Potages Cauldron Shop

I'm embracing my inner Potterhead once again. This time I've created a miniature version of "Potages" the cauldron shop located on the North Side, Diagon Alley, in the Harry Potter universe.

I've used a 7 by 7 Corner Room Box as the base for my little shop. I've also added a
Double Window Ornate on both the inside and exterior of the 'building'.

The signage are printouts pasted to thick board with small brad heads added to the corners.

Simple trims, which are just various sized strips of card cut from a cereal box, are a super easy way to create a finished custom look.

Wooden floor was created with coffee stir sticks, stained with washes of acrylic paint. And how perfect is that wallpaper with it's pattern of tiny spiders?! That's "It's Elementary" from Graphic 45s Master Detective Collection. Scrapbook paper makes excellent room box wallpaper.

To fill my shop, all sorts of little cauldrons. I even designed some products for proper cauldron upkeep like wax, cleaner and polish. To be honest, those little packages put me almost a whole day behind... totally worth it :P You can download the collage sheet to create these at the bottom of this post.

Want to create your own Potages? Or maybe a shop from your own imagination?! I have a video walk-through for creating the basics of this room that might help you in making your own masterpiece. You can find it HERE

Finally, here are supplies used in my wee cauldron shoppe:

7 by 7 Corner Room Box 

Double Window Ornate

(Pssst... if you're in the UK you can order from gslcutsuk.com)

Black Plastic Cauldrons

Metal Cauldron or Pot

"It's Elementary" Graphic 45, Master Detective Collection

cereal box card

thick card

wooden stir sticks

acrylic paint

drywall compound

small metal brads

transparency paper

glue, glue, glue
Cauldron Shop Printable (ta dahhhh, see below)

Have fun!

Platform 9 3/4

This has been waiting to be finished for AGES. Since before I visited the real platform 9 3/4!

When I visited the actual platform at Kings Cross station it was absolute madness. I didn't even line up for the photo op because it was swarming with people. (Don't feel badly for me. It gives me a great excuse to return!)

My little version of Platform 9 3/4 was built inside of a wooden shadow box. It measures approximately 6" x 9" x 1.5"

I'm so happy with the brickwork in this piece as well as that pipe to the side.

All of the suitcases are made from cardstock with ribbon and other wee bits.

There's a little Hogwarts Express ticket, and a few books atop the stack of cases.

A wax sealed acceptance letter, and a wand too.

Want to own a little Platform 9 3/4? This piece is listed HERE

P.S. Happy mother's day weekend moms and motherers!

The Hufflepuff Tree (with extra Potter blabbing!)

Mr Pixie gave me a little broom ornament with my Hufflepuff house colours. It immediately sparked a need to create a Hufflepuff themed Christmas tree. So I did!!!!

I created a set of decorations and embellished a Deep Square Matchbook Box to store them in.

I've used various Olde Curiosity Shoppe—Deluxe Collector's Edition papers for all the bits of this project. To inject a bit of Hufflepuff pride to the exterior, I've simply painted some yellow stripes with washes of acrylic paint.

Check out that wee wizard hat charm *swoon!* How perfect!?!

Inside is chocked full of decorations! 

Note: The window of my box is covered with a square of plastic cut from a used food container. I glued to the outside of the box and created a paper frame. I did this on the outside so that it didn't catch when sliding the inner box in/out.

Antique Brass Ornate Metal Keys with Old Curiosity Shoppe butterfly wings added are sweet and simple. (I know, I know... the winged keys were bird wings in the books but I'm sure this is an acceptable compromise since they perfectly reflect my house colours.)

There's a good old fashioned paper chain. I applied a few sploshes of yellow just as I did to the exterior box.

Paper rosettes and, of course....

GOLDEN SNITCHES! These are made with flying pig wings from Olde Curiosity Shoppe which have been applied to little glittery baubles.

To fill out the tree I've added some gold stars, bows, and glittery garland and how stinkin' cute is the result?!

All the bits? Here's the list!
Deep Square Matchbook Box—Kraft
Olde Curiosity Shoppe—Deluxe Collector's Edition
Large Tag, ATC Tag and Flower Dies
Antique Brass Ornate Metal Keys

Mini Crest Signs

Organza ribbon

Yellow acrylic paint
Glitter baubles

I'm so pleased with this set and I've got loads of ideas floating around for additional ornaments! Perhaps I'll have to make a set for each Hogwarts House.

WARNING: Extra blabbity stuff below!!!!

Speaking of being a Potterhead... I've got a couple related pics from my London trip. 

I only had a couple of days in London and an insane itinerary. The very first thing I wanted to do was visit Platform 9 3/4 at King's Cross Station. Seeing this as soon as I arrived was a good sign!

Now, King's Cross looks nothing like the film version of King's Cross. Nevertheless, there is a faux Platform 9 3/4 set up near the Potter shop in the station for photo ops.  

I didn't get a snap pretending to smash through the wall as it was absolute madness there. Seriously, the lineup was CRAZY, as was the shop. I did of course buy a few little Potter bits in the shop and managed the pic above with no one in the way. Huzzah!

I also made my way to Leadenhall Market, which was the inspiration for Diagon Alley. It was very pretty, but much smaller than I expected. I drank a very nice pint of cider, had terrible fish and chips and bought a book there. The book store being the closest thing to a magic shop there.

The very last spot I made of point of gawking at in London was Saint Pancras, which plays the role of King's Cross in the Potter films.

London was absolutely amazing and inspiring and I still have so much to share. I also feel like I'm not nearly done with that city and want to visit again one day.

What would you do with a day in London?

A Hufflepuff Box

I am a Hufflepuff. For a long while I fought against it, but I have come to embrace my house. What's not to love about loyalty, a dedicated work ethic and strong moral code?!

Now whenever I see yellow I think "HUFFLEPUFF!" and set to celebrating my house with pride.

The yellow window on the Stained Glass Windows Collage Sheet reminded me of something that might be in the Hufflepuff common room so that's where I drew my inspiration.

Inside, a Hufflepuff garden full of yellow Curly Paper Roses. There are  Mini Fern Garland leaves, Tiny Paper Roses and Miniature Creeping Vine Garland too.

But enough showing off! Here's how I made this sweet little Hufflepuff Box.

1. Assemble the inside drawer of the Matchbox for Conservatory Book. Use the arched frame element from the Mini Conservatory Accordion Book as a template and cut the arched shape from the drawer. NOTE: leave a bit of a border when you cut, you will need the edge to glue the frame in place later.

2. Cover the inside and exterior of the box with cobblestone paper from the Wandering Ivy 12" pad

3. Paint the arched elements cut from the Mini Conservatory Accordion Book. Cut the yellow window from the Stained Glass Windows Collage Sheet and glue to the back side of one of the frames.

4. Glue that to the inside of the drawer.

5. Glue the second frame to the exterior.

6. Add Sheet Moss, Curly Paper Roses, Mini Fern Garland and Miniature Creeping Vine Garland to the interior.

7. Cut butterflies from the Wandering Ivy 12" pad and colour with felt tip markers.

8. Download a public domain badger image and add it, along with the prepared butterflies to the interior.

9. Cover outside sleeve of the matchbox with paper from the Wandering Ivy 12" pad. I am NOT gluing the end in place. This piece will wrap around the inside drawer, not slide over it.

10. Cover the exterior.

11. Glue 2 lengths of ribbon to the outside cover and add some pretty buttons.

Add a couple of cute charms and tie closed! Easy as pie.

Are you a Hufflepuff? Or will you make a little something for your Ravenclaw heart? Gryffindor? Or something a little green perhaps?

Whatever your house, have take pride in it and make a little something to celebrate all the goodness it encompasses... yes, even you Slytherin!

Here's the supply list in case you missed anything above:

Matchbox for Conservatory Book
Mini Conservatory Accordion Book
Stained Glass Windows Collage Sheet
1 Inch Curly Paper Roses - Variegated Yellow
Wandering Ivy 12" pad
Pewter Wizard Hat Charm
Star Fairy Wand Charm - Silver
Sheet Moss
Mini Fern Garland
Miniature Creeping Vine Garland
Ribbon
Buttons

A Floo Network Fireplace

I interpret "Do you want to play with a fireplace?" as "OMG, MAKE A FLOO NETWORK THING!"

That's exactly what happened.

I've made a number of pieces inspired by the Weasley's (my favourite magical family) lately, so I wanted to do something a bit different with this piece. It occurred to me that it might be fun to create a something as if I lived in that magical world! And so, here is what I imagine my floo network fireplace might look like...

I'd have framed pictures of my magical relatives above the mantle. Stacks of books with magical titles, a Round Tin of tiny buttons, Cookies and a big bunch of Rose Buds too.

Of course I would read the Daily Profit regularly, and there's a stack on the floor. (Hint: A google search will provide you with several printables.)

You can't have a Floo Network fireplace without Floo Powder. There's some of that sparkly green stuff ready to go in a Tiny Glass Jar. And, because I'd be a mess even in the magical world, some powder has spilled and swept into the corner.

There's a lot going on this piece, but it's not ENTIRELY jumbled. It really does remind me of home with it's just-the-right-amount-of-clutter but not hoarder-level mess.

Even though it's not in complete disarray, there are loads of details to be found. Little stories within the scene, like this mouse keeping watch over the biscuits. That tea cup on the mantle and haphazardly placed pair of sparking red shoes clearly show what a busy witch I would be. (BTW I would wear those shoes every single day.)

I am quite smitten with this piece and think I'll keep it in view to remind me to strive for magical living in this world, and as evidence that a little mess is just fine and dandy.

Want to make your own? HERE is everything listed in one place and below is a list of the supplies I used:

White Undecorated Fireplace
Dark Blue Porcelain Tiles
White Porcelain Tiles
Blue Ceramic Urn
Corner Room Box
Coal Scuttle Set
Set of Miniature Books
Tiny Glass Candy Jar
Tiny Grey Mouse
Mini Silicone Mold - Cookie or Biscuit with Filling*
Mini Rose Buds - Red*
Mixing Bowl Set
Chamberstick Candle with Glasses
Doll Buttons - 6mm Mix
Domed Apothecary Bottles*
Miniature Round Cookie Tins
Simple Cups & Saucers Set - Set of 12
3-3/4 Inch Wooden Posts
Pumpkin Pods
Blue Damask Wallpaper Scrapbook Paper (outside of piece)
Wonderfully Wicked Haunted Scrapbook Paper
Little Library Collage Sheet
Something Witchy Collage Sheet
A Witchy Encore Collage Sheet
Glitter
Handmade shrunken head
Tiny sparkly shoes!
Paint
Glue
A crap-ton of love