Hogwarts School of Witchcraft & Wizardry - Diagon Ally/Platform 9 3/4

Before students go to school they need to get their supplies, and where do you go to get wizarding school supplies? Diagon Alley of course! Using the list that I created in their invitations I set up a little row of shops for the students to visit before the party started to pick up all the items they would need. The wonderful Sera of PropPrintables was so fantastic to work with again! She custom created the street sign and all the store signs for me! I was just overwhelmed with how they turned out. And now lets go shopping...

Diagon Alley

The first stop was Gringotts Bank.

The kids filled out little withdrawal tickets from Uniquely Grace and got a small bag of gold galleons to buy their supplies.

Next was a stop at Madame Malkin's Robes

With so many kids coming I didn't want to blow my budget on robes for all of them but wanted them to wear something.... so I found this super easy and cheap tutorial over at Tiny Scissor Times on how to make robes out of black plastic table clothes and tape! Here is the b-day boy modeling them for you :)

Then we came to Ollivander's Wand Shop, this was probably the most exciting one for the kids!

I ordered these super cute wands from JCustomWoodBurning on Etsy and made the boxes out of poster board, foam, fabric, and the box labels were printed from the RPF.

The kids had a blast picking out their wands. They took their time and chose very carefully! Each wand was different and came with a description card of what the wand was made of, length, magical core element, and rigidity.

Also at Ollivanders the kids picked up a little booklet from Party Scribbles to learn proper wand care.

On to pick up the things we would need for our lessons...

A book from Flourish & Blotts

Each kid picked up a copy of Standard Lessons (Grade 1) that I made. Inside was the student's schedule and class worksheets, but more on those in the next post!

And a re-inking quill from Scrivenshaft's

I absolutely loved the quills! They were also from PropPrintables and super easy to make!

 Next visit was at Pottage's to get a cauldron to carry everything in...

Students were also allowed to bring with them if the desire an owl, cat, or toad, so we made a quick stop at Eeylops Owl Emporium. 

Here are my two cuties with the owls they picked out :)

First year's were not allowed their own broomsticks but we did pass the Quiditch shop on our way.

Now that they have everything, it is time to head off!

Platform 9 3/4

I got the idea for the platform from so many others on pinterest. I re-created it by hanging brick patterned corrugated paper over the front door and cut a slit at the bottom so kids can walk through.

The platform was decorated with suitcases and other things that students might take to Hogwarts...

I filled one of the suitcases with various items from the movies that might come in handy during a year at Hogwarts.

Chocolate frogs, yum yum! (movie #1) and Weasly Wiz-Bangs (Movie #5)

The Daily Prophet to keep up on all the wizarding news (movie #3), and a copy of Advanced Potion Making with notes from the Half-Blood Prince to get you ahead of the class! (Movie #6)

Along with your book, you may want to come stocked with some potions on hand... just encase!

Poly Juice Potion (movies #2/#4)

Veritaserum (movie #5), some Gilly Weed (movie #4)

  and one can always use a little Liquid Luck! (movie #6)

An autographed picture of Gilderoy Lockhart, hubba hubba! 

(movie #2)

You should also never leave home with out your wand from Ollivanders, a copy of The Standard Book of Spells, a golden snitch for Quiditch practice (both movie #1), the Marauder's Map to help you maneuver about at night (movie #3), and a pair of extendable ears to listen in on secret conversations! (movie #6)

One would be ready for the year with a trunk packed like this!

I got the potions from Wizarding World on Etsy. All the book covers and package labels were printed also from the RPF.

You can check out the rest of the party details here:

Hogwarts Acceptance Letter

Sorting/Classes

Great Hall/Favors

Quiditch/Hogsmeade