reviewed by Karsten Meyerhoff (confirmed purchase)
Rating: ★★★★★ (Date Added: Monday 03 February, 2025)
As far as the facts are concerned, there is nothing much to add to the ad-copy: The thing is what the text claims it is and it works the way it is described. What I really like about this envelope is that you can take a wide variety of envelopes and make it into a multiple out envelope. There are a few very minor restrictions ("this has to be straight-edged as opposed to round, this works better with a pattern" - that sort of thing) but nothing you can't easily work around. I would imagine, though, that envelopes that have the flap on the narrower side (think: pay envelope) are a bit more difficult to handle since you have to reach inside the envelope to show it empty.
That means: You can have your own envelopes that look like absolutely normal envelopes in your country or region of the world - with respect to size, aspect ratio, colours and all. Believe you me: It does make a difference, if audiences do not immediately suspect an envelope to be a prop. Even if they don't exactly know, how it works: A perceived prop is a perceived prop is a perceived prop.
Moreover, the envelopes are dirt-cheap, since you really just use ordinary envelopes from your local super-market or stationary store. That may even shine a different light on the price some may consider to be a bit stiff.
Although this applies to most of the envelopes I know, make sure you buy envelopes where even one layer of paper is completely opaque, even against the light. Most envelopes are produced that way, of course, since it's the very purpose of an envelope to conceal what's inside. Well, just saying ...
As far as the size of the compartments is concerned: They are almost as large as the envelope and if we talk billets or banknotes or playing cards, you can easily fit a few of them in each of the compartments. The absolute size of the envelope doesn't matter, neither does the aspect ratio, so you can produce ones that are good for close-up as well as larger ones for parlour-type settings. The only (theoretical) restriction I can think of, is: You want to open the envelope to show it's empty at some point, so, anything larger than 2 by 3 meters may feel a little awkward ;-)
You need no sticky stuff (neither for assembly nor for operation), so each envelope will last you as long as an envelope lasts. I am sure, you make envelopes out of Tyvek, if that is a concern to you. As far as DIY is concerned: You can handle a pair of scissors? You're good, you'll make a new envelope from two regular envelopes in under a minute.
The instructions are crystal clear and easy to follow, what more can you say about them? Even if you don't speak English well, I guess you could follow from just watching.