The Misadventures of Miss Kay: DIY Hogwarts Themed Party

Themed parties always need a good photo station. And what makes a better station than King's Cross Station, Platform Nine and Three-Quarters?

The first thing you will need is a brick wall. I purchased this Brick Wall Backdrop 4ft. x 30ft. from Amazon. It worked great and I had plenty of left over plastic that I could've made an entrance to Diagon Alley as well. I did need to cut two pieces to make my wall since it is only 4 ft tall and I pinned one above the other. Sadly, I forgot to take a picture of just the wall and so here's a picture of the wall with the image of the Hogwarts train photoshopped on top to cover the rest of the image; the rest of the image being my friends taking silly photos.

A scarlet stream engine was waiting next to a platform packed with people. A sign overhead said Hogwarts Express, eleven o'clock. Harry looked behind him and saw a wrought-iron archway where the barrier had been, with the words Platform Nine and Three-Quarters on it. He had done it. (Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, 93-94)

Next is the Platform 9 ¾ hanging sign. You will need:

Cardboard (just used any old box lying around)
Black, Rusty Red, and Golden Yellow paint
Hot glue
Xacto Knife
9 ¾ printout

Size the above image to approximately 10 x 4 inches and print out twice. If you have a color printer, great; if not, you can paint the red background and the gold letters.
Cut out the following pieces of cardboard:

One 11 x 5 inch rectangle for the backing
Two 11 x 5 inch rectangles with 9.5 x 3.5 inch cut out to create 0.75 inch frames
Two 10.5 x 0.75 inch strips
One 12 x 0.75 inch strip

Center and glue the printouts to each side of the backing.
Paint the frames gold and the strips black.
Glue frames on each side of the sign.
Paint edges of the sign gold.
As evenly as possible, fold one of the short strips around the left edge of the sign and glue.
Glue second short strip to the back of the first, making sure to leave 0.75 inch hanging below the end of the sign
Take the long strip and curl one end as tight as you can.
Glue the uncurled end of the long strip just below the top of the vertical short strip and glue the bottom part of the curl to the end of the fold short strip.

I painted my sign red and gold and so I had the same gold to paint the frame. Obviously, I should've used a ruler to cut straight edges for the frames but I think it turned out pretty well, all things considered.

Place your photo booth props and some antique suitcases next to your wall and you've got yourself your very own Hogwarts Express Platform!

LINKS TO THE REST OF THE PARTY

DIY Hogwarts Themed Party - Banners

http://misadventuresofmisskay.blogspot.com/2017/09/diy-hogwarts-themed-party-banners.html

DIY Hogwarts Themed Party - Activities

http://misadventuresofmisskay.blogspot.com/2017/09/diy-hogwarts-themed-party-activities.html

DIY Hogwarts Themed Party - Food

http://misadventuresofmisskay.blogspot.com/2017/09/diy-hogwarts-themed-party-food.html

DIY Hogwarts Themed Party - Enchanted Ceiling

http://misadventuresofmisskay.blogspot.com/2017/09/diy-hogwarts-themed-party-enchanted.html

DIY Hogwarts Themed Party - Platform 9 3/4

http://misadventuresofmisskay.blogspot.com/2017/09/diy-hogwarts-themed-party-platform-9-34.html

DIY Hogwarts Themed Party - Signs