Let the Wand Choose the Wizard with This Handmade Gift Idea for Your Harry Potter Fan

Since this year marks the 20th anniversary of Harry Potter, my children's keen interest in this series was renewed.  Their choice for every family movie night has been a Harry Potter movie for the past few months.  It wasn't a surprise when they brought up the wand we purchased as a birthday gift for my daughter's classmate last fall at King Richard's Faire.  They started to get excited about perhaps choosing wands for their souvenirs at our visit to the Faire this year.  When they started fashioning magic wands out of paper and using up all the rolls of tape in the house, it was clear that waiting a few months for their wands would be extremely difficult for them.

Being the avid online shopper that I am, I started looking on Etsy to see what was available and for what price.  I was surprised at the wide range of magic wands (and prices) on Etsy.  The more I looked, the more I came to realize that I wanted only hand carved wooden wands for my children, similar to the ones sold by the artisan at the Renaissance Faire.  When I came upon the shop, OrchardWorks, I knew I was getting close!

Here's where the magic happened.  I discovered that OrchardWorks offers 'random wands' at an incredible price!  You can tell the shop owners what your color preferences are, along with some adjectives that would describe your perfect wand's personality.  Then the wand chooses the wizard!  You'll see which wand chooses you when it arrives at your door.  How cool is that?

I have to admit that my daughter was a little worried about not being able to choose her wand herself since she is so particular about everything (no idea who she got that from), but she was extremely pleased with her wand, as were her two brothers.  Hers is the light-colored one in the center.  Her preferences were that her wand be honey color and delicate.  My oldest received the wand at the top.  He had asked that his wand be dark-stained and regal.  My youngest son's wand is pictured at the bottom, and is my favorite.  He asked for a black,  twisted, powerful wand.  All three have been casting imaginary spells on each other since that day.

TIP:  If you are shopping for more than one child, you can tell the shop owners the name or age/gender of your children.  They'll label each wand for you, so you'll know which wand chose which wizard.

Since I was so impressed by the workmanship and quality of these wands, I just had to share.  You would care for them as you would care for fine wood furniture.  These would make perfect gifts or even party favors for a Harry Potter-themed birthday party.  I wish I had purchased one for myself!

Who do you know who would love their own Harry Potter-inspired wand?  Share with us in a comment here.

Easy DIY Fairy Godmother Wand for Cinderella-Themed Halloween Costume

Thank you to Costume Express for providing the Cinderella Movie costume for this DIY Fairy Godmother magic wand craft feature.  All opinions expressed are my own.

Our 8 year old daughter has such fond memories of going to see Disney's Cinderella Movie in the theater.  It was one of the few non-animated films she's watched on the big screen.  In my mind, there was no question who she wanted to dress up as for Halloween this year.  I was sure she'd want to be Cinderella, but she surprised me by opting for the beautiful Fairy Godmother instead.

What a lovely sight she turned out to be, covered head to toe in glitter.  The Disney Cinderella Movie: Deluxe Fairy Godmother Costume for Girls shimmers all over in glitter dusted satin and tulle.  We just added some glitter hair spray, pretty earrings, and sparkly sandals.  There was just one more thing we needed . . . a wand!

EASY CRAFT: DIY Fairy Godmother Wand

SUPPLIES NEEDED:

glow stick necklace (unbent)

silver crepe paper streamers

glitter washi tape (approx .6" wide)

white glitter

Mod Podge - Gloss Finish

sponge brush

scissors

wax paper

disposable plate

Step 1.  Begin wrapping the streamer (silver side facing out) around the glow stick tightly at an angle.  Use a little Mod Podge to keep the starting end in place, if necessary.

Step 2.  Leaving the top 5 inches or so uncovered, continue to wrap the streamer around the glow stick in as many layers as needed to create a rounded handle that tapers towards the uncovered tip.  When the handle is the desired shape and thickness, cut the end of the streamer at an angle (as shown below) and secure with a little Mod Podge.

Step 3.  Cover the papered portion of the wand in a layer of Mod Podge with a sponge brush and allow to dry completely on a sheet of wax paper.

TIP #1:  When applying the Mod Podge with the sponge brush, do so in a diagonal angle that follows the angle of paper wrapping.

Step 4.  When the Mod Podge has dried completely, wrap the glitter tape around the wand handle at an angle.  Be sure the space between each row of tape is uniform.  Again, leave the 5" at the tip of the glow stick uncovered.

Step 5.  Dip the uncovered tip into the Mod Podge, coating the tip of the wand up to the first 2 inches of wrapping.

TIP #2:  Be sure to hold the wand above the jar for a few seconds to allow any excess Mod Podge to drip back into the jar.

Step 6.  Hold the coated portion of the wand over a disposable plate.  Then sprinkle glitter over the coated portion, making sure to turn the wand to get complete coverage.

Step 7.  Cut a segment of silver paper streamer approximately 4" long.

Step 8.  Then cut the bottom 3 inches of the paper streamer segment to create a fringe (as shown below).  Then snip the end of each strand at alternating angles.

Step 9.  Apply a thin coat of Mod Podge to the backside of the uncut portion of the paper streamer segment.  Then wrap it around the very tip of the wand, holding it securely in place until it dries.

Step 10.  Apply a generous coat of Mod Podge over the entire wand, except for the fringe at the tip.  Allow to dry completely on a sheet of wax paper.

My daughter was very pleased with how her new Fairy Godmother wand turned out.  Although the wand does not compare to the exquisite details on the costume, I am pleased with the end result as well.  If you have not bent the glow stick during the crafting process, you should be able shake it and bend it to make the tip glow on Halloween night.

I think most Fairy Godmothers have big, bleached, side-swept hair styles, but our daughter's dark straight hair cannot do that.  Hopefully, everyone will overlook her hair when they see the stunning gown.  Any hair styling tips are welcome!

If you like this craft idea, Pin It for later . . . 

You can find the Disney Cinderella Movie: Deluxe Fairy Godmother Costume for Girls at Costume Express for $49.99.

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