The Shadow of the Cross: harry potter

Want to make a desktop collage to run as your computer wallpaper, but don't know how?
Recently, I received a newsletter from Scrap Girls which gave simple step-by-step instructions to making a desktop collage.
I used photos from a family photo shoot and compiled this collage. Nothing fancy, nothing hard to do.
Just an opportunity to give this family something beautiful to look at every time they sit down at their computer.

For myself, I used photos I had taken at the Wizarding World of Harry Potter in Orlando.
To make your own desktop collage, check out Scrap Girls here: http://www.scrapgirls.com/NL/SG_News_120202_Thu_Collage.html
You need to scroll about halfway down into the article. Scrap Girls sends out a daily email, if you are interested,
with digital scrapbooking tips, examples, instructions, and they even have a store.
Have fun making your desktop collage!

Last week, Kali and I headed to Orlando where we spent the afternoon in the Wizarding World of Harry Potter. I had been waiting for a long time to visit the park. This was our first glimpse - the Hogwart's Express at platform nine and three quarters.

This was an interesting sign in the station. Check out the last two lines.

From there you step straight into Hogsmeade. To the left you see Zonko's Joke Shop and Honeydukes. There is also a butterbeer cart straight ahead. They were actually selling pumpkin juice on this particular day.

The shops were most interesting. This one was Dervish and Banges, a shop that services and repairs magical equipment. In this case, they also carried quidditch supplies and uniforms.

We found this lady from Flourish and Blotts walking around with the Monster Book of Monsters. It really snapped at our hands!

This was outside Dervish and Banges. I am wondering if the keeper's vest in the window is the actual one Rupert Grint wore as Ron in the 5th movie (I think it was the 5th) when he was Gryffindor's keeper.

Kali is checking out the Owl Post. It wasn't an open store for us to look in, but the windows were filled with all kinds of interesting things to look at!

Including a howler!

The rest of the street.

Then we came to the crossroads. Hogsmeade behind us and the Hogwarts Castle in front of us. That tiny triple tower you see in the middle, attached to the largest spire, is the Divination Tower where Professor Trelawney taught her classes.

Hagrid's house is tucked in behind The Flight of the Hippogriff ride. The employees were kind enough to let me walk back there and take pictures. Mostly you only see this from the ride, but I don't do rides well, so they let me wander on back there.

A side view with one of Hagrid's huge pumpkins.

Out in front of Hagrid's house is this huge nest with Buckbeak seated in it. He is animated and moves. You can also hear Fang barking from inside the house.

The Flight of the Hippogriff was Kali's favorite thing there.

First good glimpse of the castle.

The entrance to Hogwarts.

These huge winged hogs were on either side of the entrance. I don't remember them from the books, or the movies, but I'm sure they must be there. I just don't have any idea what they are called. (Brings to mind the saying: when pigs fly - haha!)

Could we interest you in a tour of the castle? There is a simulator inside, and those just make me sick. So, we did the castle tour instead.

Professor Dumbledore's office. All the photos of past headmasters would be along the stairs to the left and right of this photo. Climbing the stairs to get to this location gave us a view of many of the moving portraits, including ones of Godrick Gryffindor, Helga Hufflepuff, Rowena Ravenclaw, and Salazar Slytherin - who were all having a heated discussion.

The pensieve where Dumbledore and Harry so many times reviewed collected memories.

Back on the street, we found a pumpkin juice cart with assorted enchanted drinks.

I wish I had gotten one of these.

Potage's Cauldron Shop.

The Hog's Head Pub - Professor Dumbledore's brother Aberforth is the proprietor. This is where Professor Trelawney revealed the prophecy to Professor Dumbledore; where Hagrid wins Norbert in a gambling match; where Dumbledore's Army had its first meeting; and behind this door over the bar is where the students were evacuated in book 7, and where the Order of the Phoenix and other fighters gained access to the castle. Technically it should have a portrait of Adriana on it, but it doesn't.

Skyline shot.

Welcome to Zonko's Joke Shop. See if you recognize any of the toys in the window.

The Honeydukes' staff. Doesn't the fellow on the left look like a Weasley?

The pink, fluffy cotton candy is called Candyfloss. Hermione sent some to her parents - the dentists :). The boxes hold Salt Water Taffy.

Chocolate Cauldrons are located top right. Treacle Tarts are to the far left, next to Hagrid's Rock Cakes.

Front left you have Crystallized Pineapple - Slughorn's favorite.

Top row - Exploding Bon Bons; middle row - Professor Dumbledore's Lemon Drops; and bottom right - Peppermint Straws. I bought the peppermint straws and they were delicious!

Kali's favorite - Chocolate Frogs! And they came with a card inside - just like in the book :).

Awesome Honeydukes' ladies :).

Remember when Harry used the marauder's map and his invisibility cloak to sneak into Hogsmeade? He used the tunnels and entered through the basement of Honeydukes. This is the staircase he climbed to enter the store.

Cool, cool shop! I spent $68.00 on candy so I could bring home stuff for everybody - haha! And it's all been delivered and handed out already.

I think this sign was outside the Three Broomsticks. Sirius Black really moved and looked around - just like in the movie.

We kept hearing crying noises as we walked through Hogsmeade. We finally came across Slugg and Jiggers Apothecary, which carried potions and potions ingredients. This baby mandrake was being pulled from its pot - and you could hear it crying throughout the park.

Employees from the Owl Post. What a cool and fun job they have!

The Frog Choir. They walked through the park, carrying their frogs. Pretty nifty!

A wand cart on the street. Anyone could try out the wands and purchase whichever wand chose you. Here are some I found interesting:

Dumbledore's wand.

Voldemort's wand.

Harry Potter's wand.

Ron Weasley's wand.

Hermione Granger's wand.

Located in one of the stores, this is Bellatrix Lestrange's death eaters' mask.

Just a couple last shots of the town.

And the castle.

I think the designers and builders did an incredible job reproducing the wizarding world of Harry and his friends. I had a great visit there, just wandering around shooting loads of pictures. I can't wait to go back. I just have to save up some more money for Honeydukes - hahaha!