It’s 9:00 a.m. on Saturday, October 18th the official start of World Bamboo Day and time for another Monster Magic Saturday Show
The Tinkling Cup by TCC Magic (£84.99/99/99)
TCC seems to have developed quite the fascination with bells lately — from vanishing chimes to ringing curiosities — and this new creation fits right in. The Tinkling Cup comes in two sizes, and the concept is charmingly simple: you claim to hypnotise your spectator with the sound of a bell. After they choose a card, you reveal that not only has their card vanished — the entire deck is blank — but the bell itself has mysteriously transformed into a cup with no clanger. From there, it smoothly transitions into a chop cup–style routine using your new brass goblet.
The larger version is impressively made, solid, weighty, and polished to a brilliant shine. It feels like a serious piece of craftsmanship, equally at home as a display piece or a performing prop. You can polish it to a mirror finish or let it age gracefully for a vintage look. The bell mechanism is cleverly designed and fully adjustable; you can tweak the length of the clanger to control the sound or the ease of dislodging it, depending on your routine. The kit includes the bell, a cloth storage bag, adjustment rings, and three crochet balls (two magnetic). The balls are around three-quarters of an inch in size — perhaps a touch small, though one-inch balls also fit nicely.
As a chop cup, the Tinkling Cup performs beautifully. Its weight allows smooth handling for sleights such as the classic “ball through the hand” or the edge move, both achievable with a gentle touch thanks to the cup’s balance. The only real drawback is the tutorial which runs a brief twelve minutes. It covers the basic card trick, requiring a blank deck and a simple homemade gimmick, but offers only a very basic chop cup routine. Those looking to expand could study Michael O’Brien’s strolling chop cup handling or Mark James’s “Supercharged Classics” routine, both of which add polish and structure to the effect.
In short, the Tinkling Cup is a beautiful, versatile prop, half bell, half goblet that bridges two strong routines with elegant theatrical logic. Despite its short tutorial, it’s an impressive piece of magic craftsmanship.
https://monstermagic.co.uk/products/tinkling-cup-standard-by-terry-chou-and-tcc
https://monstermagic.co.uk/products/tinkling-cup-mini-by-terry-chou-and-tcc
The Ghost Deck by Murphy’s Magic (£12.99)
This deck builds on the classic “Gemini Twins” principle, a self-working miracle created by Karl Fulves. The effect: the spectator deals cards from a multicolored deck and freely inserts two face-up cards wherever they choose. When the magician spreads the deck, the cards placed by the spectator perfectly match in both value and color. It’s clean, fair, and entirely self-working.
The Ghost Deck adds flair by using cards with mismatched backs a rainbow of designs that make every spread visually interesting and lend the trick a quirky, custom feel. You receive the mismatched deck, special printed cards (including the final blanks), and a thorough 80-minute tutorial taught by Javier, who explains not only the main routine but several bonus self-working effects: a four-ace deal, a spectator-cuts-to-the-aces routine, a clock principle effect, and a short exercise in equivoque.
While the deck itself isn’t printed on premium Bicycle stock, the durable plastic-coated finish ensures longevity. Everything can be freely handled and examined at the end of each trick, no gimmicks or sleight of hand needed. The tutorial, though light on historical crediting, is detailed and encouraging, making this an excellent introduction to self-working card magic. It’s a colourful, creative way to revisit timeless principles and rediscover the power of simple, elegant magic.
https://monstermagic.co.uk/products/ghost-deck-by-murphys-magic
Teddy by Michel Huot and Gentleman’s Magic (£59.99)
Teddy is a heartwarming and clever mentalism effect. You begin by asking your spectator the name of their favourite childhood toy. Then you show a deck of cards illustrated with cute plush animals, and they choose one. To their surprise, the very same toy appears inside a small box or even in your pocket. Finally, you reveal a tag on the toy and it bears the name they just told you.
Inspired by Al Koran’s 1968 “Medallion” routine, this version updates the concept for close-up or parlour performance. The set includes a beautifully made magnetic box, a charming plush bear, a pad and clipboard for subtle secret work, themed cards (with markings for easy control), and reusable name tags for the final reveal.
The 30-minute tutorial focuses more on presentation and the setup showing how to carry and perform the effect in real-world conditions., rather tahn the actually handling. While not immediately examinable, the routine’s charm and emotional hook make it a standout moment of magic. Teddy blends classic mentalism with storytelling in an endearing, accessible way.
https://monstermagic.co.uk/products/teddy-by-michel-huot
The Baby Hand by Hanson Chien and Michael Ammar (£34.50)
Baby Hand a delightfully bizarre update on the classic “Little Hand” gag. The performer shows a photo of a baby who “loves shiny things.” A coin is examined and placed on the magician’s thumb, and suddenly a tiny baby hand shoots out, snatches the coin, and the photo now shows the baby holding it.
You receive several high-quality printed baby photos (including a spooky Halloween version), a clever switching wallet, a shiny gold coin, and the small rubber baby hand itself. The gimmick fits on the tip of your finger and is easy to handle. The tutorial, featuring both Hanson and Michael Ammar, includes live performances, phone-based handling options, and Ammar’s original televised version from the Letterman Show. It’s as versatile as it is funny, equally effective as a cute trick or a creepy surprise.
https://monstermagic.co.uk/products/the-baby-hand-by-hanson-chien-michael-ammar
And that wraps up this week’s show. Please remember: between now and next week, get out there, share the wonder, and keep having fun with the **best hobby in the world — magic.