Wizard Friend!

Good morning, Sharon here, my kids are Potterheads and when I saw this free cutting file from Craft with Sarah I knew they would love it!

Do you want to make it? Then download the file and I’ll show you how!

The products I am using are Pop-Tone Cardstock in Black Licorice and Lemon Drop; Lessebo Cement, Classic Crest Solar White and Curious Translucent Silver. These are letter size so resize the file to fit. This is easy if you do it before you ungroup all the parts – just shrink it in your cutter software.

There are a lot of layers so I separate them into colors and cut them in colors. That way it’s easier to keep them all together for following along. We are just cutting the owl parts first. Leave the lantern pieces until later we will put these together at the end.

The main section needs cutting from Classic Crest Solar White. This is the first layer. The sections go down in size as you layer them. You need the large Licorice Black section and the largest of the Cement parts. Glue these all together like below. I am also adding the tail feathers at this point too.

I Love the Precision Glue Press for projects like this, I fill my glue bottle with Tombow Mono Multipurpose Liquid Glue the fine tip is great for small sections.

To give the owl dimension some layers need foam tape. Layering is self explanatory largest to smallest with foam tape in alternative sections.

With the layers needing to be lined up perfect a tip is to add wet glue to your foam tape once you’ve removed the backing. This gives you a slippy surface for some wiggle room. Also some of the backing can stick to you from static, If you place the backing onto a piece of kitchen towel it stops this. This is also great for Red Liner Tape.

Now the body and wings are done let’s move on to the face. This is where the owl comes to life. first are the white and cement layers. adhere your face layers all with wet glue.

Now the colors, add the Lemon Drop piece.

There is another white layer then the black – the white give the highlights in the eyes. You can see the face coming to life as you add the pieces.

The last white and the Cement fine pieces will make the eyes pop. Oh and don’t forget the beak!

Now let’s move on to the lantern section, this is a bit fiddly to put together. It is made up of two frame pieces, a top and base piece, six panels all in Classic Crest Solar White and six Curious Translucent pieces. I am using Silver for these so when not lit the Grey and white theme carries to his body.

First adhere the translucent sections to the backs of the panels.

Then build your frame by placing one piece inside the other. These pieces have notches cut into them which makes them easy to fit together. Here you can see how the base fits into the frame.

The bigger piece is the base. Slot the top piece in the same way. None of these sections need glueing the notches hold them in place. Each of the panels then need slotting in to base and top.

Leave one panel out so you can add your lights. You can use a battery tea light if you wish but I chose to use battery fairy lights. Wind these around your finger so the lights are spread evenly and will fit inside the lantern.

Slot these into the lantern leaving the battery pack on the outside. Now add the final panel. You will have what looks like an egg which is quite novel given the lantern is a bird.

If you look at your owl you will see slots in the body space, this is the final section of frame for the lantern. Gently push the lantern in to the body lining up the slots. Make sure the battery section of your lights is at the back of the owl.

This part is very fiddly to do be careful not to tear your cardstock.

Once in place tape the battery pack to the back of the owl. Don’t do what I did! It needs sticking to the center of the owl to balance him when you hang him.

I did move the battery pack once I realized what I’d done!

The final step is to add a cord to hang him – I chose some butcher’s twine in the colors that match our favorite Potter House.

He does take a while to glue together but isn’t he amazing once done? He looks great hanging in the dark!

I would love to see your projects if you decide to make him!