I never planned on doing a Harry Potter DIY wand display. I have had three Harry Potter wands sitting in their little Ollivanders’ boxes for the past year now. But after I saw this nifty little board at Walmart, I decided to embark on the journey of creating my own handmade wand holder. And in case you saw my Everything You Need to Know About the Wands at Wizarding World of Harry Potter, here is how you can make one, too!
Here’s What You’ll Need:
- A wooden board, a frame, or a shadow box
- Gold Hooks
- Mod Podge (Optional)
- Print of your favorite HP spell, quote, or picture (or a decal)
- WANDS
Now, you can always take the easier route and embed your hooks into the sides of a picture frame. Then all you will have to do is simply print out your favorite picture, quote, or spell to go into the photo slots.
Or you can use a shadow box and fill it with all of your favorite Harry Potter things. You can even just buy a decal for the glass and use the shadow box for dimension. And voila! You have a unique handmade wand holder.
There really are limitless options.
I wanted mine to be a little different, so I used the Mod Podge method.
Here are the steps for my Harry Potter DIY Wand Display:
Step 1: Paint, Wood Stain, or Burn your wood.
I wanted my wand holder to look a bit more dramatic, so I simply burned the craft wood board I bought from Walmart. I used a Zippo lighter, but this gets HOT very quickly so I recommend using a torch lighter or something with a handle.
You could also use paint if you a looking for a colorful/lively display. Using my house colors was another idea I considered! Or you can use wood stain for a more traditional aesthetic. (like something you would see inside Hogwarts).
Step 2: Find your favorite Harry Potter-esque quote, spell or picture
I love the quote from J.K. Rowling’s speech at the Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 premiere. It also went well with the picture I choose! Print both of these out on regular computer paper, as a mirrored image. If you want to use the exact pictures I did, submit your email below and I will send you the PDFs!
If you are using a shadow box, you can skip this step and just add your HP memorabilia into your box. Or use a decal to place on the glass.
If you are using a picture frame, simply slide these pictures into the photo slots before moving on to Step 6.
Step 3: Mod to the Podge
I did this for both the quote and the photo for my display. You will want to trim the sides of the picture or quote as close as possible to the edges. Then, paint the front of your photo heavily with matte mod podge.
Next, place it face down on your board and use an old gift or credit card to get rid of wrinkles or bubbles.
Step 4: Let it DRY
For at least 8 hours. I know– you’re anxious! But it’s important to let it dry so that the image’s ink really settles into the wood.
Step 5: Remove the Paper
After it dries, you will be able to get rid of the surrounding paper by simply using water and a washcloth. Make sure the cloth is heavily saturated to make the process easier. Gently rub the wet cloth over your photo and watch as the paper begins to peel away, leaving your wood stained with your picture!
Step 6: Twist in little gold hook thingys
These actually screwed into the craft wood quite nicely. However, if you are using thicker materials, you may need to pre-poke a hole into your wood. You can use a thumb tack or a hammer and a nail to create the setting for your hook.
Also, the gold hooks also might need to be pried open slightly in order to fit in larger wands. I just used pliers to do this.
Pro Tip: Use a ruler to make sure your hooks are lined up perfectly.
Step 7: Display!
I added an picture brackets on the back and used a regular nail to hold the entire display in place. And there you have i; your own unique DIY wand display!
What do you think of this Harry Potter DIY wand display? I don’t think I’ve seen very many handmade wand holders like this, so it was fun to come up with a new look! If you use this tutorial, please tag me on social media!
If you have any questions, please feel free to leave them in the comments below. Sign up for my newsletter if you want some more Harry Potter DIY tips and tricks and subscribe to my YouTube channel!
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