From Wayne Kawamoto,
Your Guide to Magic & Illusion.
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An entertaining card revelation where individual jewels end up spelling the name of the spectator's card, Bling has lots of possibilities. Perhaps most notable for its hip and clever name, the effect can handily entertain close-up audiences and fits well into a theme of extravagance and luxury.

Bling, Bling

A spectator selects a card and returns it to the deck and you promise to find the card in an unusual way, using individual diamonds (actually, rhinestones). You place a black handkerchief into your hand and the spectator pours loose diamonds from a pouch into the handkerchief that you're holding.

When the spectator names his or her card, the handkerchief is opened to reveal that the "diamonds" have spelled out the name of the card. The diamonds are permanently affixed to the handkerchief.

Going Out With a Bling

The trick is easy to learn and perform and comes with everything that you need, with the exception of the deck of cards. If you can force and work with a common magic gimmick that every magician knows about and many lay people have been tipped on, you have all the skills that you need. The written instructions are clear and easy to follow.

This one probably works best in formal close-up shows because you have to deal with loose diamonds. The only real downside is the clumsy nature of working with tiny rhinestones that get stuck in the bag, and it's likely that you'll drop one or two each time you perform the trick (remember, the spectator is handling the stones and pouring them into the handkerchief).

Before the trick, the diamonds reside in a pouch. But after the trick, they can scatter in your pocket. As a result, the trick will likely dominate a pocket.

Pricey Bling

I find this one rather expensive. (What can one expect from a product called "Bling"?) I like the jeweler like box that the trick comes in, complete with the embedded rhinestones that spell out "Bling" on top. But this is just the packaging. It looks as if it took more work to produce the box that the trick comes in than the trick itself.

I'm sure customers would gladly pay less for the trick if it came in an unadorned zippered baggy. Although I can understand if the box has been designed to catch the eyes of potential buyers when it's sitting in a glass case in a magic store. If this is the case, the packaging should do its job.

-Wayne N. Kawamoto

MSRP: (US) $55

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Dealers can purchase from Murphy's Magic Supplies, Inc.