Our DIY Harry Potter Party

Want to throw a Harry Potter party here in Cape Town? Let me give you the best DIY and budget tips to help you on your way!

Listen, although it may seem like this Harry Potter party was for my girls, because it was like, their birthday or something, it was also very much for me. I’ve been a huge Harry Potter fan since high school and been dreaming of the day that I could get my kids involved. Luckily, when they heard the books (we listened to them on Audible here) they were just as hooked as I was. We even got Seth involved!

In fact during our year on the road where we were listening to the books on every single long drive, we started planning this Harry Potter party. Which means that the actual party details have been in process in our brain space for over a year. Luckily it all came together nicely. (Would have been once heck of a bummer if it hadn’t right?!)

The party in all it’s magicalness

Here’s the finished product and then at the bottom I’ll give you a quick how to on where to find it and how I made it etc.

Harry Potter DIY – How to Guide…

One the aims of this party was to create very little waste and spend as little as possible. I think we achieved this on both fronts by doing the following:

1. We made almost all of the decor ourselves from items around our home. Our biggest expense, as it always is for a party, was the food.
2. A lot of the food waste that wasn’t overly sugary and full of crap ended up in our composting bin.
3. The chip packets etc that aren’t recyclable went into our eco bricks.
4. The rest that we had control over went into recycling.
5. But as you know during a party no one else gives a toot about that, so we ended up with just one bag to put into the bin that was a random mix of everything.

Part of the magic of a Harry Potter party is seeing all the things you’ve read about come to life in front of you. Even better if you’ve been able to make it yourself. Well, for me it is anyway, such a creative release!

I got most of my inspiration on Pinterest (where else). Check out the Harry Potter board for links to all the printables etc.

Hogwarts Acceptance Letters

We had a whole bunch of A5 envelopes lying around the office because we bought them like 8 years ago and then promptly stopped posting things. Because if they were delivered by owls, that would be one thing. Snails however, no thanks.

Harry Potters Golden Snitches DIY

Ever tried to make a golden snitch? Easier than catching one I’d wager. They look far more daunting that they actually were to make, if you have a bit of patience on your side.

Platform 9 and 3/4

It is most definitely NOT a Harry Potter party if you don’t have this iconic platform at your party. This was one of the most intense crafts though, it took forever. Plus, maybe I’m just getting old, but my back was sore for 2 days after this!

Snape’s Potion Class Decor

The Magic Wands

Look here, it is pretty much impossible to be a real wizard without a wand. I assumed that everyone would come with something, but in case they didn’t, I didn’t want anyone feeling left out. So we made some super cheap ones with spray-painted sticks. Take that budget.

The Sorting Hat Cakepops DIY

I had big plans for these here little cakes. They turned out great but fondant is just not lekker, so most kids didn’t eat them (and I don’t blame them. There were also SO many cake pop insides left behind that we had to chuck them. Bummer. But we live and we learn.

Harry Potter’s Hedwig Birthday Cake DIY

It took us all a really long time to decide on what to do for the cake. Should we make Voldemorts face and freak half the kids out?! Should we make a quidditch pitch? The birthday cake is our “thing” so we didn’t want it to be too easy but also, have you watched Nailed it?! Exactly. This looked easy enough to do, so we made a Hedwig cake.

And that’s a wrap

And that my friends, brings us to the end of another party. Now we just have one month to chill before it’s Knox’s turn!!