R.I.P. Dobby

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How to make a magic wand

There was no way I could dress up as Hermione Granger without a magic wand! I found this AMAZING tutorial on www.instructables.com. It was ridiculously easy to make and it looks just awesome. I don't think it is actually possible to make a "bad" wand with this tute! Everybody thought that I bought the wand - I was so proud!

What you need:

+ A4 paper

+ Double-sided tape

+ Super glue

+ Hot glue

+ Scissors

+ Spray paint

+ Paint.

What to do (this is just a quick overview. Please go to the original website for the complete tutorial):

1. Stick double-sided tape diagonally across an A4 piece of paper.

2. Roll the paper and glue the end down.

3. Cut each end off the wand so that it is straight.

4. Fill each end of the wand with hot glue.

5. Decorate the wand using hot glue.

I covered one end completely in hot glue to make a handle.

Putting the detail in the middle of the wand was actually very tricky - i'm obviously not versed well enough in glue-gun!

6. Spray paint the wand. I used black paint and gave it 2 coats. I really liked the wand just like this and was extremely tempted to just leave it as it was.

7. Paint the wand. I used brown and gold paint. I didn't have to distress the paint separately as the brown paint I used was a wipe off paint anyway.

And here is the final product with my scarf, sweater and prefect badge!

I also made a miniature wand for Alfred's costume. It is so small!

For size comparison, here it is beside my wand.

Alfred and his wand.

Decked out for the Deathly Hallows~!!

Yes, I stole the post title from a Craftster swap but it was just too perfect to pass up!

Here is the complete ensemble that I wore to the Deathly Hallows midnight premiere. I love it all so much and am really proud of how well it all came together.

Hermione Granger (through the years)

Costume includes:

+ dark grey skirts

+ white collared shirt

+ light grey sweater

+ Gryffindor tie

+ grey socks

+ black mary-janes

+ bushy hair (that quickly fell flat)

+ Gryffindor scarf

+ time turner necklace

+ Gryffindor knitted wrist cuff (possibly a present from Molly Weasley)

+ Grffindor prefect badge

+ S.P.E.W. badges

+ S.P.E.W. donation box and badges

+ Wand - 10 3/4 vine wood with a dragon heartstring core

+ Hogwarts, A History textbook

How to make S.P.E.W badges

One of my favorite Hermione moments is when she campaigns for S.P.E.W. (The Society for the Protection of Elfish Welfare). So instead of the 'Weasley is my King' prop I had been contemplating for my costume I decided that campaigning for the rights of House Elves was the best way to capture her amazing character.

What you will need:

+ colored paper (I used the 4 Hogwarts house colours)

+ scissors

+ glue/double sided tape

+ safety pins

+ empty tissue box

+ computer and printer/or excellent hand writing skills

What to do:

1. Create a document in Word (or a similar program). Using the shape toolbar make 2.25" circles - 12 circle fit nicely onto anl A4 sized sheet of paper. Inside each circle type the word S.P.E.W. using a pretty font (see photo below).

2. Print the circles on four different colored sheets of paper - one for each of the Hogwarts houses. Note: Don't forgot all your full stops when typing S.P.E.W. or you will have to reprint them all like I did!

3. Cut out all of the circles. I didn't cut mine exactly on the line as I preferred it with the slightly messy edges.

4. Arrange your cut out circles in pretty patterns and take lots of photos! :)

I also made a badge for myself in using all four house colours. Just cut 4 different colored circles in quarters and then glue them on top of another full circle. Easy!!

4. Now cut out small strips of paper about 2 x 1 cm - in the same colours as your circles. Attach them to the back of each S.P.E.W. circle using double sided tape on each end of the strip - remember to not tape down the middle of the paper strip! Put small safety pins through the not secured down section on your paper strip. Pin your badge to your Hogwarts uniform and you are done! Now make some S.P.E.W. badges to share with your friends!!

To make the S.P.E.W. collection box I simply covered an empty tissue box with yellow paper and then glued the a sign which I had typed up.

SUPPORT S.P.E.W.

The Society for the Protection of Elfish Welfare

Found 1994

Membership fees: 2 sickles

Fill your box with badges and don't forget to hand them out at all your local screenings of The Deathly Hallows. Perhaps you can also have wizards, witches and muggles sign a petition demanding equal pay for house elves!

And always remember, support S.P.E.W. and protect Elfish welfare!!

Getting ready for the Deathly Hallows

I'm extremely busy getting everything ready for the midnight screening of the Deathly Hallows Part 2 which is tomorrow night! As you know i'm dressing up as Hermione Granger and i'm just making a few more additions to my costume. Although i'm not sure if going as Hermione is the best idea anymore... I cannot get Danger Granger out of my head!! :)

Here is the Platform 9 3/4 sign that I made the other night just before my friends came over for a HP movie marathon. I made it very quickly and the whole thing is held together with Blutack so that I can pull it apart and reuse the paper. Oh yes, i'm that cheap.

We ate a lot of junk food and I wrote little signs for them so give them more of a Wizarding feel. I definitely want to have a proper HP party one day and put lots of effort into the decorating, these are rather pathetic.

Bertie Bott's Every Flavour Beans (Jelly beans)

Cockroach Clusters (Clinkers)

Cauldron Cakes (not even cauldrons, instead cute little stars)

Honeydukes Chocolate Frogs (Freddos)

I don't know what that means

I've signed up for the Bones swap on Craftster!! I am so excited! I've already bought my supplies and now I just need to get started. I also need to stop watching A Very Potter Sequel and instead watch Bones! :)

3x13 Verdict in the Story

Booth and Brennan mocking Sweets *love*

Crafting withdrawal

I have been so busy with school and life lately that I haven't had much time for crafting or swapping. I'm having a month break soon so I plan to catch up on many crafty things.

I've been meaning to make a TARDIS SWEET TARDIS xstitch for about a year now. It's quite the overdue birthday present so that will be near the top of the list.

Pattern available from easy seller: oregonstream

For myself, I plan on finishing the Gryffindor scarf i'm crocheting to wear to the midnight screening of The Deathly Hallows.

In progress shot of scarf.

Does anyone know how I can stop picking up stitches all the time? It's a problem I have every time I make a scarf and other than counting stitches each row (which I do NOT want to do!) i'm not sure how to stop. I'm seriously considering dropping by an old ladies crochet group at church one day and begging them for help!