A very Harry Potter birthday

Matilda as Harry

My youngest just turned 3 and has been wanting a Harry Potter party for the last 6 months. Well, she got it. We had a blast putting this together and I think it was a hit. (I plan on fixing the order of the pictures, add pics of our invites and favors, and add more text...bear with me).

This is Matilda talking in Harry's voice reciting spells. Actual spells.

I made the wands for all of the kids to take home. I took a 48 inch wooden dowel and cut it into 1/4's. Then I sanded the tip into a rounded point, added wooden beads and some hot glue, then spray painted. They were a HUGE hit, but I should've given them to the kids AFTER the party as favors.

 I made that Sorting Hat out of a paper bag and staples. Awesome.

 Just some of the food: Sirius Black's dog chow (chex muddy buddies), Hedwig's chocolate lollipops in an owl nest, and the Rice Krispy Snitch.

 Notice Mad Eyes' chocolate eyes in the background:)

 THE Snitch. Made from Rice Krispy treats, dyed yellow, and melted chocolate for the wings. A hit!

 Luna's glasses that I made. Bertie Bott's Every Flavour Beans, and Moaning Myrtle's milk chocolate (Hersheys bites) served in a toilet cup.

Matilda REALLY wanted a Scabbers cake, which is her pet name.

Harry digs red heads:)

 THE coolest candle from Party City. It is a sparkler in the shape of a 3.

 After Harry took Scabbers off, Hermoine inspects the cake.

 Some of the decorations, letters for Harry hanging from the ceiling, a Diagon Alley sign that I made, along with wanted posters.

 Broomstick parking with a Nimbus 1800.

Hedwig in his cage with a letter for H. Potter, in the cupboard under the stairs.

 Ministry of Magic entrance.

Dressing up

I am on a dress kick lately...and if you followed me on Pinterest (love Pinterest, you HAVE to join:)) you would've seen this dress that I pinned.

Via Shabby Apple:

Originally I thought I would make this out of sweatshirt material but had NO CLUE that material was so hard to find. Like crazy hard. Well, I then just bought some fleece on super remnant clearance at Jo-Ann's and started cutting. I used existing shirts I had on hand and made a pattern. Then I would put it on inside out, re-pin, and adjust. Total trial and error. More error than trial, really, if I am going to be honest.

Here are the two dresses that I  came up with:

The pin on the collar is my Nana's. The bow on the other shoulder is a thought, not sure how I feel about it yet.

Following are my best attempts at a self portrait with the dress on. It's tough to get a decent shot of yourself while holding a heavy camera with a really heavy lens. Charlotte tried to take pictures of me, but not a good one out of the 50:).

Overall, I had a bunch of compliments on the dress and I am quite proud of myself. Which must have inspired Charlotte to start designing her own dresses and handbags...

 Which led me to make her a Halloween dress for her school party tomorrow.

Yes, the above picture is her in her Christmas pj's on under the Halloween dress. The girl is prepared!