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Hi guys,

I've only been learning card tricks for about 6 months but am already accumulating quite a stack of used decks.
Anybody have any interesting or creative suggestions on what to do with them?

Also, how long should a deck realistically last?

Do some tricks that need a signed card this uses them up before they get too old!

I never worry about duplicates in my deck I just tell them I have cards signed and replace them with new ones.

I gave a pack to a magician at my club the other week he looked at them and they were all picture cards!

I said I don't use picture cards in my routines as the signatures do not show up well so I practice with them. He understood the logic then borrowed another pack!

I also use old cards to make thick cards, make up packet tricks or use for extra cards you need every now and then, I even use them to spread filler on the wall when decorating, think about it you should not have to throw them away.

I seperate them into pairs and perform Card Warp with them all.

Barefoot Boy wrote:I seperate them into pairs and perform Card Warp with them all.

That's exactly what I do too!

I've begun a collecion of signed cards with my old decks. Whenever I go to see a comedian, magician or any other performer I take a deck of cards and try to meet said performer after their show and get them to sign a card. It's quite a nice way to use them I think.

i keep them on the shelf, and use them in practice. And use some cards in a torn and restored, and i use court cards on my christmas tree.

I stack them in a pile then occasionally glance over and think 'What a waste of money...'

Practise mercury folds.

Grimshaw wrote:I stack them in a pile then occasionally glance over and think 'What a waste of money...'

I hear that!

Another fun thing is to go into restaurants or pubs where other magicians are working and sneak them onto the ceiling (a la card on ceiling) in confuses the heck out of them.

You can also hide them in friends houses. Card to impossible location takes on a whole new meaning.

Mostly I use them for card warp, practice or just keep them around as a reminder of time well wasted.

I sometimes give them to friends and family who play cards for a bit of fun. They seem pleased with then.

Nic

If you're looking for something creative to do other than the standard mercury fold fodder, try something like this

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YZiuEsmB8T4

Then once you've made a couple of them get ambitious

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8T1XMV_eRGw

I forgot all about boxes. I used to make a box using old cards. Requires six cards, no glue, no tape and it had no openings. It took about a minute to make. I used to borrow an object, it would vanish then make the box infront of the spectator, then give the box a shake and low and behold something is rattling inside. Hand the box to the spectator who then pulls it apart and the borrowed object is inside. I would then put the box back together and leave it with the spectator.

I cop in an the spares as an extra card into the deck I'm using, and then have it forced so the spectator can sign it, thus when they keep it, the actual deck, still remains complete. Ta-da!

bmat wrote:I forgot all about boxes. I used to make a box using old cards. Requires six cards, no glue, no tape and it had no openings. It took about a minute to make. I used to borrow an object, it would vanish then make the box infront of the spectator, then give the box a shake and low and behold something is rattling inside. Hand the box to the spectator who then pulls it apart and the borrowed object is inside. I would then put the box back together and leave it with the spectator.

Wow that's the same box I build, but I never thought about the object appearing angle, that's awesome. Thanks

Thanks guys,

Some cool suggestions. As I said I'm fairly new to this and hadn't come across card warp or mercury folds before so that'll give me something new to get my teeth into (pun intended).
Definately gonna have a go at those card boxes too.