show it is badly burnt!

Proposing to check on the cards, you remove them and spread through, revealing just a single card with a
heavy burn mark on the back of it, buried right in the centre of the deck. Flipping it face up reveals that it is
the selected card!

But that is not all. You explain that the problem is that the trick leaves the card ruined, so with your healing
hands, you heal the card back as good as new, and the burn mark is vanished. You then comment that you
might as well do the card case as well, and restore it back to its original condition!

Both the selection and the card case can be examined!

DISCUSSION
This was the next main routine that I created after Half Cut, and I was much happier with how this one played,
particularly when I started acting as if the routine was over when the selection had the burn mark on it, then going into
the restoration, which made it look spontaneous, and added a logical and very strong kicker.

I was inspired to come up with ‘Scorch’ after seeing several versions of the ‘gun’ trick

THE GAFFS
(where a gun is fired at a pack of cards, and the selection is the only one with a
bullet hole in it).

Two gimmicks are employed in this trick, but I think it’s justified by the ease of handling, clarity of effect
and the fact that the two main items (the selection and the card case) can be examined at the
conclusion of the effect. Grab yourself a deck of red cards and a spare red box.

First of all, a double backed card that has a burn mark on one of the sides is required. Now, it is possible
to make this from a regular double backed card, but be aware that sometimes it is difficult to get the
burn mark showing on one side while being invisible on the other side. Therefore, I make the gimmick as
follows.

Pick up any two red backed indifferent cards (red backed is best as the burn marks are more visible) and
use a candle to put a burn mark on the back of one of them. Doing so will cause the card to warp, so it
needs to be pressed beneath some heavy books or similar for a couple of days to flatten it back out.

Once it is flat, simply glue it to your other red backed indifferent card so that they are face to face, giving
you the gimmick that you need. Although it is thicker than using a printed double backer, it’s only in play
for a second.

Next up you need to make another box front gimmick, from the front panel of another card case, and
again using a lighter or candle, put some burn marks on it. Fasten a playing card onto the other side, but
this time glue the face of the card onto the panel, so you have a playing card back on one side, and a
burnt box front on the other. (Image Sixteen and Seventeen)
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Set up the box as before, by slipping the box front gimmick under the cellophane so that the box
appears burnt. Then take the deck and put the double backer on the bottom of the pack with the burn
mark uppermost, so that it would show if you spread the deck face down. (Image Eighteen)

*A quick note here as well about an

extra piece of preparation you can
AFFS do if you like. I often use some
FRONT OF G magicians wax to secure a little
square of flash paper onto the front
of the Box Front Gimmick before
sliding it under the cellophane. This
will give a nice visual magic moment
to a routine that is otherwise implicit.
However, it does mean the reset is
not as fast, so I will leave it to you.
A FFS (Image Nineteen)
O FG
A CK
B
16
17 PERFORMANCE
Begin by bringing out the deck, being
sure to keep the burnt side of the
case facing downwards, so it is unseen. Remove the cards from
One card burnt Face of a box inside, and if you like, false shuffle, being sure to keep the double
with candle, burnt with backer on the bottom of the deck.
stuck to the face candle. Stuck to
of another an indifferent Spread the cards between your hands for a selection, and when
indifferent card. card. Cut to size.
one is taken out, remove all the cards from above it with the right
hand and table them in a squared packet. (Image Twenty) Once
the selection has been noted, drop it onto the tabled packet,
and then drop the left hand cards on top. This buries the
selection in the middle, but with the double backer directly
above it. (Image Twenty One) Pick up the deck and put it
back in the case, again not flashing the burnt side of the box
just yet.

Explain that you are going to try to find the card using fire, and
bring out or borrow a lighter and hand it to the spectator with
the instruction of lighting it for you. As they do so, make a
comment about not wanting to melt the cellophane around
the case, and remove it, keeping the box front gimmick held
underneath the main box. End up with the whole unit being
held in Biddle Grip.

Now, hold the box over the flame on the spectators lighter. If
you have prepared the box with the flash paper, hold it a little 18
distance above the flame. That way, the paper will set off after
a couple of seconds, and give a good ‘moment’ of magic.
Otherwise, simply waving the box over the flame for a few
seconds will do fine. (Image Twenty Two)
NINE
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Turn your right hand palm up, which for the first time exposes the
apparently burnt card case. Turn the hand back over and remove
the deck from the case with the right hand, thumb on top with the
fingers below. As you remove the deck, it is a simple matter for the
right fingers to move under the case and slip the box front gimmick
out with the pack at the same time, so that it ends up at the
bottom of the face down deck. (Image Twenty Three) Casually
table the card box.

Spread through the deck to reveal one card in the centre now
has a burn mark on it! Table all the cards above it, and as you
square up, get a break underneath the card below the double
backer (this will be the selection) and ask the spectator to name
their card. (Image Twenty Four) Do a double turnover to show
that their card is the one with the burn mark, and then table the
selection and act as if the trick is over.

I like to now make a large ribbon spread of the deck across the
table if possible.

As an apparent afterthought, pick up the selection and ‘heal’ it with

20
a magic gesture, before turning the card over to reveal that the burn
mark has vanished! If you got to ribbon spread the deck, no burn
21 marks will be visible, so this is a great little climax.

Then, move onto the card case and heal that, before handing it out
for examination, together with the selected card. (Image Twenty
Five)

If you need to clean up the deck, you are left with a gaff on top of
the pack, and a gaff on the bottom, so you could double cut the
top card to the bottom and then gamblers cop them both away.

Otherwise, reset can be quickly done out of

22 sight by putting the box front gaff (on the
bottom of the pack) back in the cellophane
with the regular card case, and then turning
the top card over and slipping it to the bottom.

TEN
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Stapled
23
EFFECT
A card case is bought out and shown on both sides (and
examined) and the spectators notice that there are two large
windows cut into the box, making it totally see-through.

Next, a card is freely selected, signed and placed face down

on the table. The two Jokers are then removed from the deck,
displayed and placed back to back inside the ‘window’ case.
Then, through the window, the Jokers are stapled together, and
displayed on both sides. The spectators can even feel the staple
on both sides, before the case is tabled.

You then pick up the selection and pass it through your hands,
and point out that two tiny holes have appeared in the centre… 24
and they look like staple holes! You snap the selection face up and
show it has changed into a Joker!

You now leave the spectators themselves to turn over the card
case, where the signed selection has reappeared STAPLED to the
other Joker inside the box! The spectators can pull the cards out,
thoroughly examine both them and the case, and everything is as
it should be.

DISCUSSION
This is a variation on one of my favourite effects, which was called
Stapled by Paul Harris and Looy Simonoff. The use of the Box Front
gimmick makes this totally, totally deceptive and also makes the routine
difficult to backtrack, especially from a layman perspective. After all, how
would you add on something to a card case with two great big holes in it? The
method seems counter-intuitive, and that is what I like so much about it.

THE GAFF
There is only one gimmick involved in this routine, but it’s a good one!
25
Start off by grabbing hold of a Joker, and putting a staple through it so
that the bar of the staple is on the back of the card. Also, the staple
needs to be vertical. (Image Twenty Six) With that done, glue an
indifferent card (ideally a Three, Five, Seven or Nine of any suit except
Diamonds) onto the back of the Joker, so that you are left with a double faced card. (Image Twenty
Seven)

Now get two card boxes, and from the first one, cut a large rectangular window out of both sides, which is
easily done by putting an old deck in the case, and then using a ruler and a sharp knife. Do NOT cut
yourself! I accept no responsibility! (Image Twenty Eight)
 PA N D O R A
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From the second card box, cut out the front panel as in the
previous routines, and then cut out the window from the front, as
you did with the first box. (Image Twenty Nine) Now glue this over
the Joker side of your special double facer, and trim the edges to
make sure it is an exact fit. (Image Thirty)

That completes your Box Front Gimmick for this trick. Set up by
placing the gimmick at the bottom of a deck, with the indifferent
card that matches it directly behind. Note that your deck will also
need two (preferably identical) Jokers, and one should be on top.
(Image Thirty One) Slip the deck into the ‘window’ box, and then
be sure you have a marker pen and a regular stapler to hand. 27
(For an extra added touch, which is by no means necessary but
does make a nice moment in the routine, put a staple through the
Joker on the top of the pack, and then carefully remove the staple,
just leaving the two little holes. This leaves a great convincer of the
transposition.) (Image Thirty Two)

PERFORMANCE
Begin by removing the cards from the case, and tabling the case,
so that the half moon cut out is uppermost. Spread the cards
between your hands and have any card removed and shown 28
around, and then remove the marker so that the spectator can
sign the card.

Take the selection back with the right hand, and then reach
forward with the left hand (which is holding the deck as well) to
take back the marker. As the hands pass each other, switch the
selection for the Joker on top of the pack using a top change.
(Image Thirty Three)

(If the top change isn’t a move you use, notice that you could easily
work out a simple variation using, say, a force and a double turnover,
or any other switch that you are comfortable with)

Turn the deck so that the faces are towards you, and state that you will
take the Jokers out. Push over the first couple of cards as a block, so 29
that you don’t flash the back of the gimmick to the spectators at the
bottom of the spread. Up-jog the first Joker when you come to it, and
then the top card of the deck behind it, which is the selection, and strip
them out. (Image Thirty Four) Table the deck face up on TOP of the
card case. This is to justify having the deck in hand later on. (Image
Thirty Five)

Turn the ‘Joker’ packet face down, and use a Flushtration Count to
show that both cards are Jokers. If you are unfamiliar with this move,
you do it by holding the cards face down in the right hand, which grips
them from above (which is called Biddle Grip), and then turning the
right hand palm up, revealing the Joker on the face of the packet.
 PA N D O R A
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30
(Image Thirty Six) The right hand turns palm down again, and then
your left thumb peels the top face down card into its hand. (Image
Thirty Seven) The right hand then turns over again to reveal what is
apparently a second Joker, when in reality it is the first one again.
(Image Thirty Eight) This is placed on top, to conclude the count.

Comment that you need the Jokers back to back, and turn the top
Joker face up and then table the cards.

Pick up the face up deck and place it into left hand dealing
position, and then place the card case on top, clipping it in position
with the left thumb. The right hand now picks up the Joker packet
and slips them into the box, and closes the flap. (Image Thirty Nine)
Now bring out the stapler and staple the cards through the box (this
may require squashing the card box a little). (Image Fourty)
31
The right hand now apparently squares everything up, and picks up
the face card of the deck underneath the box, before moving
away, holding everything in Biddle Grip, but with the right forefinger
pressed against the Joker packet inside the box. (Image Fourty One)

Turn the right hand palm up to show (apparently) a Joker in the

window of the case. Hold everything quite tightly in position, and
you can have a spectator feel the staple with their finger (I do this
because the staple isn’t very visible against the Jokers, and it makes
a great convincer). (Image Fourty Two)

Once they have done this, immediately turn the right hand palm
down again, and drop the box onto the deck, adding the
gimmick back onto the face. Justify this by using your right finger
32 to rub the staple now in view, and get a spectator to do the
same, so they have effectively felt the staple on both sides.
Push the card box off of the deck and onto the table. If you
want to end totally clean, now is a good time to casually
pocket the deck.

Now for the magic! Pick up the card that was

apparently the selection, and do a Thru the Fist
flourish (without turning the card over) or any similar
magical gesture. Then point out that although
nothing has changed, two tiny holes have appeared
in the card. Normally this won’t be visible, so have a
spectator feel them to confirm.

Then explain that they look like staple holes, and

then snap the card face up to show the selection
has changed into one of the Jokers! Hand it out for
examination as you comment that it looks a lot like
one of the Jokers from the card case… and if that is
over here, then the selection must be…
33

THIRTEEN
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36

35

34

37

Allow the spectators themselves to turn over the card box

and find their own signed selection stapled to the back of
the other Joker! They can remove it, and examine
everything in play.

If you are going to continue your set, it is a simple matter to

remove the deck from your pocket, simply thumbing off the
face card as you do so, and now everything is clean,
examinable and you are ready to go on!

Final Thoughts 38
This is one of those routines that does destroy two cards per
use – one Joker and an indifferent card are used up each
time. If you want to use it regularly, it is well worth stock piling
Jokers from old decks, and even hitting up friends who don’t
use them to keep you with a steady supply.

Of course, in practice it is possible to not use the stapler, as it

doesn’t change the mechanics in any way. However, I
wouldn’t be tempted to omit the stapling from an actual
performance. It is well worth writing off the two cards for the
extra reaction that you will get.

FOURTEEN
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39 LIAM MONTIER

Tardis
EFFECT
Once you have removed a deck of cards from the box, you
propose an experiment using an optical illusion, and remove a
spinning disc with a spiral pattern on it, and set it spinning on the
table. The spectators are directed to look right at the centre of
the disc for about 30 seconds, and then to look at the pack of
cards resting on the table and to say what they see.

Many of the spectators, if not all, declare that the pack of cards
40 looks like it is getting bigger!

You comment that sometimes these optical illusions can blur the
lines between illusion and reality, and that to you, it really does look
like the pack of cards has grown. This is shown to be the case
when you try to put the cards back in the box… they no longer fit!

At this point, everything can be examined!

DISCUSSION
This routine came about from a purchase in a joke shop, which was the
‘incredible expanding bunny’. The package included a plastic rabbit
41 and a spinning disc that gives the illusion of the rabbit growing.

I thought it was a great novelty item, and mentioned to my friend

Jonathan Huxtable that it would make a great trick if I could substitute
the rabbit for another item, which I could prove really had then grown. In
all my thinking, I’d had no such luck.

Jon suggested the card case, after we had seen a similar effect by
Andrew Normansell on his Big Blind Media DVD, and as such, one of my
favourite pieces was born.

THE GAFFS
To perform this, you will firstly need
to pick up “The Incredible
Expanding Bunny”. A Google
search should throw up a heap of
places stocking them, and if you
still have no luck, check out the
photo of the packaging opposite
to find something similar in Joke
42 and Novelty shops.

FIFTEEN
 PA N D O R A
LIAM MONTIER
Next, pick up two decks of Bicycle cards, one bridge size and one poker size. Discard the bridge size
cards, and just keep the box. Although the bridge sized boxes are slightly different, and as such there is a
slight discrepancy after the switch, rest assured that only magicians, who are overly familiar with the
Bicycle brand and design, would ever notice the difference.

So, get set for performance by placing the bridge sized case
and the spinning disc in your left hand coat pocket (or case/
bag if your pockets aren’t large enough for the disc) and
having your regular deck in its box in your right hand pocket.

PERFORMANCE
Bring out the deck of cards from your right hand pocket, and
open them up, tabling the deck while leaving the card case
in left hand dealing grip. You can have them handled,
shuffled, examined or whatever if you like, to provide a little
more cover for the switch.

Comment that you also need a ‘Hypno-Disc’ and put both hands into their respective jacket pockets as
you are apparently looking for it. The right hand comes out empty, but the left hand comes out with the
disc AND the bridge box, having left the poker sized box behind.

Table the disc, drawing attention to it as you casually table the card box off to one side.

With that, the hard work is done!

Now, set the disc spinning in a clockwise direction, and have the spectators look into the centre of the
disc as it spins. You need to keep them there for about 20 seconds, although longer is better. In
performance, you can simply keep chatting as you explain how they are being hypnotised, and so on.

When that is done, direct them all to look at the deck of cards and to say what they see. A large
percentage of people (basically, everyone who followed your instructions!) will say that the deck seems
to get larger, thanks to the optical illusion.

Suggest that perhaps it isn’t just an optical illusion, as the pack really does look quite a lot larger to you
now. Propose that the spectator tries to put them away, and watch their faces as they realise the deck
has now grown to the point where it won’t fit back into the box!

Final Thoughts
It is worth mentioning that care should be taken to spin the disc in the correct direction, (clock wise)
because then the deck appears to grow. If the disc is spun in an anti-clockwise direction, then the deck
will appear to shrink.

Finally, there are some great shrinking card case handlings about, and John Cornelius puts out a great
version where you could remove the cards, and then spin the disc on top of the box, covering it from
view. Then, when you lift the disc off the box at the end, the box is TINY!

SIXTEEN
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Graffiti
EFFECT
You have two cards selected from the pack. One is lost back in the middle, and the other is left on the table.
You make a comment about how lots of people ask you about a trick that they have seen on TV, with a
chosen card that goes through a window, and although you haven’t seen it yourself, you are willing to give it
a go with a little portable window that you have made…

The card case is turned over to show that there is a card drawn on the inside, with permanent pen, which is
visible through a large square hole cut into the case. Flipping the first selection face up, it is seen that the
card matches the drawing, completing your version of the card in window effect.

However, what about the second selection? You pick up the first card and drop it into the case for a
second, and then immediately lift it out, and the drawing has changed into a picture of the SECOND
selection!

But that is not all… turning over the card that you used as cover reveals that it too has changed into the
second selection. You hand out first the box, and then the card, for total examination!

Discussion
I know the write up sounds pretty dry, but this really is a good, visible piece of magic that packs a solid one-two punch
that is made all the stronger when you hand out the items used (or so they think…)

The other part that makes me smile is the fact that the gimmick that changes the drawing also changes the face of the
first selection into the second. If that isn’t economical, then I don’t know what is!

THE GAFF
First step is to cut a large window out of the card box (the half moon
43
side) with a craft knife. Once again, DON’T CUT YOURSELF! I’m not
responsible, and am actually mean enough to make fun of you if you
do. (Image Fourty Three)

Next up, grab yourself a sharpie and draw a playing card through the
window. Let us say you go for the Nine of Clubs. (Image Fourty Four)

Now, find yourself a blank faced card that matches the card you have
just drawn, and on the back of it, draw a different playing card,
something that contrasts, and if you like, with a different colour pen.
Say, the Jack of Diamonds. (Image Fourty Five) Apply some
repositionable glue to the blank backed card, following along the lines
of the playing card you have drawn on, to conceal the glue. (Image
Fourty Six - Repositionable Glue marked in Black) Alternatively, you could
use magicians wax.

SEVENTEEN
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With the arts and crafts over, set up by having the gimmick in the card
case so that the Jack of Diamonds will be on display when you turn
the case over. (Image Fourty Seven)

Then, set up the pack (either in advance, or real-time with a cull) by

having the Nine of Clubs on top, followed by the Jack of Diamonds.
(Image Fourty Eight)

PERFORMANCE 45

Being by using a false shuffle or cut, and then forcing the two cards on
two spectators, using your favourite method, or check out the Cross Cut
Force explained in “Half Cut”.

Take back the Nine of Clubs and apparently lose it in the pack, in reality
controlling it to the top with a control (a double undercut is fine) as you
comment about ‘coming back to it later’. Then do a Braue
Reversal to turn the deck face up, which will leave the Nine of
Clubs face down at the bottom of the pack. 46
THE BRAUE REVERSAL
Get a little finger break below the top card of the pack, which is
transferred to the right thumb as the right hand grips the pack from
above in Biddle Grip.

With the left hand, break off about half the pack from underneath,
turn them face up and place them on the top, making sure you
keep the right hand thumb break below the chosen card. (Image
Fourty Nine)

Finish up the move by cutting off all the cards below the thumb break
with the left hand, from underneath again, turning them face up, and
placing them on top once more. (Image Fifty and Fifty One)
47
Turn over the spectators chosen card that is still on the table to reveal
the Jack of Diamonds, and then explain about your mini window, and
turn the card case over to show the drawing that is apparently inside
the case, to show the match. Act as if this is the end of the trick, and
get as much reaction from it as you can. While it is not the strongest
effect, it is still fooling for the layman.

Then apparently remember the second selection and pick up the

pack, and spread a few cards over as if looking for it, before acting
as if something has just occurred to you.

EIGHTEEN
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Pick up the card case and place it

52
48 in the left hand, held there as well
as the rest of the face up pack.
Open the flap at the top, and then
pick up the Jack of Diamonds and
drop it face down into the box,
(Image Fifty Two) snap the fingers
(or similar magic gesture) and
smartly withdraw the card, pushing
the face against the back of the
box so that the blank face
49 gimmick sticks to it, revealing the
Nine of Clubs drawing!

Hold the beat for a moment, 53

and then slowly turn the card in
your right hand over to show
that it too has changed into the
Nine of Clubs! (Image Fifty Three)
Slip the card onto the top of the
pack, and then hand out the
card case, stating that the
spectators can examine it.
50
As they do so, table the deck
casually, turning your left hand
palm down so the deck is subtly
reversed in the process. (Image
Fifty Four) This brings the regular
Nine of Clubs back into view on 54
top of the pack, so you can
remove it and pass it out too!

FINAL THOUGHTS
51 The gimmicked card ends up
on the bottom of the deck, so
you can end clean by
pocketing the card case, and
thumbing off the gimmicked
double at the same time. Or,
as the gimmick is glued
together, you may like to just
leave it in the pack, and even
use it as a duplicate Nine of
Clubs for another trick later on.

NINETEEN
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The Bonus Section

Over the course of about 10 years, I’ve come up with close to 40 tricks with the box front gimmicks, which for
this project, I whittled down to the best few. However, some of the ideas, while perhaps a little too offbeat, or
not-quite-there, still show some of the potential still left in this underused and underappreciated gimmick.

So, check out the following ideas, and I hope that they inspire. If not, they will at least amuse!

Moonie
EFFECT
In effect, you show a card case which has the half moon cut out and the seal in the wrong place, right
over to the side, as shown in the picture. You remove the cards, and then drag the half moon cut out back
the centre of the box! When you hand it out, the sticker on the top flap is still off to the side, which acts as a
great ‘reminder’ of the effect.

DISCUSSION
The Moving Hole plot has been a favourite of mine for ages, and this came about as an attempt to bring the
plot to the card case, using the box front gimmick. Although some ideas were pretty cool using all shapes
and sizes of holes cut into the case, it eventually struck me that in order to be organic, I would have to use
something that was on the box anyway, and the half moon cut out came to mind…

THE GAFFS
Grab a double backer and cut a half moon shape out of it on the right hand side. From an old case,
remove the bottom half of the sticker and stick it over the half moon cut you have made on the gimmick.
(Image Fifty Five) Tuck this under the cellophane on a normal card case. (Image Fifty Six)

Complete the preparation by peeling off the top half of the sticker from the flap of the regular box, and
moving it to the right, so it lines up with your gimmick, (Image Fifty Seven) and then tuck the flap into the
space between the box and the gimmick. (Image Fifty Eight) Everything looks as it should.

PERFORMANCE
In performance all you need to do is draw attention to the case and the positioning of the cut out and
sticker, and then turn the box over and remove the pack, using the right hand which also removes the
gimmick by contacting it underneath with the finger tips. Now, you can just table the deck and mime
pulling the half moon cut out to the centre of the box, before handing it out.

TWENTY
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55
Fold Out
DISCUSSION
Inspiration for this came from Magic for Dummies (one of the best books
I’ve read) and the first thought I had after seeing the post-it revelation
was to stick it to a card case, so it was portable. From there, it wasn’t a
big jump to realise that I could change the message by using a box
front gimmick.

56
THE GAFFS
To make the pull out messages, just grab some post it notes, and stick
them together, turning every other one upside down (NOT turning it
over). Then write your message on the post it notes, for example, the
Four of Hearts. (Image Fifty Nine) Stick this to a box front gimmick,
(Image Sixty) which has a back design matching your pack on the
other side. Then prepare the second post it note message, (Image
Sixty One) and fasten that one onto the card box, and as before, slip
the gimmick into the cellophane to cover the actual one. (Image Sixty
Two)
57

PERFORMANCE
Then, all you need to do is force the first card, and pick up the card
case, remove the cellophane, (Image Sixty Three) and end up holding
the box and gimmick in left hand dealing grip. Pull up on the post it
notes to show the prediction matches, and act as if the trick is over.
58 Ditch the box front gimmick by simply turning the left hand palm down
and placing the card case and the gimmick straight onto the tabled
pack as you show the selection. Then, as an afterthought, remove the
card box, leaving it on the table, and then force the second card
(which could be on the bottom of the deck, and either forced from
there, or moved with a double cut).

Then, it is just a case of revealing the changed message, and then

handing out the box for examination.

TWENTY ONE
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LIAM MONTIER

Jamie Daws, having taken the photos for the effect (and producing
this collection) then came up with the great idea of making this a
gentle ‘sucker’ trick. This is done by leading the spectator to
believe that turning the box around is responsible for the change.
Then, after the change, when the spectator expresses some doubt
about the effectiveness of the trick, you can turn the box around
and pull the post it note to reveal a sucker message! “Better Luck
Next Time!”

60

Thru & Thru

DISCUSSION
The final idea in this collection was inspired by Paul Harris’s ‘The Uncut
Version’ which is a strange and very cool trick. I was trying to apply it to
a selection and a card case, just to see what would happen!

61

THE GAFFS
You need a regular card box, with the cellophane around it, and an
extra piece that is the back half of a case. Make it by cutting out
the half moon panel, and then cutting it in half horizontally, and
discarding the lower piece. This will leave you with the top half of
the half moon panel. (Image Sixty Four)

Will Houston suggested an extra touch that really does make this
an extra visual piece of magic – draw a thick black line across the
middle of the case, and then on the bottom edge of your
gimmick. (Image Sixty Five) This really clarifies where the apparent
‘slit’ is for the spectators, and as such, pulls attention and heat to 62
where the magic apparently happens.

To set up, slip the half moon gimmick under the cellophane so that it
goes over the original half moon part of the box.

PERFORMANCE
To perform, you just need the case and a single card. Offer to
demonstrate the secret to some of your tricks, and hold the card case so
that the half moon cut out is facing you, and away from the spectators,
and take the playing card and apparently insert it into the case.
 PA N D O R A
63 LIAM MONTIER

In reality, it goes between the real box and the gimmick.

Insert it about half way, and keep hold of the end of the selection,
and then lower both hands, and slide the selection back and forth so
that the illusion of the card being in the box, and coming out through
the slit is perfect. (Image Sixty Six)

Clean up by tilting the case up towards you slightly, and then

removing the card AND the gimmick by allowing the right thumb to
64 clip the gimmick against the selection. (Image Sixty Seven) Remove
the card and put it into your pocket, moving casually but not
stopping – the reason for this being that the gimmick is slightly wider
than the card (and has to be, to give the best illusion). It would be
visible unless everything is kept in motion.

Once the selection (and gaff) is in the pocket, explain that the
case also has a locking feature, so other people can’t get the trick
working when they examine it. Hand out the case to prove this is
correct! The selection can also be bought out of your pocket at
some point and examined, if people ask.

65

66

TWENTY THREE
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LIAM MONTIER

Final Words
So, that’s it for Pandora. I hope you enjoyed the tricks and ideas, and found something
that you can use to spread the magic love. Well, that sounded creepy, but you know
what I mean…

Big thanks to my usual suspects – Darren McQuade, Jack Tighe and Owen Packard
respectively, for watching loads of box-front tricks, ruining every pack of cards I own, and
bringing the rawwwwwwk!

Special thanks to Jamie Daws for putting the PDF together. I look back on my non-
illustrated PDFs without teaser trailers in shame, but still don’t begrudge you the hours of
after-effects and pages!

Be sure to check out tricktastic.com, and join our facebook page too for more magical
goings on and free stuff.

Peace out!

Liam Montier
July 2011

TWENTY FOUR
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LIAM MONTIER

www.TRICKTASTIC.com
www.JAMIEDAWS.co.uk