Turn a Cleaning Sponge Into a Stunning Magic Trick!

 Hello, good folks!
 This depicts how to transform a regular cleaning sponge (You can find one under the kitchen sink, or at AutoZone for around a buck and a half) into a magic sponge ball trick.
 I've been trying to find this trick cheap on the internet, but it wasn't anywhere to be seen for under $5.00 - more than I would want to pay for a few trick sponge balls! Instead, I made my own version of it, which I will explain how to make here.
 Let's get started!

 THE EFFECT: The magician displays a few sponge balls to the audience, and explains that, like all other
magic props, the sponge balls can be combined to fit in a small storage area. The magician asks the
audience if they would like a demonstration of this phenomenon. When they say Yes, the magician
closes his hands around the balls and, after pressing them together, opens his hands to reveal one
giant, seamless sponge ball!

 Wouldn't you love to be able to do that? Well, you can if you follow this Instructable! You will find A List Of Supplies on the next page.

You will need:

1. An Automobile cleaning sponge (Or a grout sponge)
2. Scissors
3. A Ruler
4. Newspaper

             That's it! Let's get started!

 Measure the height of your sponge. Mine was 2^1/2 Inches tall.
 Measure and cut off a piece of sponge that is (Your measurement) by (Your measurement) by (Your measurement). Be sure to place some newspaper under you workspace so that you don't get little pieces of sponge everywhere! I made the dreadful mistake of not doing so once... Let's just say it was a mess.

 Cut that piece of sponge into a ball. It doesn't have to be perfect, just the general shape is good enough. Cut a 1-inch hole into the ball and through that hole, hollow out the sponge ball until the walls are about ^1/2 inch thick.
 Turn the sponge ball inside out through the hole. It should shrink to about half it's original size. This is the main mechanism of the trick - When the ball is turned one way, it's large, the other, small. The reason this occurs is because there is less surface area on the inside of the trick ball than on the outside, therefore, it doesn't have any way of expanding any larger than that surface area, making it smaller when turned inside-out.

 Cut three more foam squares that are the same size as the inside-out ball. Cut these into balls as well. Once again, they just have to have the general shape, not necessarily perfect. This trick works with two or three balls, so depending on the size of your hand, you can make however many that suits you.
 Turn the large sponge ball right-side-out again and stuff the other balls into it. Make sure they fit OK - Too lumpy, the audience will suspect something. Too loose, the sponge balls might fall out of the big one.
  

That's all there is to it - In the next step I will tell you How To Perform This Trick!

THE PERFORMANCE: Before performance, prepare the trick by folding the hollow ball inside-out
and storing all the balls in your pocket. Begin the trick by removing the balls (keeping the hollow
ball's hole hidden) from your pocket and telling the audience that most sets of magic props can
merge into a single unit for easy storage. Ask them if they'd like a demonstration of this curious
phenomenon. When they say "Yes", which of course they will, close your hands around the balls.
While your hands are closed around them, secretly fold the hollow ball over and around the other,
regular balls and open your hands. Show the single, "merged" ball (still hiding the hole) to the
audience. Accept your applause.

Congratulations! You now know how to make and perform a $5.00 magic trick for $1.50!
 Enjoy!
  Win Guy