(Fri)X(ion) Marks the Spot

Written By Jeff Stone

The all time best-selling Stone Cold Magic Product is by far . . . Stone Frixion Fire. The biggest thing people have told me they’ve liked about this book is that it got their creative juices flowing. The book is full of full blown routines as well as random untested ideas. Ideas lead to more ideas. Because of this, as mentioned in the news section this month, we’re doing a DVD on the Frixion pen, so to get everyone juiced about the upcoming DVD, I thought I give you an effect from the book.

This is one that Brad Gordon came up with. It’s one that isn’t a full routine, but gives you room for creating your own presentation. For an effect that is a fully fleshed out routine from the book, see the July 2009 Free Monthly Magic Trick, Money To Burn.

Here’s an email word-for-word from Brad. We were talking about a gig that Diamond Jim did as a Pirate Character, and here’s what Brad had to say:

Diamond Jim Davis reminded me of pirates and I personally love maps (all kinds, pirate kind especially). So you have a large map and the last clue tells you to hold the map in the sun at high noon – well it’s not noon right now and we are indoors, so let’s use a match/lighter to simulate the sun. The map is actually folded [and heated] (yep the ink will all vanish when the paper is folded into fourths). Map is unfolded to show the finale X marks the spot or something of that nature.

I just whipped up a quick drawing based on Brad’s idea. Feel free, obviously, to make yours a bit better. You get the idea and, of course, remember: RED = Frixion® Ink. BLUE = Normal Ink. Start with a drawing like the one above. Then after waiting for the ink to dry (remember the trip to Phoenix), modify it with Frixion® ink to look something like the smaller drawing below (note: the image below is showing only a portion of the image above)

With the two drawings shown, you have a final product that looks like the trail on the map passes by a large rock and leads back to where you started. However after using makeshift sunlight (lighter), the real map and “X” marking the spot is reveled.

Rather than an “X” you could reveal a previously selected card or any other prediction. The presentation could be focused on giving the spectator a treasure map because you couldn’t find the chosen card. Then as you show the treasure map, you “realize” that it just goes in circles. Then you again “realize” that a warning to “View Map in Sunlight” has been placed upon the map. Apply heat for you makeshift sunlight, and behold the treasure (a.k.a. the selection) is revealed.

Please Take a Moment to Reply To and “like” This Effect.