Harry Potter isn't COOL anymore?

This past weekend was birthday party time in our house. The twins actual birthday is in early January, but we always delay the party until February since everyone is on holiday overload. Each year I let the twins pick their "theme". Usually they pick something they think is cool. Princess picked the adorable Hippie Chick party theme...

Buddy B. decided he wanted a Harry Potter theme.  I thought to myself, this is going to be easy!  I should have no problem finding everything I need to make my little wizard's party super cool.  So, I headed out to my local Party City store.  I searched high and low and finally asked a very grumpy sales person where the Harry Potter supplies were.  He laughed and said HP wasn't "in" anymore...WHAT?  Harry Potter isn't cool anymore?  So I headed to Target, Walmart, KMart, ToysRUs and got the same answers at each place.  I was told to check online, maybe they had some stuff for me there.  Luckily, I found what I needed online and received it in time for the party.  I should say I found almost everything I needed, everything but the wand.  There was no way I was going to pay 5 bucks or more for a plastic wand.  I mean, there were 15 boys coming and that was a lot of $$. So, Buddy B. and I decided that we would give out glow sticks.  Not exactly what I wanted, but I went on the search for them anyway.  No Luck!  I don't know if everyone else had the same idea to give out glow sticks for various reasons or what, but I couldn't find any and it was to close to the party to have them ordered and delivered.  So, in my best Winnie the Pooh impersonation, I sat down to 'think, think, think' and had a brilliant idea!
And here it is...

That's right Dowel Rods!  These babies seem to be great for everything!

Now for the tutorial...

Super Easy Homemade Harry Potter Wands

Step 1 - Take serrated knife and "ding" up the dowel rod.  *Note - this step is for adults only

Step 2 - Using an electric pencil sharpener, sharpen dinged up dowel rod to a slightly tapered point

Step 3 - Paint rod with various brown colors

Step 4 - Allow the dinged up, slightly sharpened, haphazardly painted dowel rods to dry.

I could have stopped here and just stuck our homemade dowel rod wand in a bag and been done with it.  However, I thought that was a bit boring so I did another Winnie the Pooh impersonation and remembered a Martha Stewart craft from Halloween that would work perfectly.  Remember the Witch's Broom Favor?  I used this as my inspiration, removed a few steps since I was running out of time, and ended up with this...

Not bad if I do say so myself.  They were a big hit and Buddy B. loved them, which is the most important thing.
Buddy B. is still enjoying every moment of being a wizard and eating his Bertie Botts Every Flavor Beans.

Thanks for visiting!


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