My oldest son just fell in love with Harry Potter last year, so it may seem like we've come late to the table at the Harry Potter Banquet, but this is really brand new for us. Because his birthday is one week before Halloween, we have also combined Halloween Decorating with his literary pursuits, and his little brother with special needs is learning too. Directions follow but first, let us share our:
Top five life lessons we've learned from Harry Potter
1. Don't use your fists to talk. This morning I was delighted that my youngest performed a Cruciatus Curse on my oldest, instead of slapping him when words failed. Giant Step. It' says, "I'm so angry I want to inflict pain, but I'm just pointing my wand at you and wishing it".
2. Sometimes Adults don't get it, and you have to stick up for yourself. I'm not saying I want them to quit school and save the world. I'm just saying I'm preoccupied and sometimes you need to tie your own damn shoes if you want to make it to school on time. Oh, and sometimes, you need to speak up because I forget what it was like to be ten...cuz I'm almost five times that. Like, Dumbledore Old.
3. Everyone is different, and different does not mean lesser. Siriusly (yeah, I know), you'd think you wouldn't have to worry about this, but you do. Every day. Damn I love me some Luna Lovegood. Let your freak flag fly and don't friend your boss on Facebook.
4. Sometimes you need to save the bullies too. Bullies bully because they have been bullied or because they fear judgment. Sometimes, ya gotta kill them with kindness, not just kill them.
5. Family means those you love and those who love you. Harry had some resentful relatives and some cool adoptive ones. Some of us are lucky enough to have both, but if you don't, your friends are your family. Ask them for help, let them drive. Still working on this one personally. All this week I have forgotten to put my own oxygen mask on first.
That being said, we got to crafting this month for some cool presents for Connor. Check out his new potions box made from a thrift store silverware box. I pulled out the guts, sawed up some dividers, made my own label, painted up some bats from Target, created my own potion bottles and made a pouch for some old silver I never use that looks spooky (ever notice how a pickle fork looks like a tiny trident?). The Bezour box is a covered matchbox with a rock in it. The bottles are a dressing bottle, some tiny craft bottles from Beverly's, one half a skull salt and pepper set (don't ask), and some perfume bottles. I've been collecting bottles all summer, which reminds me, I'd like to now announce that I love my husband and appreciate his patience with my supply collecting and glittery floors.
The Monster Book of Monsters is papier mache and fur from Beverly's. Ooooo do I LOVE Beverly's and they know me on sight. Word out to the girls who help with all our projects!! The book was easy to papier mache, but cutting and gluing the fur...not so much. This is an advanced project. And I don't recommend doing it at 2 am after a skinny girl marguarita cocktail. You know who I'm talking to.
The Potions Cover was dowloaded from www.deviantart.com. Love this site! Also got some cool potions bottle labels there, but I will also send you mine if you email, Gratis, as well as my potions box label.
Word to all you librarians, these books were broken and missing pages. Keep your tears and lamenting to yourself...at least they didn't go Farenheit 451. (Yeah. That was for you, Librarian).
Potion Bottles: I use every kind of bottle. The ones pictured are wine, olive oil, tequila, and balsamic vinegar bottles. I've been experimenting with hot glue (which is currently making it very hard to type with burnt, sore fingers) and the blood drips are drippy hot glue painted to look like blood. It took three layers of paint. Not quick, but I love how it came out. Skulls and hands are from Michael's and Dollar Tree. Jewelry is from friends, our magnet teacher, M's Clothing stores...wherever it is cheap. I use Martha Stewart All surface metallics to age my bottles, but you can also use gloss enamels and bake them for 20 minutes.
I love Glitter. Lots and lots of Glitter. But if you prefer, just crinkle the crap out of your paper labels and give them a little sanding to age them. This also makes them softer and easier to glue. I prefer Tacky Brand Glue. Elmer's just doesn't stick as well on glass. Hot glue does not work on glass. Anything you hot glue to must be stuck with white glue or epoxy to the glass first.
Top five life lessons we've learned from Harry Potter
1. Don't use your fists to talk. This morning I was delighted that my youngest performed a Cruciatus Curse on my oldest, instead of slapping him when words failed. Giant Step. It' says, "I'm so angry I want to inflict pain, but I'm just pointing my wand at you and wishing it".
2. Sometimes Adults don't get it, and you have to stick up for yourself. I'm not saying I want them to quit school and save the world. I'm just saying I'm preoccupied and sometimes you need to tie your own damn shoes if you want to make it to school on time. Oh, and sometimes, you need to speak up because I forget what it was like to be ten...cuz I'm almost five times that. Like, Dumbledore Old.
3. Everyone is different, and different does not mean lesser. Siriusly (yeah, I know), you'd think you wouldn't have to worry about this, but you do. Every day. Damn I love me some Luna Lovegood. Let your freak flag fly and don't friend your boss on Facebook.
4. Sometimes you need to save the bullies too. Bullies bully because they have been bullied or because they fear judgment. Sometimes, ya gotta kill them with kindness, not just kill them.
5. Family means those you love and those who love you. Harry had some resentful relatives and some cool adoptive ones. Some of us are lucky enough to have both, but if you don't, your friends are your family. Ask them for help, let them drive. Still working on this one personally. All this week I have forgotten to put my own oxygen mask on first.
That being said, we got to crafting this month for some cool presents for Connor. Check out his new potions box made from a thrift store silverware box. I pulled out the guts, sawed up some dividers, made my own label, painted up some bats from Target, created my own potion bottles and made a pouch for some old silver I never use that looks spooky (ever notice how a pickle fork looks like a tiny trident?). The Bezour box is a covered matchbox with a rock in it. The bottles are a dressing bottle, some tiny craft bottles from Beverly's, one half a skull salt and pepper set (don't ask), and some perfume bottles. I've been collecting bottles all summer, which reminds me, I'd like to now announce that I love my husband and appreciate his patience with my supply collecting and glittery floors.
The Monster Book of Monsters is papier mache and fur from Beverly's. Ooooo do I LOVE Beverly's and they know me on sight. Word out to the girls who help with all our projects!! The book was easy to papier mache, but cutting and gluing the fur...not so much. This is an advanced project. And I don't recommend doing it at 2 am after a skinny girl marguarita cocktail. You know who I'm talking to.
The Potions Cover was dowloaded from www.deviantart.com. Love this site! Also got some cool potions bottle labels there, but I will also send you mine if you email, Gratis, as well as my potions box label.
Word to all you librarians, these books were broken and missing pages. Keep your tears and lamenting to yourself...at least they didn't go Farenheit 451. (Yeah. That was for you, Librarian).
Potion Bottles: I use every kind of bottle. The ones pictured are wine, olive oil, tequila, and balsamic vinegar bottles. I've been experimenting with hot glue (which is currently making it very hard to type with burnt, sore fingers) and the blood drips are drippy hot glue painted to look like blood. It took three layers of paint. Not quick, but I love how it came out. Skulls and hands are from Michael's and Dollar Tree. Jewelry is from friends, our magnet teacher, M's Clothing stores...wherever it is cheap. I use Martha Stewart All surface metallics to age my bottles, but you can also use gloss enamels and bake them for 20 minutes.
I love Glitter. Lots and lots of Glitter. But if you prefer, just crinkle the crap out of your paper labels and give them a little sanding to age them. This also makes them softer and easier to glue. I prefer Tacky Brand Glue. Elmer's just doesn't stick as well on glass. Hot glue does not work on glass. Anything you hot glue to must be stuck with white glue or epoxy to the glass first.
Next up, Halloween Costumes.
RSS Feed