DIY: Make Your Own Harry Potter Monster Book of Monsters Journal

Admit it. You’ve always wanted one. Ever since I read Harry Potter, I knew I needed a book that looked like it could devour me just like I eat up all the books around me. Not to mention the soft furry cover. Maybe I’ll just sleep with it. Now you can too!

Debra and her adorable daughter team up to make this awesome Harry Potter-inspired Monster Book of Monsters Journal. You could also cover a book too if you want to just use it as a decor item (or something to hug in bed . . .).

Here are the Supplies you will need to get started:

Faux Fur Fabric (You can buy it by the yard at the craft store)
a notebook (not spiral bound)
hot glue
2 flat marbles
felt in red and white
scissors
orange paper
a black marker
mod podge

Watch the video for instructions:

Also, Debra has put together this awesome post on her blog on making your own Book of Monsters Valentine too! Who else wants to be Debra’s best friend? *timidly raises hand*

Books=Love

XoXo,

Robin

About the Author: Robin M. King is the author of three young adult novels (Remembrandt Series), devourer of books, and lover of brownie batter.

Make Your Own Harry Potter Hogwarts House Flags

If you didn’t know, I have an obsession with all things magical. In fact, LitJoy has a crate that they release twice a year that is based on that obsession. Their Magical Edition crates have been one of my favorite things to receive (sign-up for news on Year 6). But let’s say you *might* be even a little more obsessed. Like, let’s say your book club did a whole retreat based on the Harry Potter series and they pulled a near all-nighter discussing all the books. Everyone dressed like a different character from the Harry Potter series. All the food was Harry Potter inspired. The whole space was decorated in Harry Potter decor and the weekend ended in a search for Horcruxes as part of an extravagant scavenger hunt. That would never happen, right!?!

Well, it did. All of my nerdy Harry Potter fanatics participated in this event (see costume ideas and more here). As part of it, I had the opportunity to make some Hogwarts house flags for the event. Griffindor, Slytherin, Hufflepuff, and Ravenclaw had to be represented. But I couldn’t find large flags that were of the quality I wanted. So I made them. Now you can too!

Here’s what you need:

• 1 yard of each house color fabric – red, blue, yellow, and green (I used fabric from the quilting section of Jo-Ann Fabric. It is cheap without being too thin).
• Thread to match your flags
• Fabric Iron-on Kit with at least 4 transfers (I bought this one)
• Ink Jet printer with color ink
• 4 Wooden dowels (I got 1/2″ diameter ones that were about 36″ long at my local walmart)
• Black craft paint
• Rope or string to tie on the dowel 

INSTRUCTIONS:

1. Paint the wooden dowels black and set aside to dry.
2. Fold your fabric in half (it usually comes this way) and iron it flat so that is is about 24″ wide and 36″ long.
3. Cut into the pendant shape (see picture). I used a ruler to measure halfway across the shorter length and then about 12″ up from the bottom and put a dot there. Then I used a ruler and a pencil (you could use a fabric marker) and drew from each bottom corner to the center.
4. Turn with right sides together. Sew around the edges with a 1/4″ seam, leaving about a 6″ opening. Snip the tips of the pendant (see this tutorial on making corners). Turn right side out. You might need to use a pointed object (I use closed scissors) to push out the tips. Iron around the edges and the opening so that it matches the seam.  Sew it shut right on the edge of the opening. 
5. Fold the top edge over about 2″ (see photo above). Sew it down to make a pocket to slide the dowel through.
6. Print off your Hogwarts House images. I scoured the internet and I found these made by (I can’t find the artist’s name, but if you know who it is, PLEASE let me know to give them credit). Follow the instructions on the iron-on package.
7. Slide in the black painted dowel, tie your rope/twine/ribbon and hang! 

Hogwarts House Flag – Gryffindor 8.5x11

Hogwarts House Flag – Hufflepuff 8.5x11

Hogwarts House Flag – Ravenclaw 8.5x11

Hogwarts House Flag – Sytherin 8.5x11

I’d love to see your finished projects! If you like Harry Potter-inspired food, check out this yummy butterbeer cupcakes tutorial by our very own Debra. And don’t forget to get on our Harry Potter VIP list for info about our Magical Edition Year 6 crates!

Books=Love

XoXo,

Robin

About the Author: Robin M. King is the author of three young adult novels (Remembrandt Series), devourer of books, and lover of brownie batter and cheesy superhero shows.

Author Stalker: Erin Summerill

I love chatting with my authors. And by my, I mean the authors that I meet that sign my books. But let’s just keep calling them MY authors because after I work with them once, I kind of stalk them. Just a little bit. I love it when authors are willing to do silly things, like take over an Instagram account for the day or do a live interview. Surprisingly, they sometimes jump at the chance! Erin Summerill was one of those authors. Erin’s book, Once a King, was also included in LitJoy Crate's December 2018 box (which was to-die-for). We read her first books, Ever the Hunted and Ever the Brave so it was a no-brainer to read this one too.

Once a King by Erin Summerill (get the Bring Me My Crown socks, Rule the World tumbler, Weasley is Our King pin, Rysand print, or Kings of Narnia notebook)

Here’s a little summary of Once a King: For twenty years, Channelers—women with a magical ability—have been persecuted in Malam by those without magic. Now King Aodren wants to end the bloody divide and unite his kingdom. But decades of hatred can’t be overcome by issuing decrees, and rumors of a deadly Channeler-made substance are only fueling people’s fears. Lirra has every reason to distrust Aodren. Yet when he asks for help to discover the truth behind the rumors, she can’t say no. With Lirra by his side, Aodren sees a way forward for his people. But can he rewrite the mistakes of the past before his enemies destroy the world he’s working so hard to rebuild? Erin Summerill returns with a high-stakes fantasy full of romance, magic, and revenge!

Erin was such a sport to do an instagram takeover for @litjoycrate! She showed us her office, some favorite books, showed us where she sometimes writes or works, introduced us to Tricia Levenseller, author of Daughter of a Pirate King and Warrior of the Wild, and more! We love her so much!

A little more about Erin: When she’s not writing, Erin is devouring a book, photographing one, or talking to teens about her latest favorite read. She is proud to be an Air Force brat. She was born in England. Shortly after, her family’s Hawaiian heritage drew them back to the islands. Now, she lives in Utah with her husband and four children. Erin holds a B.A. in English from Brigham Young University and is currently working on an MFA in Writing Fiction For Children at Vermont College of Fine Arts.

Photo Credit: @xenatine

We hope you’ll check out Erin Summerill’s books (sadly, LitJoy sold out of her book and crate, but you can get the book still here). Let us know what you think!

Books=Love

XoXo,

Robin

About the Author: Robin M. King is the author of three young adult novels (Remembrandt Series), devourer of books, and lover of brownie batter and cheesy superhero shows.