Legendary Letters

For my son's Wonka themed birthday, I wanted to have the candy from the original movie, but couldn't find any good advice online as to how to make them. I found an original 1971 Wonka candy bar mold on eBay that was a cereal promotion back when the movie first came out. It was a godsend! The mold has one tray for small versions of the regular bar, the Scrumdiddlyumptious Bar, a mini bar, and a circular one maybe for a mini Fudgemallow? I got Wiltons meltable chocolates and it was fairly easy to mold them (remember to tap the tray against the countertop a few times to get out the bubbles). I then got aluminum foil from the Dollar Store (it's thinner like real candy foil) and printed out my own wrappers.

I wanted to have a yellow edible tea cup like the one Willy Wonka takes a bite out of and found two tea cup and saucer candy molds on Amazon.com. I used the cup from one and the saucer from the other (which looked more flower-like). I poured the yellow candy metls into the mold and swished it all around so it just coated the mold and put that in the freezer. I then put one more layer on just to make it really solid.

I put everlasting gobstoppers inside the cups, wrapped them in cellophane and tied them with a tag that said "You can even eat the dishes". To make the gobstoppers, I dipped mini marshmallows into red, green, blue, and yellow candy melts. After they were set I took a plain mini marshmallow and attached 6 of the coated ones to it with a dab of melted chocolate. Hope you have fun making your own!

If you'd like to use my "You can even eat the dishes" tag, you may download it here: dishes.jpg.

I just typed up the sign about all the different creams from the original Willy Wonka movie and thought I'd share it as a free printable. I have a large format printer and printed it at 13 x 13, but as a .pdf you can fit it to any size page you like. Just click here: cream.pdf.

If you have any trouble, learn how to download pdf files here http://helpx.adobe.com/acrobat/kb/display-pdfs-internet-explorer-aol.html

As you know, my oldest son just starred as Charlie in a local production of Willy Wonka Jr. and we will be giving our youngest son a Wonka-themed birthday party in late July. I had been looking all over the internet for a scan of the Wonka contract that the kids must sign as soon as they enter the factory. There were some designs out there, but none really close to the original. I really wanted that vine border! I purchased the 40th anniversary set that showed the contract on the production notes folder and used a copy of that along with carbon paper (yes, I still use carbon paper!) to trace the border and "W". Then I typed in the text as far as I could make it out on the contract and duplicated some of the lines over and over for the really tiny text that I couldn't see. I printed mine out on several sheets of paper and glued them together to avoid paying a lot for a large print at Kinko's. Then I used gold leaf on the inside of the "W". I just need to add a wax seal and blue ribbon on the bottom right. Any ideas how I can make a saucer sized "W" wax seal?

If you would like to print a small version I have a .jpg here: wonkcontsm.jpg. If you would like a larger .jpg, just email me at elfstacyrose@aol.com .

My oldest son just got the role of Charlie Bucket in our town's upcoming live production of Willy Wonka Jr. and our youngest son has chosen Willy Wonka as the theme for his birthday party in July. I've been working on new designs to use for the 2 events, and I've just added replicas of both the vintage golden ticket from the original 1971 Willy Wonka movie with Gene Wilder ($9) and the modern version from the Charlie & the Chocolate Factory film with Johnny Depp ($11) to my web store. They are printed on thick double-sided gold reflective paper with a mirror-like finish just like the real ones!

If you are interested in purchasing one or both, you will find them in the movie section here.

I read online that you may make your own lickable wallpaper by melting Jolly Rancher candy and painting it onto the individual fruits. The tutorial I found though just recommended looking for fruit wallpaper and I wanted the exact paper from the movie, so I found a screenshot of that scene and my very talented husband hand drew and colored a section for me. Now I just need to print out how many I need, paste them together and paint on the candy. I've included it here as a free printable for those other fans who have been seeking the same thing. Enjoy!

Just click the link below, and when the image comes up, right click with your mouse and save the file to your computer. Then you may print it at whatever size you need. I think I will print mine 4-up on a legal size sheet of paper (8.5 x 14 inches)

Lickable Wallper .jpg

Many people are still confused about the letters from Santa Claus program through the post office, so I thought I'd blog a little about how the program has changed. Operation Santa has been around for almost 100 years (they started in 1912). In the past, when children sent letters to Santa Claus, postal employees would keep the letters to distribute to volunteers. These volunteers would then send a letter FROM Santa to each child. Many of these volunteer organizations used photocopied form letters addressed "To My Friend", but it was still exciting to get a reply at all! My husband and I both have ours from when we were children, and can remember how fun it was to get mail from Santa.

Unfortunately, the program has been struggling the past few years because it was decided (and probably rightly) that it was unsafe for the volunteer letter writers to have so much personalization information on the children. What they now do, is only accept letters at post offices which have the capability of changing the child's name and address to a code that only their equipment can read. However, you can understand how much extra work this makes for the employees, and only a handful across the country participate.

You must send your child's letter to Santa to the closest participating post office if you want to get a reply, and there are only 24 as of 2010. Of those 24, they may not even get enough volunteers for every letter to be answered. Here is the link of post offices if you want to take your chances:

http://about.usps.com/news/electronic-press-kits/2009/holiday/santalist.htm

It is a wonderful program, and it saddens me that it can longer be what it once was. That is why I am happy that I can continue this tradition for today's children, and dedicate myself to writing extremely detailed and personalized letters to as many as possible during the holidays.

If you want a guaranteed reply from Santa Claus, please place your requests using our handy order form at http://legendaryletters.com/santaletters.htm . Every request we receive is processed as soon as possible. Orders received in November are sent to North Pole, Alaska for a real postmark, and orders received in December get a faux postmark stamped in the top middle of the envelope as well as a real California postmark in the upper right.

Happy Veteran's Day everyone! Today is 11-11-11, and I want to congratulate my cousin, Jeff Smith, on his marriage to Kate Sessions! Many of my relatives are in Eugene, Oregon today for the magical event, and I was a little sad that we couldn't make it. However, to boost my spirits I received the news that one of my customers, Alli, wrote a full page blog on Legendary Letters today! I'm so thankful to her for all the compliments and so pleased that we helped make her sister's birthday special with one of our Hogwarts Acceptance Letters. Thank you for making my day brighter, Alli!

You may read her blog here: http://cupcakediariesblog.blogspot.com/2011/11/letters-from-santa-hogwarts-acceptance.html and I encourange you to check out her other posts too! She has some great recipes. I especially liked the post about a Twilight birthday party and vampire cookies. Very cool!

Our annual press release went out to local media today. Feel free to repost in its entirety.

Honorary elf, Stacy Rose, will open the Northern California branch of Santa’s mailroom again this year on November 1st. Elf Stacy has been helping Saint Nick send out personalized letters, telegrams, and nice list certificates to good boys and girls for 15 years. She even takes requests from parents that Santa leave a little extra evidence of his visit on Christmas Eve through evidence kits. Adults may place requests for personalized items online at http://legendaryletters.com, and new this year is a section dedicated to fans of Harry Potter.

Letters from Santa Claus have been making Christmas a little merrier for children for generations. Authors, J.R.R. Tolkien and Mark Twain were so delighted with the letters their children received that they published them along with their own works.

Every year elf Stacy donates 10% of her yearly income to a charity. This year she is a proud sponsor of Starbound Children’s Theater’s upcoming performances of The Christmas Grinch, which will be held December 2, 3, and 4 at the Fairfield Center for the Creative Arts.

Elf Stacy is a member of the Professional Association of Santa's Elves (paseelves.org), the founder of the National Organized Elves League (elvesleague.webs.com), and is the online editor of the Open Directory Project's Santa Letter Directory (dmoz.org/Shopping/Gifts/Personalized/Greeting_Letters/Santa_Claus/.

Just in time for Halloween, Elf Stacy was given the great honor of becoming a dark witch in customer Jesse Monroe's Harry Potter fanfiction. Jesse and Nancy Monroe have purchased many of our Harry Potter goodies, and one of their very first was the Sorcerer's Stone. We've pasted the excerpt below, and hope that you enjoy reading it as much as we did. Thanks Jesse!

With "Grumble's" abdication of "Grand Inquisitor", "Munro" was recalled to the "Bureau Of Aurors". He was worried abut his mentor's safety & applied to be reassigned to him. He explained to the bureau that "Grumble" had made many enemies in the performance of his duties & needed the protection of an "auror". Each request was denied with no explanation & "Munro" knew something was up. He began to inquire & discovered that "Grumble" had refused a position offered by "The International Confederation Of Wizards". Furthermore, "Grumble" had applied for a teaching position at both "Hogwarts" & "Durmstrang". "Munro" immediately recognized the craftiness of his friend & enjoyed the arranged hysteria as the "Ministry" panicked at the thought of loosing "Grumble" to "Durmstrang". Knowing "Grumble's" determination to return to "Hogwarts", "Munro" sent an "owl" to "Head Mistress McGonagall" seeking a position for the fall term. In June of 2010, "Munro" was summoned by the "ICOW" & offered the post of "Caretaker of Artifacts & Antiquities". Knowing only "Grumble" could properly care for these powerful & destructive artifacts, he declined the offer & gave no explanation. On August 13th 2010 an "owl" arrived from "McGonagall" offering him the post of "Defense Against The Dark Arts" instructor. In an attached note; "the sly grey fox will also be at Hogwarts" was written & "Jesse" immediately knew he would soon be reunited with his friend & mentor. On September 5th 2010 "Grumble" received an "owl" summoning him to "Hogwarts". With the endorsements of both the "Wizengamot" & the "ICOW", and upon the recommendation of the "Minister of Magic Shacklebolt", "Head Mistress McGonagall" offered him the post of "Professor Emeritus". He humbly and happily accepted the position offered him by his dear friend.

In a congratulatory "owl" from the "ICOW", "Grumble" was notified that the artifacts would remain in his custody. Although he is never late to teach a class, he is often no where to be found within the school grounds. The students are completely convinced that during these times of disappearance he is in the "Room of Requirement" tending to the artifacts entrusted to him. In hopes of seeing where he goes, students from all the "Houses" are often seen lurking in the shadows of the halls following him. As of this writing, no one has yet caught him slipping away into the closet gateway within his room.

ADDENDUM: "No Rest For The Weary"

At the request of "Minister Shacklebolt", "Shamus" kept his room at the "Leaky Cauldron" & was often visited by members of the "Ministry", the "Wizengamot", & the "ICOW". On March 5th 2011, the "Wizengamot" learned that the dark sorceress "Stacy Rose Gaunt" had begun experimenting with the ancient magic of "Nicolas Flamel". Knowing of "Professor Grumble's" expertise in this field, the "Ministry" arranged a leave of absence from "Hogwarts", & he was immediately dispatched to investigate.

The wizard name "Gaunt" was well associated with the "Dark Lord", & "Shamus" was now hearing "Stacy's" name frequently mentioned in "Nnockturn Alley", but always in hushed tones. Prior to leaving "Hogwarts", he checked the roles of previous students & found what he was looking for. A note referencing a shy "Slytherin" student who had left school abruptly after being told of her parent's imprisonment in "Azkaban" for aiding "Lord Voldemort" during the " Second Wizarding War ".

The learned knowledge took "Shamus" to the previous student's home in Fairfield California, & led him to an abandoned warehouse in the bay area of San Francisco. There he found a hidden room, where "Stacy" & an unknown wizard were conjuring, mixing & spell casting over a small red stone. Instantly he recognized the beginnings of a "Sorcerer's Stone" & was amazed at how far "Stacy" had come in its development. With wand in hand, he cast an "immobilus" spell freezing the two unsuspecting wizards in place. He modified their memories by removing all knowledge of the "Stone" & also removing the desire to make it. Quickly he gathered the reminiscences of the "Stone's" manufacturing & quietly apparated to the "Room of Requirement" at "Hogwarts".

At the insistence of the "Ministry", "Shamus" used the original "Sorcerer's Stone" as a guide & continued "Stacy's" work. He completed the "Stone" on March 29th 2011, & it now resides in the "Room of Requirement" with all the other artifacts entrusted to him.

Reposted with the permission of the author, Jesse Monroe.

Can you believe that Harry Potter caught the Hogwarts Express from King's Cross Station, Platform 9 3/4, for the first time exactly 20 years ago today? It was September 1, 1991 that his adventures began, and to celebrate we have some really exciting things in the works. We hope to have all of them up in time for Christmas.

Today, we are experimenting with a handmade replica prop of Aragog's Fang and Acromantula Venom on eBay here: http://www.ebay.com/itm/200648166736 . If it generates enough interest, we will carry them in the shop.

Soon we hope to have a Prefect letter and badge that you may order in any of the 4 house colors. As a magical twist, we will also include a "Pinhead" badge to switch out for the "Prefect" one whenever your favorite prefect acts a little too much like Percy. He will be scratching his head trying to figure out how you cast a real spell on the pin!

Personalized notecards with the crests of the 4 houses: Gryffindor, Ravenclaw, Hufflepuff, and Slytherin will include wax seals for your fans to write all their correspondence on.

We're also going to have Harry's and Ginny's wedding invitation up with a little Marauder's Map with the wedding map of Godric's Hollow inside. Due to popular request, we will be offering many of our items as custom birthday or wedding invitations or save the dates/favors in sets of 12 at a discounted price.

Thanks for visiting and let us know if there is something you'd like to see us carry. We have gotten so many great ideas from our loyal customers.

July 31st is Harry Potter's 31st birthday and to celebrate, all the items in the Wizarding section of the webstore are 10% off for that day only! If you haven't browsed the store lately, we have added some really neat items that you will not be able to find anywhere else, such as the Knight Bus ticket, Kwikspell letter, Ministry of Magic ID, and Gringotts Bank Book & Deposit Slip Set. Please check it out and remember that Christmas will be here before you know it, so start planning now with this Christmas in July special.

I've had so much positive response about the items I recreated, first for my son's birthday party, and then for the general public. I love hearing about the reactions of children and adults who receive the Hogwarts acceptance letters, and have gotten many great tips for improving too.

Did you know we now offer British phrasing as well as American? The difference is slight. The American version says, "We are pleased to inform you that you have been accepted at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft & Wizardry", while the British version says, "We are pleased to inform you that you have a place at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft & Wizardry."

We also have added an option for you to choose the black Hogwarts crest shown on the replica prop of Harry's letter from the movie rather than the color one shown, as well as asking if you would like an additional line apologizing if the letter was late (past the recipient's 11th birthday). We hope to make everyone 100% happy with their letters with these new customizations.

Thank you for your patronage and I hope you do something fun to celebrate this magical day!