DIY - How to make a Hermione Granger Wand

Lily is a devoted Harry Potter fan.  She's been reading the series since last Christmas and has just completed the 6th installment.  Given this obsession, it was obvious that Harry Potter was going to play heavily into her choice of costume for this Halloween.  After all, what nine year old girl doesn't want to be Hermione Granger?  We have been gathering bits and pieces of her costume for a few months now but when it came to finding a suitable wand, we were stumped.  A trip to Ollivander's Wand Shop in Diagon Alley was out of the question and Michael's was clean out of vine wood and dragon heart string but we put our heads together and found a way to make a wand that looks pretty close to the real thing.  Here's what we did.

What you will need:

• wooden dowel from local hardware store
• sharp knife
• glue gun
• paint
• varnish
• obsessed Harry Potter fan (typically 8 - 15 year old but the odd 40 year old too)

Consult with your Harry Potter fan to create the project plan.  Once this is signed off, visit your local hardware store and purchase a long wooden stick.



Grab your sharp knife and whittle the tip of the dowel down to a dull point.  WARNING: Sharpening the tip may result in younger siblings stealing the stick and attempting to use it as a weapon against the Harry Potter fan.  Beware.



Grab the glue gun and start creating a vine pattern around the wooden dowel. 



This will not be easy - especially if you have the Harry Potter fan sitting nearby inspecting your work. Try not to crack under the pressure.



Once you have the vine pattern in place, pat yourself on the back and take a break to wipe the sweat off your brow.



Okay, back to work. Pull out your paint - any old leftover craft paint will do.



This is a really good chance to get the Harry Potter fan involved. Hand them the paint brush, sit back and relax.



Once the paint has dried, slap some varnish on and admire your work.



If you are satisfied with your craftsmanship, invite the Harry Potter fan to conduct user acceptance testing. If you have met your deliverable, you will have gained the admiration of a very grateful Harry Potter fan - congratulations!



And you might even gain the attention of Luke Skywalker should he happen to walk by.