DIY Harry Potter party decor ideas PLEASE!

[wishupon]

DD is having a Harry Potter themed birthday party in a village hall but I'm drawing a blank on ideas for decor and how to do it (very) cheap. Googled and found some american examples where they've gone all out and made their house into a Hogwarts-esque experience but buying all the stuff to do the DIY must have cost $$$$ and I'm thinking more of the £20 area. Even cardboard cutouts/wall hangings/plastic cauldrons on ebay are £8-£10 each so don't know how to Harry Potter-ise the venue within my budget. Have loads of time to make stuff though which will hopefully help but only very basic craft supplies and amateur crafting skills. Help needed!

How about some empty toilet rolls painted cream with tissue paper and electric tea light flames, suspended from the ceiling with thread (obviously depends on how high the ceiling is). Cover up the windows and turn the lights low so the 'flames' twinkle. Then put a long table down the middle of the room for lunch and a still with a 'sorting' hat at the front of the room and you have the great hall. You could even think of making a 'night sky' with black tissue paper, a moon and stars if the ceiling is accessible.

Clusters of tealights in jam jars
The four house banners, maybe old clothes or sheets etc, maybe dyed?
A big bit of cardboard cut in the shape of a Knight covered in tinfoil to be (I think) the bloody baron.
you could continue with that theme to make treasure a la gringotts bank.
Do you have one of those digital photo frames or can you borrow one? You could load it up with different 'waving/ snarling 'photos' of the HP characters like their magic photos.
Dunno how feasible those ideas are but maybe something may be useful

I mean black crepe paper.

You could have Arthur Weasleys shed - a Wendy house filled with toasters plugs on a bench and a book or two London Tube a - z, or Plumbing Principles etc

invitation

this doesn't look expensive

some good ideas here

Could you get your hands on something with a blue led light, put it on something ordinary so.it glows blue to be a portkey.
A high up bench with loads of pot plants with lovely fancy signs giving their HP names, and a big one saying danger! Snapping geraniom! Or similar, like herbology

ideas

Martha Shmartha Brillinat ideas, plus some tutorials for making some of the crafty things.

Wow, love these ideas, thankyou all! Not sure if I know anyone with a digital photoframe or can get hold of a blue led light but will ask around! But the toilet roll candles and the plant bench would be really easy. Just reading through the links now :D