The greatest ambition of all young wizards is to get their hands on their wand and enter the prestigious school of Hogwarts. Are you still convinced that the owl with your admission letter got lost? It does not matter! You can still have a beautiful wand even without going to Ollivander's shop. It will not be she who chooses you, but it will be the perfect accessory to accompany your new wizard costume.
Steps
Method 1 of 3: Use a Wooden Stick
Step 1. Get a wooden stick between 25 and 33 centimeters long
You can find it in DIY stores, usually in packs that contain many. If you can find a longer stick, you can cut it with a saw.
Alternatively, you can use a simple stick found in the garden. Make sure it's not thicker than your fingers, it's the desired length, and pretty straight
Step 2. Sand one end of the wood to make it round
That will be the tip. You can even sand the wand so that the tip is slightly narrower than the handle, just like in the movies. Start with coarse sandpaper and work your way up to finer and finer grit paper.
If you are using a twig, you need to sandpaper out all the bumps, points, and serrated parts. You can leave the bark and knots if you prefer, or remove those as well
Step 3. If desired, use hot glue to create the handle
Usually, it should be about as long as your index finger. Cover it entirely with glue. Let it dry, then add another 2-3 layers of glue if you see fit.
- Not all chopsticks have a handle. Hermione's, for example, didn't have it.
- When the hot glue has hardened, you can "carve" designs on it with the tip of the applicator.
Step 4. Consider gluing a bead or button to the base of the handle
Some sticks have a knob at the end of the handle. You can create one by gluing a particular button or bead. Choose an object the size of the wand, not too big.
You will be painting the wand shortly, so don't worry about the color
Step 5. If desired, use a hot glue gun to draw the rest of the wand
It is ideal for creating intricate patterns, such as those on Hermione's wand. You can make them by twisting the wooden cylinder between your fingers as you squeeze the glue out of the gun.
Step 6. Using acrylic paint, paint the wood with a base color, then let it dry
Most wands are brown, but yours can be black or white if you prefer. For the color to be more realistic, paint it with different shades of the same color. For example, you can make a brown wand with lighter and darker shades of that color.
You can use acrylic paints diluted with water to show the original color of the wood
Step 7. Add effects due to wear
Take a shade darker than the base color and use it to fill in the cracks and hollow areas of your wand. Then, take a shade lighter than the base color and use it to lighten the raised areas. Use a small pointed brush for this step.
Step 8. Let the paint dry, then apply sealant to make the wand last longer
Take it outside and place it on some newspaper. Spray it with a clear acrylic sealant, then let it dry. Turn it over and repeat the operation. Let the product dry and, if necessary, apply a second coat.
Using sealant is optional, but the paint will last longer. You can use a glossy, satin or matte one
Method 2 of 3: Using a Chinese Wand
Step 1. Get one of the chopsticks you use to eat at a Chinese restaurant
A regular pattern will do just fine if you are making a magic wand for a child. If you want to give an adult a gift, you could buy a 38cm bamboo cooking rod.
- Again, you'll paint it later, so don't worry about the color.
- Can't find a Chinese wand? You can try using a long brush. Break off the part with the bristles, just below the metal section. If you prefer, you can use a hacksaw.
Step 2. If desired, use hot glue to create the handle
Usually, it should be about as long as your index finger. Apply glue to the wand, then let it dry. If necessary, repeat 2-3 times.
To create a wand like Harry's, draw vertical lines on the handle. They must be thicker at the base and thinner at the top
Step 3. If desired, use a hot glue gun to draw the rest of the wand
Some models have no particular motifs, but others, like Hermione Granger's, are completely designed. You can use glue to draw vines, scribbles or spirals. To create a spiral design, simply rotate the wand while drawing a line of glue.
Step 4. Add a bead or button under the wand
Some chopsticks have highly sought-after knobs. If you like this feature, you can glue a small bead or a particular button under the base of the wood. Choose objects of the same size as the wand; they should not exceed its circumference by much.
- Think about the shape of the bead and don't worry about its color. You will paint it later.
- If you prefer, you can leave the bead or button in their original color, especially if they are crystal!
Step 5. Paint the wand its base color using acrylic paint
Most wands are brown, but some black and white patterns are seen in the Harry Potter films. If you wish, you can paint yours with different shades of the same color, in order to create a more realistic wood effect.
If your rod is made of bamboo, you can use acrylic paint diluted with water. In this way, you will be able to see the original color underneath
Step 6. Add some effects due to wear by using shades lighter and darker than the base color
Take the darker shade and use it to fill in the cracks and hollow areas of your wand. You can use a cotton swab or a round tip brush to reach the most difficult areas. Afterwards, take the lighter color and use it to lighten all the raised areas.
If you have chosen a black wand, just lighten it. If it's white, you just need to create shadows
Step 7. To make the paint last longer, apply a clear acrylic sealant to the wand
Take it outside and place it on some newspaper. Spray it with sealant and wait for it to dry. Once dry, turn it over and spray the product on the other side. Repeat the application, if you deem it appropriate.
- Using sealant is not necessary, but the paint will last longer.
- You can use a glossy, satin or matte one.
Method 3 of 3: Create a Wand with Paper
Step 1. Roll up a sheet of paper to make a thin, compact stick
Start from the lower left corner of the sheet and continue towards the upper right corner. Stop when you pass the widest point on the paper.
Step 2. Apply hot glue to the last third of the sheet
To prevent the paper from getting too wet, use a brush to apply a thin coat of glue. At this point, you need to add the heart of the wand. Here are some options:
- Phoenix Feather: A red, orange, or yellow feather.
- Dragon heart thread: a piece of red thread.
- Unicorn hair: a silver or iridescent thread.
Step 3. Finish rolling the paper and hold it until the glue has dried; it can take 20-30 minutes
If you don't like the idea of holding the wand in your hand all that time, you can secure it with laces or string. Before moving on, make sure the glue has dried.
Step 4. Cut off the top of the wand
The paper roll probably has two very narrow points; use a pair of scissors or a utility knife to remove both. On the one hand, it cuts more paper than on the other, in order to obtain a wider handle.
Step 5. Apply hot glue to both ends of the wand
In this way the tube will be even more solid and will not come apart. If you want to customize the wand even more you can glue a small bead or button to the bottom of the handle. Make sure they are the same size as the paper; they should not exceed its circumference.
Step 6. Use hot glue to draw on the wand
Use this technique to create the handle, which shouldn't exceed the length of your index finger. If you wish, you can also use the gun to draw lines of hot glue on the rest of the wand.
If you prefer, you can glue beads or buttons on the handle to create a truly unique looking wand
Step 7. Apply a primer to the wand
You can use primer paint, chalk, or even decoupage glue. Let the product dry before continuing. This way, the paper won't get too wet with paint when you color it. If it gets too wet, it could come undone.
Step 8. Paint the wand its base color using acrylic paint
Most of the wands are brown, but some models that appeared in the movies were black or white. You can use a single color, or several different shades of the same color. For example, you could make a brown wand with shades lighter and darker than that tone to create a more realistic wood effect.
Step 9. Add wear-related effects and let the wand dry
This way the designs you have drawn will be much more visible. Take a color just darker than the one you used and apply it with a brush or a cotton swab to all the hollows and indentations of the wand. Afterwards, take a lighter color and lighten all the raised parts.
If you have chosen to make a black wand, just lighten it. If, on the other hand, you have opted for white, you just have to create shadows
Step 10. If desired, apply sealant to the wand
It is not mandatory to do this, but the color will last longer. Place it on newspaper in a well-ventilated area. Spray it with clear acrylic sealant, then let it dry. Turn it over and do the same on the other side. Repeat this step if necessary.
You can use a glossy, satin or matte product
Advice
- Insert buttons or beads into the hot glue before it dries. This way you can create beautiful handles.
- The diameter of the rod should be between 6 mm and 2 cm. The thickness of a pencil or your little finger is ideal.
- You can find hot glue guns at all DIY stores.
- Let the glue warm up for a few minutes before using it. Usually 5 will suffice.
- When you're done with the wand, you can add the finishing touches with the gold or silver paint.
- You can use papier mache to make the handle of your wand. Roll a thin sheet of papier mache the size of your finger and wrap it around the base of the wand. Flatten the wrinkles with your fingers. You can draw designs with a blunt tool (like a pencil), or create shapes with buttons.
- Now that you have a wand, why not also make a box that can hold it? It will be the perfect home for your new magical item.
- Make sure you buy hot glue sticks that fit your gun. A small, low-temperature gun needs sticks of that type. Large sticks will not enter the tank and high temperature ones will not melt!
- The sticks are 25 to 33 cm long. The shorter ones are too stubby and the longer ones look like small sticks.
- If you don't have a hot glue gun, you can create your own designs using 3D paint (so called “puffy paint”). They will not be as pronounced, but they will still be slightly raised.
Warnings
- Children shouldn't cut wood. If your child wants to make a wand, do this yourself.
- Hot glue guns can cause burns, even those at low temperatures. They are to be used only under adult supervision.
