For crafty Harry Potter fans, throwing a party themed to the stories can be the ultimate DIY labor of love.
A great excuse for throwing a Harry Potter party is coming soon: the Nov. 16 release of the franchise’s latest movie, “Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald.” Online instructions can help you make stuffed or sculpted recreations of the movie’s magical beasts, including Nifflers and Bowtruckles, and the main character’s creature-toting suitcase is inspiring cakes and decorations.
This August 2018 photo provided by Selah Hovda shows a Mandrake plant Hovda made for her child’s Harry Potter-themed birthday party at her home in Phoenix, Ariz. Hovda made the replica of the screaming Mandrake plant from the Harry Potter series using plastic foam wrapped in twine. (Selah Hovda via AP)HOW TO MAKE WANDS
Supplies:* Wooden rods, paper rolled tightly to a point or leftover disposable chopsticks* Glue gun, glue sticks* Acrylic or spray paint* Optional: beads, fake gems, mini pinecones, twine, other odds and endsDirections:* Add glue layers to one end of the stick or rod to build up a handle, stopping to dry if too drippy. Tip: Stand the stick upside down in a glass while drying.* Add glue in rings, dots, swirls or knobby bumps. Attach embellishments.* Once the glue hardens, paint half the wand, and let it dry. Then paint the other half. Try metallic colors or wood tones.
But want-to-be witches and wizards don’t need excuses to put a Harry Potter spin on kid and adult birthday parties, quinceañeras, brunches, housewarmings, gender reveals for expected babies, bachelorette festivities, movie-watching marathons and Christmas get- togethers.
Additions to the vast online trove of Harry Potter craft ideas keep coming, even though the original book series ended about 10 years ago. You can draw messenger owls on white balloons with notes attached, make wands from carryout chopsticks and hot glue, and create “floating” candles with battery-powered lights poking from toilet paper rolls painted white.