You are cordially invited to a Magical Christmas…

Under the magic of Hogwarts…

Our Houses:

Gordon: Hufflepuff

Julie: Ravenclaw

Veronica: Hufflepuff

Brian: Hufflepuff

Brodie: Ravenclaw

Mackenzie: Slytherin

Isabelle: To Be Determined… (Future Ravenclaw, I just know it!)

You Can Take The Test To Determine Your House:

https://www.harrypotter.com/

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Be Sure To Check Out…

A Harry Potter Happy Christmas Scribblings

…for More Harry Potter Christmas

(This page, and the one I list above are connected.)

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You are Cordially Invited….

All Of The Houses

Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, All Houses Flag, Ravenclaw, and Slytherin

(Interestingly enough, there is not one Gryffindor among us.)

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Rowena Ravenclaw, and her Cursed Diadem

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Me, Excited for my Harry Potter Happy Christmas

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You Are Cordially Invited To….. A Magical Christmas

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It was last year in November 2024, that I got the idea to have a Harry Potter Happy Christmas.

I had ordered Harry Potter Official Christmas Cookbook by Elena P. Craig, and Jody Revenson.

I loved it! It was inspiring. I then got the idea to purchase several copies of it to send to family and friends for Christmas, with the instructions that they must make about 2 recipes from the book to bring over to our Christmas Party. Gordon was working overseas at the time and I knew that I couldn’t do all the cooking myself. I needed the help from everyone else where the cooking was concerned.

Everyone seemed excited about it. I picked out the recipes that I was going to make first and added those post-it’s to each book. I then told all of them to get together and decide what they would be making, so that there wouldn’t be any duplicate’s.

Every Recipe Was Beautiful and Magical!

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Decorating The Dining Room

The Love Potions

The Pink Bottles are official Harry Potter, the Other’s I made Myself

(Recipe Down Below)

I Had Gifts Tucked Everywhere, Some Obvious, Some Not so Obvious

My Love Potions…

Also, Gifts for All

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I Also Made Snow Globes To Give As Gifts

(Instructions Down Below)

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My Harry Potter Dining Room Coming Together

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Putting Together My Harry Potter Invitations

I am a collector of many things. I don’t have just a few interests, I have a few hundred interests. Our home also reflects that. Gordon is the same. We are collectors. I’m pretty sure that our home would be a Prop-Master’s dream. You need an antique typewriter? We got it! You need vintage Depressionware vase? We got it! You need a 1950’s Halloween tin rattle? We got that too!

Which is why when it comes to having vintage looking paper scrolls, or melting wax for a great seal on something important, well, we got that too!

I used Harry Potter Cards, Harry Potter Postcards, Vintage looking Scroll Paper, Ribbons, Wax and Seals, and Plenty of Harry Potter Charms.

The Charms are to be little jewels to be added to the ribbon around the scrolls for some bling.

I also Autographed each Book and added the Wax Seal

I also inserted some Harry Potter Postcards with a message and inserted it into the books as well.

These Are Ready To Be Packaged Up

The Gift Bags with the Cookbooks, and Scroll Invitations are Ready

(The small bags I did find online and ordered several of them.

I think I bought them from The Universal Studios Store online.)

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My Homage To Harry Potter, And Gryffindor House, Tree

I purposely chose things that would reflect how I see Harry Potter. The glasses atop the tree.

The Gryffindor necktie, the wand, the Magic Flying Car, The Whomping Willow Tree…

…the Vial of Liquid Luck, a Feather Pen and Ink, Tom Riddle’s Diary, and a Gryffindor Scarf

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Isabelle’s The Onesie Says It ALL!

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Decorating The Christmas Tree

This is the Main Harry Potter Christmas Tree

It’s Where I’ve Put Most Of The Movie Themed Ornaments

I Wanted to Make This Tree Mainly a Ravenclaw Tree

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Dining Room Decorated And Ready For The Party

The Table Is Set With Platters For Foods To Arrive

More Harry Potter Gifts

Chocolate Wands, Decks of Hogwarts Cards, Harry Potter Character Pez, and Candies

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The Flying Keys

There are just certain aspects of the movies that I am very fond of.

This is one of them. I love the Flying Keys!

I also like things hanging down from the ceiling. I like looking upward towards something nice.

That is what this is to me.

I Also Love The Letters

I found these online, and bought several.

Some to hang down, and some to cut apart and use as Invitations, and to place into the Christmas Tree.

A Small Table For The Plates, Napkins, Trays, and Cutlery

Also, a Few Cocktail Pics

I did a game where my guests were required to find Professor McGonagle.

I hid her amongst the Cutlery. No one found her for a very long time until I mentioned to everyone that ‘you had to have touched her.’ That is when Susannah’s boyfriend Matt, (now fiance), jumped up and went over to everything he touched and found her immediately. His prize, Fresh, Live Mistletoe. He was very pleased.

I had removed the ring, and hot glued Professor McGonagle in it’s place to this cutlery holder.

(My little small tribute to Maggie Smith, whom I miss.)

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Punchbowl Full Of Goodies

More Take-Home Gifts of Chocolate Frogs, Hogwarts Mugs with Hot Chocolate,

Bertie Bott’s Beans, and Harry Potter Christmas Crackers

I am a Spoiler, and I love to Spoil People

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In Order To Enter The House For the Party

Give The Fat Lady The Password

(Petunia Major)

I love the Fat Lady on Harry Potter that guards the entrance to the Gryffindor House. I wanted to do that to our front door. I did have that ‘not so flattering painting’ of my daughter Veronica, so I hung it outside our front door for the guests when they arrived. Interestingly enough, NO ONE KNEW THE GRYFFINDOR PASSWORD! Only ME! And, they are more fans of the franchise than I am! Go, figure?

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My Grey Lady’s

The Party Has Started…

…For Some Of Us

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Grey Lady’s

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I thought it was important for me, being the hostess of this party, to provide the cocktails.

I did have to order the Butterfly Pea Flower from online.

It isn’t an ingredient found in many of our stores.

I have the recipe photographed above, so I will not be listing it here.

But, these are the steps and the process that was necessary for this cocktail.

Into The Refrigerator It Goes

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The Next Ingredients, and Utilizing Every Bit of Space

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My Grey Lady’s After The Party

This Really Is A Lovely Cocktail

My Leftover Sugars

Love The Colors

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Welcome To The One Broomstick

Brian Brought His Homemade Butter Beer

This was so good! He did such a great job and displayed it so nicely as well.

The Butter Beer That I Purchased For The Party

And, The Butter Beer Candies

(which taste just like the Butter Beer)

These Were Also Take Home Gifts

The Official Butter Beer

(You can see the One Broomstick in the background.) 🙂

I Also Set Out A Bowl Of The Spiced Nuts Here

(That recipe is located on the Sister Page.

I give that link at the bottom of this Page.)

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The Sorting Hat Welcomes You In

Getting Sorted Into Our Houses

Ravenclaw!

Isabelle and Veronica Being Sorted

The Twins: Susannah, and Mackenzie

Matt and Susannah

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Brian, Veronica, and Isabelle with Gordon on the Phone

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Veronica, Isabelle, and Me!

Tutu and Peanuku

Gordon Under The Sorting Hat

He’s Working Overseas And Got Up At 2:00 a.m. To Join Our Party

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Brodie Putting The Finishing Touches On His Grimmauld Dinner Rolls

They Are Beautiful! And, Delicious!

He is Using Some Flower Salt His Future In-Laws Gifted Him

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Dinner Plates, and Butter Beer

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The Harry Potter Dinner

Our Menu From The Harry Potter Christmas Cookbook,

And Who Cooked Each Dish:

Toad In The Hole (Susannah and Matt)

(Susannah Took These Photos Of Their Toad In The Hole For The Party)

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Slug Club Christmas Party SPICED NUTS (Julie)

Bubbling Cauldron BITES (Julie)

Sprout’s Superior SPROUTS (Veronica and Brian)

Grimmauld Place DINNER ROLLS (Brodie)

Weasley Sweater FOCACCIA (Veronica and Brian)

Ginny’s Mini Mincemeat TARTS (Mackenzie)

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In Addition To The Cookbooks Foods, More Foods Were Added To Our Menu

Brian Made a Delicious Sweet Potato Casserole

I Made My, ‘My, My, Peanut Butter Pie’ Filling as a Sweet Dip with Pretzel Crackers

I also provided many sweets and nuts to snack on.

I Also Made My Drunken Devil’s On Horseback, and Roasted Some Chestnuts in the Oven

My Bubbling Cauldrons, I Added a Few Crowns

Also, My Dragon Balls

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I Also Marinated, Glazed and Baked My Cocktail Sausages in my Haunted Jezebel Sauce

Everything Was Delicious!

Everyone did such a great job on their dishes, and I was so proud of ALL!

Veronica was so inspired by her Focaccia Breads that she wanted to start making them more often.

The whole evening was inspiring and I was so proud of everyone.

I will be bringing some of the recipes to you, but on the sister website page to this one.

You can see the link at the bottom.

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Durmstrang Punch

This was what I made.

A nice big bowl of punch is always in order.

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Making My Durmstrang Punch

(This is the punch served at the Yule Ball in the movie, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire)

Ingredients:

(I am giving you what is written in the recipe. I however, did triple the batch so take that into consideration when viewing my photos.)

2 Cups Apple Juice

1 Bay Leaf

One 3-inch piece Ginger, peeled and thinly sliced

1 T. Black Peppercorns

2 Cups Unsweetened Cherry Juice

1/4 t. Silver Luster Dust, optional

Fresh Bay Leaves, for garnish, optional

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The Black Cherry Juice was Delicious! Not something I usually buy.

Fresh Ginger

Apple Juice

Black Peppercorns

Lots of Bay Leaves

In a medium saucepan over medium heat, combine the apple juice, bay leaf, ginger slices, and peppercorns.

Bring to a boil then remove from the heat and allow to steep for 30 minutes.

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Strain through a fine mesh strainer into a measuring cup with a pour spout.

(I didn’t do that step how it directed. I strained the liquid through a tea towel and a colander.)

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With Everything Strained Out…

Look At The Beautiful Liquid That Is Left

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Combine the infused apple juice with the cherry juice in a measuring cup with a pour spout and chill until ready to serve.

(I didn’t do this step into a measuring cup. My batches were just too large.)

To serve, pour into a large pitcher or punch bowl and garnish with fresh bay leaves, if using. Stir in the Luster Dust, if using.

(I really didn’t know what ‘Luster Dust’ was, so I just sprinkled some silver glittering that we use on cookies and cakes.)

It did have a different kind of taste.

But, that’s what I loved about it. Not the same old punch year end, and year out.

I thoroughly enjoyed it! You can store it in the refrigerator for New Year’s if you like.

NOTE: This punch is also delicious served warm. These are small batch punches meant to be served as a trio to create 12 servings. They are easily doubled or even tripled to create larger batches.

(Which is what I did.)

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Door Prizes

The Goblet of Fire Chooses the Winners

I had everyone to put their name into the Goblet of Fire for the Door Prizes

I was so inspired by the official Harry Potter Christmas Cookbook that I ended up buying many more Harry Potter books. Some Official, Some Not. Either way, the books were WONDERFUL! I had a drawing for Door Prizes of the books. I wanted each couple to win at least one. So, I arranged it so that if one person in a couple won a book, they could choose, but if I drew the name of the other partner in that same couple, that they could choose between the two, but they would have to put one back. In other words, if both people in a couple won, they could choose the one they liked best, but they would have to put the other one back so that the next couples could win one.

Each Couple Won Plenty Of Books

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Christmas Present Exchange

(Mackenzie’s sister Susannah and her boyfriend Matt had already opened their gifts and had left by the time we opened ours.)

I had gifts for everyone’s pets as well.

Spooky, Sparky, Chewie, Hank and Susannah’s Dog

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Spooky with Brodie and Mackenzie

Everyone Opening Their Gifts

Isabelle Talking To Gordon Who Is Overseas

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Of Course I Had A Marathon Of Harry Potter Movies Playing

Isabelle, Enjoying Her Gifts

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The Keys

I used large gold tacks, and fishing line. The Keys came with the Wings.

The wings were sticky and I just stuck them to each key. I love the look!

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Happy Christmas Family Photo

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The Love Potion

These Love Potions I purchased from the Harry Potter section of Universal Studios.

They are exactly what is featured in the movie, The Half Blood Prince.

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Above is a photo of my dried Rose Buds for Tea that I had purchased from the Asian Supermarket

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Here you can see Hermione and Ginny checking out the Love Potions at the Weasley’s Wizard Wheezes Store.

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I wanted to make my own Love Potion. I found a recipe for one in one of my Harry Potter books.

It’s the Unofficial Universal Theme Parks Cookbook, by Ashley Craft.

I ordered some new perfume bottles online. Some are hearts, some are owls.

I knew that I had to order new bottles and not some old aged ones. I didn’t want some old bottles with old perfume in them. They would have been hard to clean.

I washed my new bottles and vials very carefully by hand in warm soapy water. I then allowed them to dry a few days so that all water would have evaporated.

The Love Potion Recipe:

4 T. Corn Syrup

1 T. Rose Water

1 T. Pure Honey

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Steeping Some Rose Bud Tea

I did add some extra ingredients not called for in the recipe.

All of my Ingredients and Bottles

While My Rose Bud Tea Is Cooling…

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You want to combine all of your ingredients into a small bowl.

I Purchased New Perfume Funnels Too (Wash Thoroughly)

(They make pouring the ingredients into the bottles much easier.)

In Addition To The Ingredients Above, I Also Added Some Rose Water, About 2 T., and a some of my Rose Tea.

I Am Now Decanting Into Each Bottle The Precious Amortentia.

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My Love Potions…

Lovely Take Home Gifts For My Ladies

(They can also ingest the Love Potion if they so desire. It is safe.)

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Making Wine Glass Charms

I do love a bit of bling attached to a wine glass.

It’s not only pretty, but it does help to distinguish ‘who’s wine glass is who’s’, when it comes to not getting them mixed up at a party.

I also wanted the wine glass charm to be a take home gift as well.

The Silver Rings you see above right, I had purchased years ago from a craft store.

They are earring hoops. Perfect for what I want to do here.

I took some of the charms and attached them to the earring hoops, and then placed them in this silver bowl for the party.

These lovely gems, are for me! They are the Ravenclaw Diadem charms and accessories.

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Making Snow Globes

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I am a collector of jars. I especially like the small unique looking ones. Some with unique shapes, some just small and squatty, and some elongated and tall. You see, they are good for many things. Sometimes canning certain foods, storing small items in them, or using them to create Snow Globes. This is that case.

I knew that I wanted to make some Harry Potter Snow Globes, not only as a party decoration, but as a take home gift for my guests.

Before I get started I did put my jars into the dishwasher so that they would be nice and clean. I also washed the lids that go with them.

One thing to look out for is to see if any of the jars have cracks. If so, then NO! Also, do any of the jars lids have dents in them? If so, they will not work. That dent will prevent a good seal for the Snow Globe.

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I have many Glitters!

Some dating back decades. Some inexpensive that I purchased from the Dollar Tree, and some a bit more fine, and moderately priced.

I go with which glitter goes best with which character.

Here Are Some Of My Past Examples

My Many Glitters

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I Ordered These Figures Online. They Were Perfect For My Snow Globes.

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The GLUE

(This is the Glue that you want to purchase for this project.)

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The Lids Are Ready For Me To Match Them To The Jars I Want To Use

You Want To Glue The Character Down, And Allow To Set A Good 24-48 Hours

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Here Is The Process:

Harry Glued On A Lid, Place a Ring of GLUE Around the Rim of the Lid, Filling The Jar With Water, Adding The Glitter, Then Placing The Lid With Harry Down Into The Water. The new GLUE will help the Lid to stay in Place and Not have any Water Leak Out.

Screw Tightly!

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