Monday, June 27, 2011

A Harry Potter Party

Earlier this month, this guy turned 9....and requested a Harry Potter Party.  This is him opening his one wanted gift---a "real" Harry Potter wand.



You have to know one thing about me, I don't do huge parties.  I know some people do, they go all out and have every detail down and perfect and lovely.  And they are awesome.

Well here's my problem.  All of my children's birthdays fall on the first week of the month they are born in.  And I always think about their party a month or so before, and then I think nahh it's next month, I've got plenty of time. And then the rest of the month gets away from me, and I find myself about 3 or 4 days before scrambling to get everything done.  Every. Time.  (You'd think 9 years would teach me.  But no.)

So, I now just tell myself....Keep it simple....because you are going to think you have a million years to do cute details.  But you don't.  You have two hours.

So, if you need to do a Harry Potter party in two hours.  Here you go.....

You invite 4 kids.  No more.
You serve 5 nine-year-olds 2 $5 pizzas (they will eat that much) outside on the picnic table.
You let them run around the backyard after the pizza.
You make these cupcakes.


except yours will look more like this....with white frosting for Hedwig.


You play a game---Defeat the Dementors (found on google on one of those party sites--I can't find it again. Sorry) where you blow up an entire package of black balloons and let them defeat (pop) all of the dementors as fast as they can without using their hands.  We had over 40 balloons...and this game was HUGE hit.

You play one more game---Hide the snitch.  I found a snitch online (that I got the day of the party---whew) had one kid hide it and then yell "Quidditch" when everyone could go find it.  Again, we did this outside, so those boys were finding some crazy good hiding places and had tons of fun.



And then you do one craft (which is also their parting gift).  Because you belong to a crafting momma.  You have your neighbor cut some vinyl....and you let the boys go to town with foam brushes and fabric paint.  (I really didn't know how this would go with all of them....I was wondering if it was too girly....but they loved it.)

And then you send them home with their tee and a pair of Harry Potter glasses happy.  The end. 

11 comments:

  1. Simon LOVED coming to the Harry Potter party and he wears his Firebolt shirt first everytime after I wash it. It was a fun party.

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  2. Um this party was perfect. I especially love your dementors game. Genius.

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  3. This is such a fun idea. I love the look on his face when he opened the wand:)

    I am a new follower, stop by and visit.

    Amanda Joy
    www.joyinthejumble.com

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  4. To the Elizabeth who commented on my blog :) I twist the thread around my middle finger before I put it over my index finger - because my stitches are also loose if I don't do this. Tone

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  5. Thanks for the ideas! I love it. We are doing a Harry Potter party later in the summer so am looking for great ideas! I L.O.V.E. your son's picture. WHat a great photography moment. I never seem to have it at just the right time!
    I am your newest follower, please stop by my place too!
    xoxo
    amy

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  6. Yes. This.

    I always wanted to do big all-out parties...but inevitably end up heading to the nearest Dollar Store the evening before. And this post just proves you can have a helluva party with a little time and a lotta love. Kudos.

    P.S. The owl cupcakes? love em!

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  7. Such great ideas. I do that exact thing. I put everything off until two days before and then I'm totally insane trying to get everything done. I did a tee party for my eight-year-old and they all thought it was soooo cool to decorate a shirt. I'm sure their mothers were thrilled to have them in their wardrobes. Mine were not anywhere as cute as yours, and they painted them and did various iron-ons so they were pretty vomitrocious. You're such a good mommy.

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  8. you party like me!!! love your ideas and will gladly borrow from you if you don't mind. {thank you!}

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  9. Absolutely awesome idea, especially the one about limiting the amount of kids at the party!

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  10. THANK YOU!!! This is brilliant! We're doing a Harry Potter party in a couple weeks and I;ve been a little stressed on what to do. I love your ideas. One thing about the cake though... My boy wants the cake Hagrid gave Harry on his 11th bday. It's SO easy, and it's supposed to look messed up! lol. Thanks again, I'll be using your ideas!

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  11. How did you make the T-shirts? I really want to try...
    awesome party btw!

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