Followers will love these DIY Harry Potter Wands! They mild up making the last word wizard prop. This Harry Potter craft will carry out your artistic wizard. Observe our directions to make a one-of-a-kind wand that glows! Simply think about the spells you’ll have the ability to solid. Lumos!
This publish was initially printed on October 17, 2017. It was up to date on September 28, 2020 with a brand new craft template.
When you’ve learn my publish on methods to make a tombstone prop, you already know that each Kevin and I’ve a background in theatre. We met again in the summertime of 1996 as interns on the Goodspeed Opera Home, a time that appears eons away now.
Many issues have modified…we’re older, grayer, and have new careers. However we nonetheless have a deep and abiding love for all issues theatrical!
After we talked about doable Harry Potter crafts, wands have been an apparent selection. You may costume an actor in Hogwarts robes however nobody will imagine he’s a wizard except he has some killer props!
So, fellow Harry Potter followers, whether or not you’re a Gryffindor or a Slytherin, this final DIY Harry Potter Wands tutorial is for you!
Why is it the last word tutorial? As a result of they mild up, after all! But in addition as a result of this craft is impressed by a really memorable Halloween.
Let’s seize a mug of butterbeer and I’ll let you know why making lighted wands is so close to and expensive to my coronary heart!
Mild up wand
Once I was about 6 or 7, my mother and father collaborated on a witch costume. My mother, by no means one to go along with the plain choice, selected a black material with orange stars and sewed it collectively on her classic Singer. My dad, at all times the tinkerer, customary a light-weight up wand from a brass tube.
To my infantile delight, the wand had an orange crystal on the finish that lit up. I keep in mind feeling so particular in that starry tunic, swirling in circles as an ember glowed round me.
It was magical in a manner solely issues of youth will be…the sensation of being unencumbered and giddy combined with the facility of creativeness. To today, it’s one among my happiest childhood recollections.
LED mild craft
I wish to unfold that pleasure! To that finish, Kevin and I sat down over the summer time to determine methods to make these LED mild craft wand. It began with a number of greenback retailer flashlights and some hours of frustration.
Though it was a thrifty idea, it was almost inconceivable so as to add a wire to an LED bulb (most mini flashlights have a bulb that connects on to the battery). Let’s not even get began on the switches.
On the finish of a really disappointing night time, I had one dowel wired, but it surely took scavenging elements from numerous flashlights and I wasn’t certain the swap may very well be camouflaged.
We wanted a prewired bulb and a swap that was inconspicuous. Most significantly, this craft needed to be achievable for these with out a diploma in theatre! LOL!
So, Kevin talked to some associates to determine how and the place to purchase provides. Fortunately, he is aware of lots of people which can be into miniatures.
The suitable provides in hand, we obtained our dowels wired. The following hurdle was making them seem like wands. I’ve seen TONS of tutorials that use sizzling glue as the first method to make Harry Potter wands.
Don’t get me improper, I really like my sizzling glue gun, however this sounds unsafe to me. I’ve a scar from highschool artwork class that proves it.
Air dry clay mission
On a craft retailer run, I bought oven bake clay, and when it got here time to make the wands, I spotted that baking a battery was a silly thought. One other journey to the craft retailer and we have been again in enterprise with this air dry clay mission.
A lot smarter selection! However there have been extra classes to be discovered. Air dry clay is WET! So, one among my first two check wands failed as a result of we uncared for to fully defend the battery element.
Because the clay dried, a particular rust sample began to emerge and the battery went lifeless. With the subsequent batch of wands we fully wrapped the batteries with electrical tape.
However then as have been overlaying the subsequent batch of wands with clay, those lit within the again with a rock began to activate by themselves.
Very irritating, however I wasn’t going to let this mission defeat me! I pulled off the clay across the swap and the facility turned off.
Clay is moist…water conducts electrical energy…so let’s simply say this craft just isn’t fully sizzling glue gun free.
Electrical tape is cumbersome, so I lined the world surrounding the swap with sizzling glue. As soon as it cooled, we completed adorning the wands with the air dry clay. I’m pleased to say that was the tip of {the electrical} mishaps!
See how properly they mild up? It was value all the educational curves to carry you this tutorial!
Don’t overlook the Wand-Lighting Charm is easy, however requires focus. Maintain your wand in your dominate hand and say “Lumos!” The counter- spell to extinguish the sunshine is the allure “Nox!”
Harry Potter mild up wand
However that being mentioned, that is the theatrical, impress everybody at your Halloween celebration prop! Not as a result of the Harry Potter mild up wand is a tough craft, however as a result of you must have some endurance.
It takes about two to a few days for the clay to dry however since we use a restricted quantity of sizzling glue, you’ll save your self the burns!
Of the entire course of, shaping the clay was probably the most enjoyable half for me. It’s the place you flip a stick into an instrument of magic!
I discovered it best to waft. Due to {the electrical} parts, the clay naturally bumps and swirls. I used that to my benefit by incorporating them into my design. Texture is the place it’s at, so I stippled and grooved the clay into an attention-grabbing design.
As soon as the entire stick was lined in clay, I added parts like leaves, vines and balls to the wands.
You then wait… in case you’re like me you’ll wish to maintain checking on the wands however belief me, allow them to dry a very long time! I disassembled the wand that was a dud, solely to search out it was dry on the surface and moist on the within.
So that you don’t wish to paint them till they’re tremendous dry!
When the clay was dry it was time to complete the wands with a number of coats of paint. We went with a extra pure search for our DIY Harry Potter Wands, utilizing largely browns, black and metallics, however the sky’s the restrict!
Paint selection is as private as your wand design. That’s the great thing about this craft! You may actually make it your individual. See how no two are alike?
Now it’s your flip! You may safely make these illuminated DIY Harry Potter wands studying from my errors so it’s all enjoyable and no frustration! Scroll right down to get the tutorial and my ideas and tips. Additionally make sure you try our Harry Potter #diydatenight for extra wizarding enjoyable!
Wand tutorial photos
DIY Harry Potter Wands
This Harry Potter craft will carry out your artistic wizard. Observe our directions to make a one-of-a-kind wand that glows! Simply think about the spells you’ll have the ability to solid. Lumos!
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Prep Time: 30 minutes minutes
Crafting: 2 hours hrs
Drying time: 2 days d
Complete Time: 2 days d 2 hours hrs 30 minutes minutes
Makes: 1 Wand
Writer: Charity Beth Lengthy
Value: $7
Tools
Sizzling glue gun
Glue sticks
Small piece of cardboard or foam core
Tremendous glue
Noticed or backyard clippers
Sand paper
Paint brushes
Instruments to form clay (knife, toothpicks, small piece of dowel to roll out clay…. no matter you have got round)
Provides
- Sticks (dowels or sturdy twigs about ¼- 3/eighth inch thick)
- Styrofoam (leftover packaging supplies are fantastic…the thicker the higher)
Air dry clay (we tried Two)
Directions
Plug in glue gun
Minimize dowels or sticks to be two inches longer than the specified size
Decide if you would like your mild on the entrance or the again of the wand
Insert battery into holder and fully cowl in electrical tape
Connect the battery pack to at least one finish of the stick. If you wish to mild a rock behind the wand, place it about one inch from the tip. When you’d just like the tip of the wand to light up, place the battery pack about three inches in
Resolve the place you need your swap. We discovered it pure to position the battery pack the place the palm of the hand would naturally go and the swap the place the thumb might simply attain it
Minimize a pair small items of froth core or cardboard to the width of the wand and sizzling glue them to the stick the place you intend to position the swap. You need the swap to be at about the identical top because the battery pack or somewhat taller
Sizzling glue the swap to the froth core
Tape the LED mild to the stick, letting the bulb stick off the tip somewhat.
Join wires, often purple to purple, black to black, but when the colours don’t match up, ensure to check connection earlier than transferring on to the subsequent step.
Cowl all the wire and electrical items with tape, solely leaving the swap uncovered.
Cowl the world surrounding the swap fully with sizzling glue. Be sure to not get sizzling glue on the the highest of the swap or it received’t function. (That is to guard the wire connections from the moisture within the clay).
When you’ve chosen to mild the again of the wand with the lighted rock, place the rock in a bowl, or one thing else that holds it regular. Gently place the tip of the wand to the rock (the LED finish) and sizzling glue the rock in place. You’ll must slowly add extra glue till the rock is hooked up. When you’re utilizing a elegant rock, the glue is unlikely to carry it long run, so deal with the wand with care.
Cowl your wand in clay leaving the swap uncovered. It’s greatest to begin with a skinny coat after which add particulars. To clean your clay out you may moist your arms somewhat, however since there are electrical parts inside, use water sparingly. We discovered it greatest to waft. The clay has a thoughts of its personal, so attempt to work any bumps or twists into the design. Be sure to go away a part of your stick uncovered.
When you’re completed overlaying your wand in clay, stick the uncovered stick finish into your styrofoam to let the clay dry. Be affected person. It can take about 48-72 hours.
As soon as the clay is dry, minimize off the additional uncovered a part of the stick and sand clean.
Now you might be prepared to color. Begin with a few base coats after which use some darker and lighter colours to carry out the textures of the clay.
When you’ve used a rock on the tip of your wand and it’s come free, reattach it with tremendous glue.
As soon as your wand is totally dry, you’re able to carry out magic spells!
Notes
- When the clay dries, it might shrink or crack somewhat bit. We discovered it best to fill within the gaps with sizzling glue.
- Take a look at your rock for translucency earlier than utilizing it in your wand.
- If you would like a brighter rock, you may wire two LED lights to the battery, however the battery will burn out twice as quick.
- As designed, the batteries aren’t replaceable. If you’re making these for teenagers, we recommend you allow them to play with them for brief bursts of time to make the enjoyable last more.
- We expect this can be a nice mission to make with older youngsters. Due to {the electrical} parts, it’s too fragile for little ones to assemble. Allow them to make their very own with out the electrical energy or have them paint a wand after the clay has dried.
- To disguise the the swap, dry brush on paint in very skinny layers.
Some tutorials use chopsticks… they don’t seem to be lengthy sufficient for this mission. Our completed wands ranged from 19-27 inches. - Our measurements have been for grownup wands. If you’re delighting your little ones with wands, make a wand that may match little arms.
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