Torn and Restored Paper Napkin (with surprise ending)

This method is used when you are seated at a table with friends.

You will need three cocktail napkins or in a pinch you can use paper towels.

Start by secretly wadding up into a ball two paper napkins.  One of them you will drop onto your lap and the other you will palm in your left hand.

Invite them to watch you do a trick.

First pick up the napkin with your left hand which is the same hand you are palming the balled up napkin.  Doing something natural like that makes it look like there is nothing in your hand.

Unfold the napkin using both hands holding the napkin at the top two corners, one in each hand.

  Then proceed to tear it up into small pieces, and you explain that under high pressure you can bond the paper back together again.  Wad the torn napkin up into a ball and secretly press the palmed napkin into the torn napkin so it looks like one ball and hold it between your thumb and index finger of your left hand, proving that there is nothing in your hand.

Then wave your right hand over the paper and say a couple of magic words.  Then grab the ball of two napkins with your right hand turning it so the palmed piece is facing the audience, as you let the torn pieces drop into your left hand palming it there. Continue by unfolding the napkin, thus showing it is restored.

When you almost have the napkin unfolded release it with your left hand and shake it out with your right hand.  This motion will distract the audience enough for you to drop your left hand to your lap and switch the torn napkin for the one that is in your lap, which you secretly palm in your hand.

Then immediately bring your left hand up to grab the left corner of the napkin.  As you show the restored napkin in your hand, you seemingly flash the palmed napkin in your hand.

When someone notices it and says something you feign surprise and act a little embarrassed.  You admit that sometimes you get caught doing this trick and that it is always kind of embarrassing.  Then you say but what good is being a magician if you can’t really do some magic.  You then wave your hand over the napkin you were palming and slowly open it up, much to their amazement.