A self-confessed Harry Potter tragic, Sophie Brown admits the incredible Harry Potter party she recently threw for her eight-year-old was ‘over the top’. But she wouldn’t have it any other way.

From swirling potions to wands DIY sculpted wands for each guest and a Platform 9¾ right on her doorstep, the Melbourne artist says every hour of effort was worth it.

“It was a very chaotic but fun day!” Sophie told Mouths of Mums. “I think I underestimated how hard it would be to wrangle 18 x 8 year olds! But the kids had a lot of fun. I’m sure some parents thought it was insane and OTT, but most know that I am an unhinged crafter.”

The mum-of-two says she’s been trying to turn her children into Harry Potter tragics, and this year it was finally time to put her years of scheming to use!

“Usually we don’t do a party at home – I usually go all out with a cake but that’s about it! But this year in an act of absolute self-indulgence (and living vicariously through my kids) we decided to throw a themed party at home.”

Sophie created literally dozens of handmade items for the party – including the jaw-dropping Hedwig cake. She up-cycled a marketplace find to create a mini Ollivanders shop cabinet, a Hogwarts Express trolley cart, a selection of Harry Potter-themed party prizes, a Golden Snitch claw machine, a flying key game, smoking cauldron, a gallery wall with floating candles, a potted mandrake (made from a celeriac!) and broomstick party bags. Amazing!

“I really loved making the Hedwig cake! I think many mums can relate to the pressure of making a cake for a child’s birthday! Even just the pressure of organising a store-bought one can be a lot. I committed far too much time to the cake (every year I seem to get more extreme, which can only end badly). But it’s something I love to do!

“I’m definitely not a great baker – but I have found some excellent staple recipes that I use for my cakes each year! I always make the Bake Play Smile White Chocolate Mudcake. It’s very dense and moist which is perfect for sculpting – plus it tastes delicious and is always a hit. I use a Russian Buttercream recipe from Sugarologie to bind the cake and create a crumb coat.

“And for the sculpting, I make a big batch of white modelling chocolate following a YouTube video from one of my favourite cake artists Natalie Sideserft. I love using modelling chocolate because I’m not a huge fan of fondant. The modelling chocolate is delicious (it tastes just like white chocolate) and it’s really easy to sculpt and paint, which is more my forte. I’m always very impressed by cakes using fancy piping techniques and buttercream, which I find much more difficult!”

 

So what’s next for this party queen?

“I’ve really backed myself into a corner with my kids! We usually don’t do a party at home, so I’ve told my youngest he can have an elaborate home party when he turns eight too (he turns five in October!) Otherwise I will send myself into an early grave! My almost-five-year-old has asked for a Collingwood Magpies themed cake and party. His first request was a ‘big Jamie Elliott cake’ which I told him was both creepy and outside of my skill set! He has since requested a magpie sitting on a premiership cup wearing a medal… no pressure!”

We can’t wait to see what you dream up next Sophie!

For anyone interesting in recreating some of Sophie’s epic Harry Potter party wonders, she’s uploading a series of step-by-step tutorials on her Instagram account Nesti Home.

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