Care of Magical Creatures Charm Bracelet

Spurned on by the fun of the Harry Potter Craftalong, I was inspired to make a new charm bracelet.  This one is my ode to one of classes I would most like to take at Hogwarts, Care of Magical Creatures. It includes 15 pewter and Tibetan silver charms depicting some of the world's most famous magical creatures, surrounded by a rainbow mix of glass, shell, stone, and crystal beads.

The charms include: a thestral, veela, fairy, acromantula, mermaid, 

dragon, basilisk, sphinx, giant squid, cat, phoenix,

griffin, gnome, owl, & unicorn.

I really like how this one came out and I think I'm going to have to work on some more rainbow bracelets.

Philosopher's/Sorcerer's Stone Pendant & Through the Trap Door Bracelet

I've recently completed co-organizing the One Tiny Harry Potter Thing 3 Swap over on Craftster, and it was another wonderful round.  I loved the chance to think outside the box, so to speak, by thinking INSIDE the 4"x4"x4" size limit.  Since my lovely partner chughes225 had a Sorcerer's Stone pendant on her Pinterest, I decided to let that be my inspiration, but take it to the next level.  So I've created for her the Sorcerer's Stone, AND the magical obstacles created by the Hogwarts faculty to protect the stone.

Here's the outside of the box that I sent to chughes225...

As well as detail shots of the runes on the side of the box, and how the items were packaged.  The runes on the side of the box spell out 3 messages: "Where your treasure is, your heart will be also", "The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death" and "Jennie & Cristen 2012".

The enclosed letter from Dumbledore explained that Lord Voldemort and the Death Eaters believe the stone to have been destroyed, and asks Cristen, as a loyal member of the Order of the Phoenix and a very brave Gryffindor, to protect the stone. He even used a Reducio! spell to miniaturize the original obstacles and enchantments used protect the Sorcerer's Stone in the novel.  And they were packaged to literally surround the stone pendant.  

The Sorcerer's Stone Pendant

The stone on this is huge.  39mm x 24mm or 1 5/8" x 1" 

And now for the bracelet...

The charms comprise all of the obstacles and spells that appear in the novel.  They include: 

Lion Shield for Neville, who attempts to stop the trio from sneaking out

Fluffy the three headed dog

The Trap Door that Fluffy guarded

Devils Snare plant vines

Winged Key

Chess Knight for the Wizard's Chess game Ron won

Bat for the Mountain Troll

The Mirror of Erised

And sprinkled throughout, 7 potion bottles made from beads, for Snape's logic puzzle.

The beads are comprised mainly of natural stone to represent the stones Hogwarts & its dungeons are built of. Finally, the clasp is a lock and key.

And here are some closeups of the potion bottles made from beads:

Mrs. Weasley's Charmed Bracelet

While I may hate the heat of summer in the South (and the heat of this summer in particular), I do love that hiding from my arch nemesis, the Sun, means lots more crafting time for me.  I've been working on lots of new charm bracelets, and this one just might be my favorite.   

It is inspired by Molly Weasley, matriarch of the much loved Weasley family, and all around bad-ass crafty momma!  She also happens to be one of my personal heroes, and someone I hope to be like when I am a mother. 

The beads are an eclectic mix of Czech glass, turquoise stars, jade, cherry quartz, aventurine, goldstone, river shell, ceramic, crystal, and olive wood from Jerusalem.  The color scheme was inspired by the now infamous "Mrs. Weasley Sweater", designed by costume designer Jany Temime for Julie Walters in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets.

The charms include:

Large Owl, for Errol

House with an orchard, for the Burrow

Quill, for work-obsessed Percy

Jester, for jokers Fred & George

Chess Knight, for Ron

Phoenix, for the Order of the Phoenix

Fireplace, for the Weasley's hearth & homeWolf, for Bill who was attacked by a werewolf

Claddagh, for her lifelong love, Arthur Weasley

Lion, for Gryffindor House, to which she & her family all belonged

Knitting Needles & Sweater, for her favorite hobby

Broom, for Ginny who played Quidditch for the Holyhead Harpies

Clock, for her magical family clock

Dragon, for Charlie who works with them in Romania

Lightning Bolt, for her honorary son, Harry Potter

Teapot & cup, because Molly is always available for a little tea & sympathy

Little Owl, for Pigwidgeon

I hope you love it as much as I do!

Sorting Hat Earrings

This semester is already kicking my butt.  I am teaching a new class this term and am struggling to keep up with it, so there's been less crafting time lately.  But I did take a short break from lecture writing eysterday afternoon to make some earrings.  Four pairs of Sorting Hat Earrings to be exact!  The idea came from listening to several people in the Back to Hogwarts Swap who have gotten into Pottermore, but were upset at being sorted into a house they didn't expect.  The real Sorting Hat would of course take your wishes into consideration.
The charms are pewter, and absolutely adorable.

Gryffindor - red Druk glass & amber Czech glass

Hufflepuff - fire-polished Czech glass & black stone 

Slytherin - Czech glass

Ravenclaw - Czech glass & sand stone

All the houses together!

Luna's Ravenclaw Charm Bracelets

I realized the other day, that I somehow never posted my Ravenclaw themed charm bracelets here.  I'm not sure why, since I really liked how they came out.  The beads include cobalt blue and deep amber glass, as well as Swarovski crystal and blueberry freshwater pearls.

The charms are a mix of Tibetan silver and pewter.  They include: a thestral, a sunflower for luck, a lighting bolt for her friend Harry Potter, Hogwarts castle, a garden gnome (Gernumbli gardensi!)...

...Ravenclaw's eagle, Knowledge token, spell books, a crescent moon for Luna...

...the Diadem of Ravenclaw, a bunch of dirigible plums, a quill & inkwell to do her homework, a hare (Luna's patronus).

Decked Out for Deathly Hallows Mini-Packages

It has now been several weeks since the premier of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part II.  While organizing the Decked Out for Deathly Hallows Swap on Craftster, I decided to make a few mini-packages as thank you presents for my co-organizers, Pinkleo & Grace. Somehow I have lost the picture of the goodies I sent to pinkleo, who is a fellow Gryffindor, but I do have a shot of the items I sent to Grace, the brainy Ravenclaw.  (Should have thought to ask Pinkleo to take a picture for me when her package arrived!)

Grace's package included a tissue pack for all those sad death scenes, an Excellence bracelet and earrings, Luna's Patronus Charm earrings, a button from the Harry Potter Alliance, a Ravenclaw bottle cap pendant, Deathly Hallows bottle cap magnet, and a Mad-Eye Moody leather bracelet.  Everything was hand made, with the exception of the HPA buttonwhich was purchased on their website, and the Moody bracelet, which was purchased on Ebay.

While I was at it, I also made a mini-package for a wonderful craftster by the name of PirateColey, who defintely exemplifies the qualities of Hufflepuff house.  She is constantly willing to go above and beyond in each swap to make sure her fellow swappers have an excellent experience.  In this swap she even offered to drive to Canada to "smuggle" swap packages into the US during the Canada Post strike!  Her package included a tissue pack, Badger bracelet and earrings, HPA button, Deathly Hallows bottlecap magnet, Hufflepuff House ring (a cute cake topper I found), and a Mad Eye Moody bracelet.

Bottle Cap Pendants

I made a few more bottle cap pendants last week.  I like hwo they came out, and think I'm going to keep a few of them for a change.  Probably the TARDIS and the Lady of Shalott.

The Lady of Shalott

Mucha painting

Ravenclaw pendant for Gracie

Pureblood Pride Charm Bracelet

I'm still on a Harry Potter crafting kick.  Despite working on what seems like an unending string of Doctor's Companion bracelets that I just can't seem to keep in my Etsy, starting the Across the Universe project, and working on the Decked Out for Deathly Hallows Swap, I am apparently unable to stop making more Harry Potter themed jewelry.  

Though I'm a Gryffindor, I seem to most often craft for Hufflepuff & Ravenclaw friends, and don't often craft for any Slytherins (except for the lovely SevsOnlyGirl on Craftster).  In an attempt to even the score I've been trying to create a few new Slytherin themed pieces.  This one is sort of an ode to Miss Cissy & Miss Bella. A Pureblood Pride bracelet if you will.

The beads are a mix of Druk & fire-polished Czech glass, Swarovski crystal, freshwater pearls, and hematite.

 The charms include: Evil eye for protection, textbooks and an apple, key...

...Celtic knot, dragon, wand, castle, snake...

...star, inkwell & quill, owl, shield, skull, moon & spider.

 Meanwhile, I listed a new Doctor's Companion bracelet yesterday morning, and it sold last night.  I listed another this morning around 10:45.  It sold at noon.  Despite my best efforts, I just can't seem to keep them in my shop!  I know it is a good thing, but I'm running out of companion themed charms. Many of the ones I do have left are being reserved as part of custom orders, leaving me waiting on more supplies to come in.  Cross your fingers and sacrifice a box of bubble mailers to the postal gods for me.

Deathly Hallows Bracelet 2.0

While working on Krafty_Karasu's Deathly Hallows bracelet, I knew I wanted to create one for my Etsy as well.  Version 2.0 varies slightly from the original in terms of the charms within the bracelet, but the concept is the same. 

 It contains 20 charms, in a mix of pewter, Tibetan silver, crystal, brass, and handmade resin filled vials and bezels. The beads are a mix of Druk glass, fire polished Czech glass, and Swarovski crystals, river shell bead frames, and freshwater pearls.

The Charms include:

-Harry's Rucksack
-Deathly Hallows symbol, (handmade charm)
-Helga Hufflepuff's Cup
-the Tent that Harry, Ron & Hermione camp in while on the run
-Vial of Snape's Memories (handmade charm)

-Gate from the Cemetery at Godric's Hollow
-Tales of Beadle the Bard
-Nagini
-The Silver Doe 

-The Elder Wand
-a Crystal from the chandelier at Malfoy manor
-Dragon released from Gringotts

-Lightning Bolt for Harry

 

-Spade that Harry used to dig Dobby's grave

-Slytherin's Locket
-Diadem of Ravenclaw

-Alastor Moody's Glass Eye
-Hogwart's Castle
-Golden Snitch from Harry's first Quidditch Match
-The Sorting Hat 

I'm really pleased with how this one turned out, and quite honestly I'm loath to part with it. I might just have to break down and make one for myself later this summer, after I get some other projects and orders taken care of.