Tag: Harry Potter

10 Days of Harry Potter: Fan Art

If you type “Harry Potter fan art” into your search engine, amazing and talented results will appear. J.K. Rowling’s Wizarding World is an inspiration for artists of all levels. Making art is one of the best ways to celebrate 10 Days of Harry Potter. Whether you make graphic art or simply draw with a pencil, relax and enjoy making fan art.

Basic Art Supply List

Are you looking for a materials list? Check out the following for a basic supply list for making art.

  • Drawing pencils
  • Colored pencils
  • Markers
  • Ink
  • Chalk (Use chalk on paper or draw on the sidewalk to share your art)
  • Charcoal
  • Crayons
  • Paint
  • Watercolors
  • Drawing paper
  • Construction paper (Dark paper is great in combination with chalk)
  • Poster board
  • Glass frames (works well with ink and paint)

When you have a tight budget, purchase basic drawing materials at your local dollar store.

Use Your Imagination

  • What animal will you take to Hogwarts?
  • Draw your wand.
  • Create one of Hagrid’s magical creatures.
  • Draw the castle.
  • Paint your house colors on a poster board.
  • Draw yourself in the classroom. What would be your favorite subject at Hogwarts?
  • Draw a potion. What does the potion do?
  • Grab your sketch pad and find a perfect tree to sit under. Now, pretend you are at the Forest of Dean from the film Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. What do you see?

There are no right or wrong ways to create fan art. Take your time, listen to Harry Potter on audio, and allow your imagination flow.

 

 

References

Rowling, J. K., author. (1998). Harry Potter and the sorcerer’s stone. New York: Arthur A. Levine Books,

Yates, D., Heyman, D., Barron, D., Rowling, J. K., Wigram, L., Kloves, S., Serra, E., … Warner Home Video (Firm),. (2011). Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1.

 

 

 

10 Days of Harry Potter: Suncatcher Craft

Are you still enjoying the 10 Days of Harry Potter? Are you wondering what to do next? One of the popular crafts on Pinterest are suncatchers. The creative project is easy for all ages to enjoy. But adult supervision is necessary for the baking part. Making a Harry Potter-inspired suncatcher is a great afternoon craft project.

Materials Needed:

  • Pony beads
  • Cake pan, pizza pan, or other non-stick pans
  • Small nut (The nut is to hang the suncatcher. Or you can drill a hole in the finished project.)

Instructions

  1. Begin on a clear, flat surface.
  2. Arrange the pony beads into a design in the pan of your choice. For example, use the Deathly Hallows symbol (Rowling, 2007). Or write out the word “Muggle” or “Always” (Rowling, 1998 & 2007).
  3. Preheat oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit.
  4. When your design is ready, carefully place your project on the rack.
  5. Bake for about 20 minutes. You can check on your project to determine if more time is needed. The beads should melt and blend together evenly.
  6. When ready remove, suncatcher from the oven.
  7. Allow to cool down.
  8. Tap project out of the pan.

Making suncatchers is a wonderful way to spend time with family or friends. If you looking for further ways to enjoy the project, listen to Harry Potter on audiobooks.  Do not forget to snack on your favorite treats while you design your masterpiece.

 

 

 

Reference:

Rowling, J. K. (2007). Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. New York, NY: Arthur A. Levine Books

10 Days of Harry Potter: Wizard Coin Craft

In J.K.Rowling’s Harry Potter series, the Wizarding World has a unique set of currency-Galleons, Sickles, and Knuts. Readers first learn about currency when Hagrid’s owl demands payment for services after delivering the paper. (Rowling, 1998). Imagine all the useful products you could buy with a bag of coins from Gringotts. Well, you can always make your own to proudly display.

Materials Needed:

Wizarding World currency mold.
  • A coin mold (I purchased mine from Cinereplicas.)
  • Plaster
  • Paper clips or other forms of hangers
  • Throw-away container
  • Water

Instructions

  1. Start on a clean, flat surface for your mold.
    Place newspaper or another type of covering to help protect your workspace.

     

  2. If you are using hangers prepare them ahead of time. Plaster sets quickly. Using a pair of wire cutters, snip the paperclips into the desired hanger size.
  3. Mix your plaster according to the directions. Always stir the plaster into the water to create a smooth consistency with your mix.
  4. Quickly spoon the plaster into the molds. The mixture quickly solidifies.
  5. Insert your hangers.
  6. Allow the mixture to completely dry.
  7. Gently tap and remove your finalized product from the mold.
  8. You can snip away the imperfections or use a small piece of sandpaper to achieve your desired results.
  9. Paint your coins.

The imperfections in the coins are typical of currency that has been handed from Wizard to Witch over the years.

 

Reference

Rowling, J. K. (1998). Harry Potter and the sorcerer’s stone. New York: Arthur A. Levine Books

 

 

 

 

 

10 Days of Harry Potter: Personalized Owl Craft

Are you looking for inspiration for Harry Potter themed crafts to celebrate his birthday on July 31st? Create an owl or other animal from felt cut-outs.

At Hogwarts, you can bring an animal. As J.K. Rowling’s character Hagrid states, “Tell, yeh what, I’ll get your animal. Not a toad, toads went outta fashion years ago, yeh’d be laughed at-an, I don’t like cats, they make me sneeze. I’ll get yer owl. All the kids want owls, they’re dead useful. carry yer mail an everything.'” (Rowling, 1998). So what would you bring?

Felt Owl Craft

The felt owl craft is an easy project. With a little assistance, even the youngest family members can create a personalized felt owl.

Material Needed:

  • Pre-cut felt animal shapes or felt to cut (Note: the pre-cut owl shapes are stiffer which makes gluing items on the material easier)
  • Googly eyes
  • Feathers
  • Yarn pieces
  • Material scraps
  • Tacky glue
  • Sequins
  • Paint or permanent markers
  • Pom-pons
  • Pipe cleaners
  1. Gather your desired materials.
  2. Create your personalized owl by gluing desired materials on to the felt cut-out.
  3. Allow your pet creation to dry for at least 24-hours.
  4. Display proudly.

Creating one-of-a-kind owls or other animals is the best part of this easy Harry Potter inspired craft.

 

 

Reference:

Rowling, J. K. (1998). Harry Potter and the sorcerer’s stone. New York: Arthur A. Levine Books

 

10 Days of Harry Potter

In J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter series, the main character, Harry Potter, was born on July 31, 1980. As of this year, 2020, Harry Potter turns 40 years old. Since most people are staying close to home, celebrating 10 Days of Harry Potter is a fun way to pass the time.

Ways to Celebrate Harry Potter’s Birthday

Thousands of people around the globe are part of the Wizarding World fandom. Are you wondering how to celebrate the incredible Wizarding World? Check out the following ideas below:

  • Read the Books: Whether you are reading the series for the first time or the 15th, find a secluded area and immerse yourself into the Wizarding World.
  • Listen to the Audiobooks: If you are a multi-tasker, listen to the audiobooks of the Harry Potter series. The narrators do a fantastic job of making the characters come alive.
  • Watch the Movies: From watching the movies over a week to binge-watching the whole series, enjoy watching the film from the beginning. Watching the Harry Potter series is a great family night activity.
  • Play Games: Board games, video games, or made-up games can provide entertainment while celebrating Harry Potter’s birthday.
  • Do Crafts: On a rainy afternoon, do crafts inspired Harry Potter themed crafts. From drawing to sculpting, making Wizarding World crafts is a wonderful way to celebrate the “boy who lived.” (Rowling, 1998).
  • Food: As Remus Lupin’s character states, “Eat, you’ll feel better.” (Rowling, 2010). Of course, Lupin was offering chocolate after a dementor attack. But still, the idea is the same. Yorkshire Pudding, Bertie Bott’s Every Flavor Bean, Pumpkin Pasties,  and the entire Hogwarts feast are an easy inspiration for trying themed Wizarding World recipes.
  • Host a Birthday Party: With social distancing, celebrating with friends or family may be difficult. But you can still host a birthday party for Harry Potter with your immediate family. Even if your baking skills are not the best, bake a cake, like Hagrid’s. “Anyway – Harry,” said the giant, turning his back on the Dursleys, “a very happy birthday to yeh. Got summat fer yeh here – I mighta sat on it at some point, but it’ll taste all right.”(Rowling, 1998).
  • Photo Session: Whether you have an entire cosplay outfit or your favorite Harry Potter t-shirt, set up a photo session. Use wands and other props. Recreate scenes. Take a lot of photos, print them, and make a scrapbook.

Having fun is the best way to celebrate the wonderful fictional character, Harry Potter’s birthday.

 

References:

Rowling, J. K. (1998). Harry Potter and the sorcerer’s stone. New York: Arthur A. Levine Books

Rowling, J. K. (2010). Harry Potter and the prisoner of Azkaban. London: Bloomsbury

Rebecca’s Top 20: Halloween Movies for Family Night

Changing leaves, cooler weather, football, and Halloween are all a significant part of October. For added fun, incorporate Halloween themed movies into your family night.

Rebecca’s Top 20

  1. It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown (An all-time Halloween favorite)
  2. The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad (the collection has The Legend of Sleepy Hollow)
  3. Pooh’s Heffalump Halloween Movie
  4. Curious George: A Halloween Boofest
  5. Disney’s Mickey Mouse Clubhouse: Mickey’s Treat
  6. Casper’s Halloween Special
  7. Sesame Street: Trick or Treat on Sesame Street
  8. Paw Patrol: Halloween Heroes
  9. Toy Story of Terror
  10. Spongebob Squarepants-Halloween
  11. Scared Shrekless
  12. The Halloweentown series including  Halloweentown, Halloweentown II: Kalabar’s Revenge, Halloweentown High, and Return to Halloweentown
  13. Any of the Scooby-Doo movies
  14. The Addam’s Family
  15. Hocus Pocus
  16. Ghostbusters
  17. The Harry Potter series including Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, and Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1 & 2. 
  18. Beetlejuice
  19. Little Vampire
  20. Any of the Goosebumps movies

What is your favorite family-friendly Halloween movie?

 

Please note: “As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.”

Personal Review: September’s Geek Gear Wizardry Box

I am enjoying the monthly subscription to the Geek Gear Wizardry box. I thought I would share September’s contents with all of you. As many of you know, I am a geek. Getting a box filled with items from the Wizarding World is exciting.

September’s Contents

The box generally contains around 7 or 8 items. I was impressed with this month’s box. In every box, I receive a wearable, This month’s t-shirt was an exclusive creatures t-shirt. I admit I was grinning from ear to ear when I pulled the shirt out of the box. Even though I am not a fan of yellow, I really love this shirt.

Along with the shirt, my next favorite item in the box was Unicorn Blood Glass Bottle. From the packaging to the glow in the dark contents, the bottle was a perfect addition to my collection.

Unicorn Blood
The contents glow in the dark.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The jewelry is always a welcomed addition.

I love the simplicity of the bracelet.
The design on the envelope is amazing.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I admit my wall space is getting limited with all these new prints and posters. The decree posters are one of my favorites, I am slowly adding these to my bedroom. Many of the other prints hang in my room as well.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The September box also contained an Exclusive Magical Totebag.

 

And tea.

Teas are always a favorite for me. I love sipping hot tea on a cold, Michigan day.

 

Addressing the Box’s Lateness

I had a comment on one of my social media posts that the Geek Gear Wizardry box was lateLoo last month. Please take into account, the boxes come from the U.K. They must pass through customs before arriving at my house. So when I post about the box two weeks into the next month, I do not consider the arrival late. What can I say, I know the owls have a long way to go to get to my home.

Looking Forward

I just saw a teaser post for October’s box. The theme is Goblet of Fire and the teaser…dragons. I cannot wait.

Do you have a favorite subscription box? Please let me know.

 

Personal Review: Geek Gear Wizardry Box

I do not write too many personal reviews. In my opinion, everyone has the right to decide if a product is right for you or not.  With that being said, I am a fan of subscription boxes. The monthly or bi-monthly crates are filled with various items. Depending on your personal tastes, a crate may contain beauty items, food from around the globe, movie memorabilia, and much more. The best aspect of these crates, you never know what is inside. The crates are a pleasant monthly surprise.

Today’s crate just made me smile from first glance to viewing the final product. So I just had to share my excitement with all of you.

 

First, sneak peek…I admit I opened this one slowly. I took pictures as I pulled out each item.

T-shirts are always part of these Wizardy Geek Gear boxes. I absolutely love getting a new t-shirt every month. Of course, my t-shirt collection is growing more than I could ever wear in a year. The August box contains an exclusive beasts t-shirt.

Love this shirt!

Other items in this box include:

Cornish Pixies Tea

I love loose tea. I was so happy when Geek Gear started putting teas in the monthly boxes.
Living in Michigan, I can never have too many socks. Michigan winters can get really cold.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A new mug…

So exciting, this is my first Gringotts Mug. I cannot wait to add this to my collection.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A bright new print…

Licensed and exclusive, the print will look great on my bedroom wall.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I was so happy to see a wand in this month’s box. I love the Geek Gear wands. Each is uniquely made and durable.

The wand’s specifications.
I love the skeleton wand. Reminds me of my favorite holiday, Halloween.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Saving the best for last, the signed owl art poster was my favorite in the August Wizardry Geek Gear Box. I just love this print. I am actually going to hang the poster in my living room.

So my overall review of the August Geek Gear Wizardry Box is 4-stars, my highest rating. I felt like my birthday or Christmas came early today.

Do you subscribe to any monthly crates? What is your favorite?

 

Creating Traditions for the Holiday Season

Are you looking to start a new family or friends’ Christmas tradition? From volunteering to outdoor fun, creating new traditions is a great way to celebrate the holiday season. Call a family meeting or text your friends to find your next tradition. Who knows maybe you will find more than one.

Ideas for Creating New Traditions for the Christmas Season

Before starting a new tradition, ask your friends or family members’ input. Use the following ideas as inspiration to find the perfect new tradition for the Christmas season.

Family Night or Friend Gatherings

Work, school, and other commitments take up a lot of your valuable time. Making the time to spend with family and friends is important to your well-being.

  • Board game night
  • Make homemade hot cocoa
  • Christmas movie night
  • Host a Christmas craft day
  • Christmas cartoon movie night
  • Dress up and go out to eat at a fancy restaurant
  • Bake cookies and other goodies
  • Make homemade ornaments
  • Make Christmas crafts
  • Pack some snacks and go look for Christmas light displays

Volunteer

Giving back to your community is a wonderful contribution at Christmas.

  • Volunteer at a homeless shelter, soup kitchen or other community non-profit organizations
  • Adopt a Family in need
  • Visit a nursing home
  • Collect can goods and other non-perishable items for a local food pantry
  • Buy toys for community programs

Attend Community Events

Search your city’s website or other hosting pages to find different Christmas themed events in your area. Along with community events, churches offer a wide array of Christmas concerts, plays, pageants, and other activities. Even if you are not a member, most events are free or require a minimum donation to attend.

  • Attend a live Nativity
  • Go to a community Christmas concert
  • Go to Christmas church service or midnight mass
  • Attend a Santa Parade
  • Attend a tree lighting ceremony
  • Go to a Festival of Trees event

Host a Holiday Party     

Hosting a holiday party is a great way to gather friends and family under one roof.

  • An Ugly Sweater Party
  • A Harry Potter themed Christmas Party/Yule Ball
  • A birthday celebration for Jesus
  • Christmas party for your children and their friends
  • Ornament swap party
  • A Grinch themed party
  • A Christmas tea

Go Outdoors

Being outdoors allows you and your loved ones a chance to get away of the hustle and bustle of the holiday season.

  • Go sledding
  • Go skiing
  • Go hiking

Gathering friends and family together is part of the Christmas season. Creating new traditions or expanding on old ones provides the perfect opportunity to enjoy activities year after year.

Going Back to Hogwarts

“Whether you come back by page or big screen,

Hogwarts will always be there to

welcome you home”

~J.K. Rowling

For fans of the beloved J.K Rowling’s Harry Potter series, September 1st represents going back to Hogwarts. Celebrating the return to Hogwarts can be fun with the following activities for you, your family and friends to enjoy.

Host a Craft and Activity Day

Gather your family or friends and enjoy a craft day. Creating Harry Potter inspired crafts is easy with the help of Pinterest or Internet search.

Searching for activities, you can make a wide range of crafts including:

Make a wand with wooden craft sticks, hot glue, and paint.
  • Make a wand
  • Holiday ornaments
  • Coloring pages
  • Owl crafts
  • Create potions
  • Suncatchers

    Melt pony beads on old pizza pans to create large Harry Potter inspired sun catchers.

Harry Potter Inspired Recipes

Create a Harry Potter inspired meal, beverage, or snack. Search Pinterest, some of the recipes include:

  • Butterbeer
  • Pumpkin Pasties
  • Pumpkin Juice
  • Chocolate Frogs

Listen or Read Harry Potter

Simply spend the day relaxing. Spending a day immersed in the Wizarding World, listen or read your favorite Harry Potter book.

Host a Movie Marathon

Call your friends to watch your favorite Harry Potter movie or host a family movie marathon.

For Harry Potter fans, celebrating the day is like visiting an old friend. Consider doing one or combination of activities to enjoy the day.