Black Art Suggestions - new prop

[Misjief]

Hi guys!

I have been playing with Black Art lately ...
Ultimately I want to make a cabinet - back screen for a show. That is a big project and so I am doing smaller stuff first to figure it out.

I was making a load chamber for my BLACK top hat - Which has a strong magnet in the top . It is simply a small straight walled steel can I covered with paper mached with black tissue to match the hat. Because it is all steel the magnet has a stronger attraction for it then the iron ferrite... The down side is if you are not careful it will grab it out of your hand and "clang!" on the grab. The secret seems to be to place it on the surface and slide or roll it across to the magnet rather then to try and drop it on to it. If you make one yourself keep the cut of top and glue it to the bottom with a piece of cardboard between them to get rid of the problematic lip and make it flush. So now I can expose the inside of the hat (and hide the load behind it - hands free) or put it inside and upside down. Depending on the lighting conditions I may even be able to flash the opening and not expose it. I plan on making some boxes with black art interior (and magnets) as well.

Anyways that is not what I wanted to tell you about ... I found a rather thick roll that some ribbon was on and it just barely fit in the can yet still easily slid back and forth. My original idea was to make a 'cup' shell that I could load up with stuff and then lap the shell to make it disappear. If you take a piece of string to make a lip on the mouth - then paper over it, it is very difficult to detect - almost seamless. That worked great.

Then I found if I inverted the shell and slipped it into the 'can' it makes a great "pill box". (it is like a small, long, & narrow dove pan without the insert if that makes sense) I added a knob to the bottom of the shell to help open it (opposite of a 'normal' dove pan, so it can be hidden when used as a cup). I am going to use Retired's idea of a hidden mirror... on a hidden false panel (one side black and the other is the mirror). At the start of the trick you pull the cups apart and show the insides (the mirror is in the inner cup with the black out) put them back together and the panel falls to the other cup mirror out. (I am planning on using a magnet and washer to hold it in place in the end.) Now i can have someone place a small object (billiard balls - which color?) into the inner cup, mouth out so "I can't see" and then close it with the outer cover (at which point the mirror reveals the object!)

I have everything made except the mirrored panel. Do you guys think that will work or should I just mount the mirror in the cover and not display it? I think that is weaker but am worried about the moving mirror. I have some "reflective paper" - not as clear as glass but not a thick or fragile either. Any ideas?


It ended up being a very versatile piece I got a 2 black art load chambers, a pill box, a cup and shell out of the same prop!

-misj-

[Misjief]

Well the mirrored panel idea flopped...

It kept turning and you could hear it Or it would fall out or I couldn't get it out to flip it. The paper was too foggy. Blah blah blah. It was a disaster. LOL

BUT...

I made a small 'glimpse' out of a magnet and a small mirror that matched each other in size. I glue the magnet to the back of the mirror and then covered it in black tissue to make it 'seamless'. The magnet is strong enough that it will hold to the can face down so it is easy to hide. simply display the can and then sneak the 'glimpse' into it and you are off and running. I am going to use it to "guess the color of Christmas Ornaments" by sound even! LOL Should be good for some great giggles.

Also when I invert it to use it as a sleeve it works awesome! The pieces fit like a glove!

Still looking for my camera!

-misj-