Gryffindor common room couch in miniature Harry Potter

Making this iconic couch was challenging. The material was a little too thick, but as the colour was right, I worked with it.
My first step was to go to my silhouette cameo and make a cardstock pattern of the couch. Can I just say, making miniatures to scale is difficult. You make it, and think it's right, and then you put it in it's intended place, and something is off. Back to the drawing board!



Using foam board is an inexpensive material that stays flat, and since this furniture will have it's bones covered, why not use it? I am also using a clean pizza box as well.








Covering wooden dowel with a thin piece of batting to make the arm rest.



Using fabric glue tape to attach fabric to the couch. In order to make the couch without any fabric edges showing involves folding and glueing strategically.









The seat cushion and back were layered with foam packing sheets and batting from an old oven mitt.


Sewing the seat cushion for the couch



To make the back cushion, I used foam board as a base, and layered batting, trying different amounts so it would look right after it is covered in fabric.



To make the skirt, I cut out cardstock templates and glued fabric to it.



The back of the couch is a piece of pizza box card covered in fabric, and then glued.





Final pictures of the couches I've made.



Enjoy this picture video!

Fawkes the phoenix bird stand project from Harry Potter

My mom and I go to the thrift store regularily and that is where I find most of my miniature treasures.
Taking the time to go through the kid's toy bags can reap rewards. This is what I found and I was so excited to come home and modify it to make a stand for this bird. I think it is a beauty and the beast toy set.

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Cutting down a butter container for the bird pan.



Using gorilla super glue is good with plastic.



Painting with a metallic paint to make it all come together.



The bar is a simple dowel and 2 beads



Wood glue works well.



Painting it the same metallic paint.



Here it is all put together. It does work well and I am pleased with the result.



Although Fawkes does look a little big on his stand, I'm happy with this project.

Gryffindor fireplace from Harry Potter

Making the Gryffindor fireplace: Very exciting and iconic. The support walls or legs of the fireplace will be wooden cubes from the dollar store, and glued together.



Wood from a Home depot kid's  kit is used for the header. Sand mixed with paint will add texture and make it look like stone. A tiny piece of trim is glued to the top of the header for the mantel. Using polymer clay, a scalloped stone is made to top the right leg of the fireplace.




Painted and dry fitting it in the tower.



Using foam board and egg carton stones is an inexpensive and easy to get materials, but it is labour intensive to do.



The little rectangle box to the left is a bench seat.



I decided to make a flat wall behind the fireplace with egg carton "stone". The back of the firebox needs soot, so I mixed crushed black baked polymer clay with black paint and sponged it on. Foam board and egg carton "stone" are used to finish the  leg, side and back of firebox of the fireplace.








The chimney part will be made with nail files instead of egg cartons. I thought it would look even more like stone. Here I have a cardstock template for the stone in orange. Be warned, cutting nail files repeatedly will ruin your scissors. I sacrificed an old pair but it was worth it.





The support for it is foam board. Adding a little trim to the mantel.

Glueing egg carton stone on foam board for the back of the chimney and the side.



Glued in place, it looks very similar to the fireplace in the movies. The tapestry on the right is just a paper copy for the moment, to dry fit it in until I make a tapestry of cloth.



Still waiting for my Gryffindor badge to come in the mail to glue to the chimney.
Finally, the badges came in! One is really a keychain.




It is a little small for the fireplace.
The other one is a rubber or silicone luggage tag, and after much thought, the decision was made to use this as the fireplace emblem.




Here it is painted with acrylic paint








All finished! Maybe it needs a bigger fire and some wet socks hanging on a fireplace screen. It would be cool to have Sirius Black's face in the fire!
Here's a short picture video you might enjoy!