My older one is a voracious reader and a Harry Potter(HP) fan. She first started reading HP in her first grade summer break and has since read and re-read the books until their current dilapidated state! I am just surprised the idea for her 8th birthday did not come to me sooner. One night I sat there looking at her curly head sunk into the “Goblet of fire” and I thumped by head not believing what an idiot I was for even considering other themes for her birthday(tie-dye being one of them LOL). As soon as I suggested it, my DD went bonkers. The HP flood gates broke open and I heard more about HP in the following weeks than I had ever done in the past two years! No wonder I was overwhelmed. I was VERY overwhelmed! But as the details of the party came together I started to feel more and more excited myself.
I outfitted the guest bath with moaning myrtle stuck to the toilet seat and a “chamber of secrets had been opened” sign written in blood (red poster paint) on the mirror. We even had dementors hanging from the ceiling outside the bath. This was the only spooky part of the house. I did have cute details like the letters for Harry from Hogwarts overflowing from the fireplace; owl and mice die cuts on the walls and a train of spiders on the walls going after the scene from the “Chamber of Secrets”. The Hubby helped with hanging candles with fish line from the ceiling which looked very authentic and cool. He even helped me hand oversized Christmas ornaments from the ceiling to add sparkle to the great hall!
I wanted each kid to have not one but many cute HP keepsakes that they could use for a long time. I made each child a custom cape tied with black double-sided satin ribbon. I made them satin Gryffindor ties to wear. They could each pick a book to take home with them- spell book, potions book or a book on how to care for magical creatures. I even added little purple and chevron bows to burlap sacks the kids could take all the goodies in. So cute, I know!
HP with all itsdetails was at once a gold mine for party planning ideas as well as a cause for immense restrain on my side. I tried hard not to go over board and kill myself planning this party.
The kids entered station 9 ¾ through a doorway covered in party table clothes. They chanted “Diagon Alley” before they ran through. They had a blast. Once in Diagon alley they each got their cape, magic wand, HP class book and Gryffindor tie to wear before they began their classes. I even marked their foreheads with the HP lightening mark using my eye-liner ; )
We started with the potions class with our very own magic potion for each child to make them magical ; ) we mixed deer blood (berry juice), crushed caterpillar (carrot juice) and snake slime(spinach juice) and made each child add dried deer eyes (cherries) to their shot glass before they dunked it. It was hilarious watching their grossed out expressions but nonetheless, no one bailed out….Hahhaha. They just HAD to have their magic.
Then we proceeded to learn some spells from our spell book and used it to make our magic potions. Baking soda, dish soap and vinegar made for a grand display of a frothy flood. The kids learned the “Lumos Nox” spell. We had each child test their magical skills on a set of LED candles, turning them off and on with their magic wand(remote in our hands). The expression on the kid’s faces was priceless!
I added a cute “Broom stick parking only, all else will be TOAD” sign to the garage door and also a “Beware, stairs change” sign to the main staircase.
I created a photo booth with a “Have you seen this wizard” poster board that was a big hit with the kids. Honey Dukes candy store with chocolate frog, edible gold snitches, chocolate wands, cockroach clusters, dobby’s buggers……..phew the list went on! Needless to say the kids loved it. We had fresh butter beer and brain juice potion (a large brain shaped piece of ice made with cranberry juice added to a punch bowl full of sprite) for ALL who dared.
We played HP themed bingo where kids had cards with owls, cats, mice, broomsticks and flying witches to find. The kids could also play quiddich from a hanging hoop I hung in the family room. They even had a witch hat toss game board setup for their enjoyment.
The birthday girl only wanted the sloppy cake made by Hagrid so her wish was my command. It turned out pretty tasty. Dinner followed in the great hall and the children enjoyed their elegant dinner in candle light although they still wanted their tried and trusted cheese pizza. I did have sorting hat bread bites (loving crafted from ready-made bread dough by Grandpa ), treacle tarts, cauldron cakes, putrid pudding (green pistachio custard) and purple jello to keep the themed food alive : )I let them raid our very own Honey Dukes candy store before leaving for the night.
Overall a magical time for my little bundle of magic. I can never do enough to celebrate her sweet self. Happy Birthday my darling, I love you a LOT!