Oh Christmas Tree, Oh Christmas Tree.... Image Heavy Post below
I have pretty much been absent from the LiveJournal scene for the last month. I cannot believe it is already December! It has been busy between Thanksgiving and preparing for Christmas, but I've finally managed to pull the tree from storage. We decided to forgo the traditional ornaments we always use and do something a little bit differently.
I thought you lot would appreciate this especially....
(Forgive the mess at the bottom--unwrapped gifts and all.)
It's Harry Potter Themed! Nearly everything on the tree, save the Chocolate Frog containers, Chocolate Frog cards, and a few other ornaments were made by me over the last week or so. It's still missing the floating candles, Hobby Lobby did not have any white candle sticks, and the Sorting Hat topper which should arrive in the post in a few days. But I'm immensely happy with the way it turned out. Now...for the closeups!
I found templates for the Marauder's Map, The Hogwarts Express tickets, and Bertie Bott's Every Flavour Bean packages online. They were printed on parchment paper for sturdiness, and hot glued at the seams to ensure they withstand the cats.
Next we have the Enchanted Keys from the first book and the House themed Ornaments. There are 16 of these little keys hung on the tree, and I had to destroy some floral butterflies to get the right wings. The second photograph shows Neville's Rememberall and one of the four wands I made. Wands were made out of dowel rods, hot glue, and acrylic paint. Finally, the House ornaments. They were made out of pompoms (beads were way too heavy), and clear plastic ornaments. The seals were printed on parchment and hot glued.
Lightening bolt, and a golden snitch. Golden Snitches were made using these little gold painted, wicker balls and parchment for the wings. Another wand, made by wrapping wire around the dowel rod to make the vine crawling up, hot glue,and paint.
Here we have the busts of Severus Snape and Lord Voldemort, made using molds and plaster casting. The pictures don't do these two things justice--the detail is amazing, especially for a molding kit I found at ToysRUs. Third picture is the Floo Powder, made using sand, glitter, and plastic ornament.
These ornaments were the ones I found out of luck and didn't have to make. The Malfoy family peacock, Butterbeer Mug, Snape's Patronus, Harry's Patronus, Hedwig and the Chocolate Frog boxes.
I saved the absolute best for last...the Potions collection. Each of the bottles are different and contain a different potion. Made using clear casting epoxy, glitter, epoxy dye, and of course the amazing bottles--which were found at Hobby Lobby and Michael's. These are my favorite, and I plan on adding the collection next year.
We have Felix Felicis (gold with gold glitter), Amortentia (light pink in color with white and purple glitter), Wolfsbane Potion (light blue with blue and silver glitter), Veritaserum (clear with white, silver and a touch of blue glitter) , Draught of Living Death (deep Purple in color with black and green glitter), Pepperup Potion (red with red, black, and gold glitter), Bubotuber Puss (deep green with yellow glitter), and Bezors (tiny balls of aluminum foil painted brown)
I think the love potion and the truth serum are my favorites, and I wish I had a better quality camera to capture the way the lights hit the epoxy. I found the labels on pintrest and printed them on parchment as well.
Now all I need are the gifts, bought and wrapped...24 days to go...
I thought you lot would appreciate this especially....
(Forgive the mess at the bottom--unwrapped gifts and all.)
It's Harry Potter Themed! Nearly everything on the tree, save the Chocolate Frog containers, Chocolate Frog cards, and a few other ornaments were made by me over the last week or so. It's still missing the floating candles, Hobby Lobby did not have any white candle sticks, and the Sorting Hat topper which should arrive in the post in a few days. But I'm immensely happy with the way it turned out. Now...for the closeups!
I found templates for the Marauder's Map, The Hogwarts Express tickets, and Bertie Bott's Every Flavour Bean packages online. They were printed on parchment paper for sturdiness, and hot glued at the seams to ensure they withstand the cats.
Next we have the Enchanted Keys from the first book and the House themed Ornaments. There are 16 of these little keys hung on the tree, and I had to destroy some floral butterflies to get the right wings. The second photograph shows Neville's Rememberall and one of the four wands I made. Wands were made out of dowel rods, hot glue, and acrylic paint. Finally, the House ornaments. They were made out of pompoms (beads were way too heavy), and clear plastic ornaments. The seals were printed on parchment and hot glued.
Lightening bolt, and a golden snitch. Golden Snitches were made using these little gold painted, wicker balls and parchment for the wings. Another wand, made by wrapping wire around the dowel rod to make the vine crawling up, hot glue,and paint.
Here we have the busts of Severus Snape and Lord Voldemort, made using molds and plaster casting. The pictures don't do these two things justice--the detail is amazing, especially for a molding kit I found at ToysRUs. Third picture is the Floo Powder, made using sand, glitter, and plastic ornament.
These ornaments were the ones I found out of luck and didn't have to make. The Malfoy family peacock, Butterbeer Mug, Snape's Patronus, Harry's Patronus, Hedwig and the Chocolate Frog boxes.
I saved the absolute best for last...the Potions collection. Each of the bottles are different and contain a different potion. Made using clear casting epoxy, glitter, epoxy dye, and of course the amazing bottles--which were found at Hobby Lobby and Michael's. These are my favorite, and I plan on adding the collection next year.
We have Felix Felicis (gold with gold glitter), Amortentia (light pink in color with white and purple glitter), Wolfsbane Potion (light blue with blue and silver glitter), Veritaserum (clear with white, silver and a touch of blue glitter) , Draught of Living Death (deep Purple in color with black and green glitter), Pepperup Potion (red with red, black, and gold glitter), Bubotuber Puss (deep green with yellow glitter), and Bezors (tiny balls of aluminum foil painted brown)
I think the love potion and the truth serum are my favorites, and I wish I had a better quality camera to capture the way the lights hit the epoxy. I found the labels on pintrest and printed them on parchment as well.
Now all I need are the gifts, bought and wrapped...24 days to go...