19 March 2023

Willow's 11th  Harry Potter Party

I can't believe my baby is now 11 years old.
Willow knew Harry Potter celebrated his first birthday on his 11th so we were always planning a Harry Potter Party for hers.  She has loved the movies since she was little and her bedroom had been themed Harry Potter for years.

Invitation

Calling all Wizards and Witches - Magical Invitations made for her friends.  

Willow couldn't wait to hand them out at school. We made the wax seals for the envelopes so they looked like the envelopes that flew down the chimney and under the door in the first Harry Potter movie.  We brought wax seal candles, they were $6 each and were a disaster.  A trip to the local shop and we found red tea light candles.. these were never going to work, so after a bit of googling, we decided to use the hot glue gun.  Fabulous... they looked great, and you could see all the Hogwarts details on them.  When they were dry we painted them red and stuck them on the back of the envelopes to give to the guests..  

   

 Decorations 

The decorations for this party were easy! Willow had been collecting Harry Potter toys and Harry Potter lego for years so we used all her Lego sets, books, and toys.

We purchased a backdrop from Aliexpress and some flags, Harry Potter Christmas Crackers we picked up cheap after Christmas.  These were so cute, they had quality HP Keyrings in them.  We picked up a few things from the FB Marketplace, a cloak, glasses, and Nimbus 2000, and were ready to go.  We even picked up some led candles that we decorated the roof of the gazebo with to look like floating  candles.

We set up the Gazebo out the front of our house.  It was pouring down with rain but luckily it didn't dampen the day and we could still be outside under the gazebo when it poured down.

Games

We had a few games planned 

Guests were put into four Houses and competed to be the winner of the Triwizard Competition

Sorting Hat

Potions - Creating Troll Bogies (Slime) 

Fluffy - named after Hagrid's 3 headed dogs (another name Elephant toothpaste)

Quidditch 

Free Dobby (sock throwing)

Pinata

As Willow's guests arrived they sat on a chair and put on the sorting hat.  

They were given a black t-shirt rolled up in twine.

When it was opened it revealed the Hogwarts House they would be part of for the party 

(Also kept their clothes clean when we were doing potions and herbology classes)

 

We headed outside to our Potion Class

Today's lesson making Troll Bogies and Fluffy (named after Hagrid's Three-Headed Dog)

After Potion Class we went in for lunch.  

Our next game was Quidditch

What a fun game this was.  We created the game using old glass bottles and metal rings and spray-painted them gold.  Teams played against each other for points for their house.  1 point for getting it through the ring and another point for getting the ball in the cup.

The next game up was Free Dobby.  In the movie, Dobby is freed from his master when he is given a sock.

This was the inspiration for our sock-throwing game.  Points were collected for each odd sock thrown in the hole.

The rain started again so under the Gazebo we went

Herbology Class.

Each Hogwarts House was given clay and small pots.  They needed to sculpt a Mandrake

There were so many great creations made. 

Thankfully the rain stopped... our last game was the Pinata (Willow came up with the design for his)

The Pinata was filled with lots of treats for the kids and one squishy owl.  We had one very happy boy when he realised what he had found.  Willow then surprised everyone with a squishy owl to take home... just like their very own Hedwig. (I forgot to get photos so just did a screenshot off the internet of the ones we brought from here ... https://www.kaysams.co.nz/owls-squishy-squeeze-75mm)

We had winners... Blue House (Ravenclaw)  had the most points... prizes for all the group.

Prizes also for best mandrake and other spot prizes too.

Hogwqarts Christmas Crackers - Joke and Hogwarts House Keyrings

Dobby Socks for the most socks that freed Dobby.  

One Sock said Free Dobby and the other said Master has given Dobby a sock

Herbology - Best Mandrake Sculpture prize

Most points at Quidditch - Golden Snitch

Award for best Hogwarts student

Next House Photos

Gryffindor

Ravenclaw

Slytherin

Hufflepuff

Group Photo of Willow and her gorgeous Friends 

Food & Cake

I think I say this every year.. but I love creating food for parties.

Here are some photos of our Hogwarts Feast

Golden Snitch - Ferrero Rocher Chocolates 

Hedgwig's bid cage 

Harry's Chocolate Frog jumps onto the window of the Hogwarts Express in Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone

Bank of Gringotts Money - Deathly Hallows Movie

Our amazing cake maker 'Clevercookie' went above and beyond with this amazing cake.  We have been ordering cakes for years off here, but this one was above and beyond, creating this cake just the way Willow designed it. 

https://www.facebook.com/nzclevercookie

A bit of fun playing Harry Potter Chess (like in the movie)

Goodie Bags made by Willow

I helped Willow create Harry Potter Bookmarks on the Cricut, we purchased Wand Pencils and Broomstick Pens from AliExpress.  At Kmart, we found a 10-pack of HP Puzzles.  We brought two sets, giving us 20 puzzles.  Enough for everyone.  There were HP Lollies, our homemade Wands (out of chopsticks), and other sweets.

We had heaps of fun one rainy afternoon making wands for all the guests.  We got the idea of Pinterest.

All you need is Chop Sticks, Hot Glue Gun, and paint.  We thought they turned out great and everyone was keen to take one home.

   

Magical Thanks to Everyone

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Willow had such a great day with her friends.  What made it more special was the fact that everyone joined in making her day so great.

A huge thanks to all of Willow's amazing friends for coming and celebrating with her and for the amazing gifts.

Griffindor - Eve, Milly, Shyla-Lilly, Elsie & Charlotte 

Ravenclaw- Amiria, Janelia, Shammy & Issy

Slytherin - Lawrence, Dylan,. Liam, George & Cooper
Hufflepuff - Nikita, Kaitlyn, Ja'Shayze, Atawhai & Willow

Surprise ...
On Willow's actual birthday,, 23rd March we organised a surprise for her.  I found out her best friend Brooke was going to be in town.

Secretly I organised Brooke to meet Willow at School at the end of the day and with some selected friends.  

A Limo was waiting to take them for a ride. (we had a voucher that was going to expire from Willow's brother's Formal that was cancelled due to covid so it was great timing) 

The girls ended up in town at Margaret Mahy Playground where we had an afternoon tea treat and a play.  

Willow absolutely loved her day with her friends.