Wands At The Ready: Fantastic Pygmy Puffs & How to Make Them (DIY) with Troll.in.the.dungeons

Wizards, Witches, Muggles, Squibs and No-Maj’s welcome to my second #WandsAtTheReady post. There are many months ahead of us before we rejoin eccentric Hufflepuff and Magizoologist Newt Scamander and his magical and non-maj friends in The Crimes of Grindelwald. So to add a dash of enchantment to what could otherwise be a waiting game, my blogger bestie and fellow Potterhead and geek girl Monica and I conjured up #WandsAtTheReady. If you haven’t seen my wacky interview on Monica’s blog Popcorner Reviews, or seen Monica’s answers to my Q&A here on VickyheartsTV, fly on over and give ‘em a read. We’ll be here when you get back.

Valentines may be over but Monica’s recent craft is something swoonworthy enough to use year round. If you have a scrapbook paper, glue or a hot glue gun and a free table surface in your house you can make this! Now, on with#WandsAtTheReady, witches!

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According to Magizoologist Newt Scamander’s acclaimed text book Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them Puffskeins are docile, furry and have “no objection to being cuddled or thrown about”. Their tiny stature and content personality makes them an ideal companion animal for even the youngest of witches and wizards.

Newt’s research has found that these little ‘Puffs:

* Hum when they’re happy

* Are found worldwide

*Often are custard coloured

*Eat bugs, leftover foods, and even wizard and witch bogies!

You won’t need to cast a cheering charm on yourself to lift your spirits! This cute and cuddly craft brought to you by Potterhead crafting Queen Troll.in.the.dungeons on instagram has just the thing to bring some magic to your day. This Slovenian dramaturge also has an Etsy where she creates wearable wizarding world delights like pumpkin juice necklaces, bowtruckle earrings, and even a Hedwig owl post brooch.

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If you’ve ever envied Ginny Weasley and her precious little pink ‘puff Arnold this one is for you. In this exclusive spell, you can adopt your own Pygmy Puff! No Firebolt, Floo Powder, or Apparation to Weasley's Wizard Wheezes necessary.

Illustration by Susanne Draws 

Tutorial written and all photos taken by Troll.in.the.dungeons.

To make your own pygmy puff you will need:

- A fur ball of desired colour and size (I bought mine as a keychain)

- Pink or Peach coloured felt

- A needle and thread of fitting colour

- White, black and blue (or other eye colour) acrylic paint - if you have access to glass

bead eyes, you can use those instead

- Scissors

- Small paint brushes

Step 1

Remove keychain part from the fur ball – this will be the pygmy puff body.

Cut out a rectangle out of pink fabric, the size compared to the body as shown in the picture (approximately 10 x 10 cm).

It doesn’t have to be neat, as you will sew it into a face shape

anyway.

Cut little triangles out of felt – those will be the ears.

Tip: You can make them a bit bigger and then cut them down to the desired size afterwards.

Step 2

Fold the rectangle into a face shape with your fingers and sew it tight.

Step 3

Paint the eyes on using acrylic paint. First paint the larger white circle, than smaller blue one and finally the black circle.

Make sure you let the paint dry completely before moving on to

next colour, as well as before moving on to next step.

Tip: the bigger the eyes, the younger/ more innocent the pygmy puff will look.

Step 4

Position the ears where you want them to be and start sewing the head onto the body. Be careful to have the thread long enough to last for stitching all around the head.

I sew it by pushing the needle first through the back of the head, then into the body, but always making sure the stitch is short, so the needle comes out closely next to the place where it went into the body.

Do not forget to sew the ears on as you stitch all around the head.

Tip: If any stitching is showing, adjust the fur around it to cover it up.

Step 5

(photo 8)

Name your pygmy puff and take good care of him or her.