Outside Decorations

This is what greeted our guests when they first arrived.

We got an old box and had some fun coming up with labels for it. Some of it I copied from a package we had just received. We also wrote "DHowL" on it. Then we burned the flaps to make it look like the skrewts had escaped.



We bought some cheap brooms and put up a Broom Parking sign. All the kids wanted to ride around on these.



We borrowed a trunk from my sister, wrapped up some empty boxes, and used another bird cage and broom to look like luggage set to go off to Hogwarts. This was at the foot of the steps up to our front door.



We happen to have a weeping willow tree in our front yard, so a Whomping Willow sign was an obvious choice.

Decorations

Set on the bookcase near our entry were stacks of books (regular books covered in paper and labeled with 'real' HP book titles), Molly Weasley's clock, some candles, skulls, a Snitch, etc.



Here's a better view of Molly's clock. I used a plaque from AC Moore, acrylic paint, and Sharpies. The hands are from a couple of clock kits also purchased from AC Moore.



Moaning Myrtle was in our bathroom. I got some sheer, sparkly material from Joann's and used a fabric pen to paint her. Then we had a CD player in bathroom playing Moaning Myrtle's track on the soundtrack, on repeat.



We have a big mirror in our dining room that I covered with black paper. Then I copied the Transfiguration chalkboard from the movie, using chalk.



We created an owlery on another bookcase. The packages are his gifts from us. A bird cage, stuffed owl, and lots of feathers completed the look. Also in the picture is a big wall mural we bought, the Hogwarts crest.



On top of our entertainment center were more books, candles, and a big cauldron.



I forgot to take pictures of some things.. we had a bulletin board with lots of funny signs on brightly colored paper. Our bedroom door had a sign that said "Staff Room" and the door to the basement said, "House Elves At Work - Do Not Enter."

Decorations

We needed several snitches for the party.. two at least for when we play Muggle Quidditch, but I also wanted some for decoration in the house. I bought some styrofoam balls, gold paint, and white feathers. I'm not entirely sure I like the way the gold paint turned out, but it's good enough.



We're also using a lot of books for props. Mainly I'm covering our regular books with paper (I'll post more about that later), but I also wanted a Monster Book of Monsters. I used a cereal box and some fake fur I got at the fabric store. The 'pages' of the book is just felt, as are the teeth. Hot glued some googly eyes on, and viola!