The final bit...Thank You Notes

One of the things that I wasn't able to fit in to the party was the Maurader's Map.  While researching possible ways to use it I found a website that had a version of the map that when folded was the size of an invitation or thank you note.  AHA!!!!  Thank you notes.  I downloaded the artwork and the instructions on how to fold them and decided that these mini Maurader's Maps would be the Thank You note for the party.

Once the maps were folded the back of it was blank and the perfect spot for Bug-A-Boo to write her thanks.  The maps were pretty tedious to fold and took a while but it was worth it.  They came out awesome.

We put them in small envelopes and along the flap of the envelope we wrote, "I solemnly swear that I am up to no good".  On the back of the map above where the thanks went we wrote in big letters, "Mischief Managed".  I went to the post office and was lucky enough to be able to buy 2 books of Harry Potter stamps.  It was perfect.

I have included the link to the website with the map artwork and instructions and I've also included them below.

From the Britta.com website:

"Here are the instructions for cutting & folding my original artwork Marauders' Map I created for my Year 6 at Hogwarts party in 2005. Although I still claim copyright on my original artwork, my map is freely available for fellow Harry Potter fans as long as it is for non-commercial
use only. By downloading my map, you agree to my terms of use. Sale or distribution of
this material is prohibited without my express authorization. Please contact me to discuss resale or distribution terms if you are interested."
Thank you,
Britta Peterson
britta@britta.com www.britta.com

The folding is complex enough that you really need to pay careful attention to your creases or the drawing doesn't meet up properly for the design. If you have origami experience like me, that helps immensely, since you'll already know that quality origami is all about accuracy and precision. Even after folding 80 maps, I couldn't ever get quicker than about 5 minutes per map, cutting & folding included, so be more concerned about the quality of your final product than rushing to get them finished.

1. Print out your map on a sheet of 8.5x11" parchment paper.

2. Find the faint lines near the edge of the patio and the Honeydukes coffeetable to make gentle mountain folds (fold backwards) in approximately thirds lengthwise. Do NOT crease these folds!

3. Find the faint lengthwise lines that mark the outline of the front cover image and cut only to where you just folded. You will notice that on this cut line, the design doesn't match anywhere until after it's folded into the final pattern.
4. Find the faint lines that mark the inner edges of where the front covers meet in the middle. You will see that the design changes at the same line. Make mountain folds on those lines.
5. Bring the last two mountain folds together to meet in the middle. Carefully adjust the middle until the design meets, then press down to finger-crease the outer edge folds. Don't worry about a crisp crease yet, since you still might have a final adjustment at the end.

6. Turn over and you'll see your top flap edges hang over the folds from the back view.
7. Trim the front cover flaps either now, or you can wait until after the final folding.
8. Turn back over so you see the drawing again. Unfold the front cover you just folded so it is out of the way. Use the cross-marks where the inner ends of the cuts are to fold the top and bottom strips across in valley folds as shown. Your original gentle mountain folds should meet up with the side folds of the front cover. Adjust a little if necessary, since sometimes the cuts can end in slightly different places.

9. Find the faint lines and design edges for the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry lettering on the edges of the horizontal flaps. Mountain fold all four ends as shown.

10. This step is a bit tricky. Take the pair of end flaps from one side that match together, i.e. "Hogwarts School." Pull the flaps around so that the folded edges meet and the lettering matches up, then gently smash down so you end up with the angled folds, taking care that you don't stress the corners so much that they rip. This will require some adjusting of the angles and the edge where the front cover will fold over this section. Your priority is that the lettering matches up with the front cover still able to fold over everything, since you can trim the other edges for a clean look. Repeat this with the other side lettering so all your lettering meets in the middle now.

11. Due to the paper printable area, you have overlap at the middle, so make a cut through all the flaps as shown to trim the overlap, but be careful you do NOT cut through too many layers. You do want to cut through the angled folds, but you want to be careful not to go through the other side, so it's easiest to cut from the outside in for each side. Depending on your cuts (and how much you care!), you might want to open the map back up and trim all the way across to have a clean final exterior edge when unfolded. Yes, I painstakingly trimmed all my maps because I'm that picky. ;) It helps the map stay flat to use a folding bone on the school lettering layer before folding the whole map.

12. Carefully fold everything together, making sure that you haven't caught anything misfolded inside. Holding the front cover together to be sure the design meets properly, then use a folding bone to make crisp folds and to help keep the map flat.
Voila! Your own Marauders' Map!

Original artwork and instructions by Britta Blvd © 2005-2006 All Rights Reserved. 

This whole Harry Potter Birthday Party didn't end with the party.  I worked for almost as long on creating Bug-A-Boo's birthday gift which was a trunk full of Harry Potter themed stuff.  Stay tuned for all the details of her gift.