Plastic Bubble to Shelf-Worthy Snitch

I am a Harry Potter fan. Duh.

So when Tim Hortons launched its Harry Potter / Back to Hogwarts collaboration, obviously I jumped at it. The campaign included Golden Snitch Caramel Timbits and a limited-edition Golden Snitch Timbits Holder, which is exactly the kind of “collectible” nonsense my brain cannot resist. Tim Hortons Newsroom ↗

I was very excited to get the Snitch. And then I got it. And I was… underwhelmed.

I mean, look at it. The actual Golden Snitch is supposed to be small, winged, golden, fast, and magical. The official Harry Potter encyclopedia describes it as winged and golden, and the film design used thin ribbed wings attached to a walnut-sized metal ball that was plated with gold. Harry Potter: Designing the Golden Snitch ↗

This Tim Hortons one? Cute, maybe. But not my beloved golden, shimmery, shiny Snitch. It looked like a plastic peanut-butter-coloured bubble. Not shelf-worthy. Not yet.

The makeover

So I decided to give it a makeover.

I have not really worked on anything like this before. I am mostly a “watch Nerdforge do giant projects and then accidentally develop dangerous confidence” person. But the Snitch was sitting there looking sad, and something had to be done.

First, I added texture using paper towel and glue. Very glamorous. Very “primary school craft table, but with adult emotional investment.” Then I let it dry, because apparently making things is mostly waiting and wondering if you have ruined everything.

Then I diluted some pink plaster and coated the Snitch with it. This was the stage where it looked worse before it looked better, which is rude but apparently normal. Once that dried, I painted it with acrylic gold. Finally, less peanut butter. More Snitch.

Then I added champagne gold for dimension, because flat gold was not enough. The Snitch deserved drama. Then came glitter. I tried to make Mod Podge. Did I succeed? No. Did glue and glitter save me anyway? Yes. Glue and glitter it was.

At this point, it was already better than what I started with. Not perfect, but definitely more alive. More mine.

Then I brushed on a light layer of UV epoxy.

Affiliate link: I used this UV resin kit from Amazon.ca ↗. If you buy through this link, I may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

I had never worked with epoxy before. This stuff does not smell nice, and it is not exactly easy to work with. Also, I do not have a big UV lamp because apparently I am not a professional resin wizard. I had my little UV pen, so I spent ages pointing it at different parts of the Snitch like I was performing a very specific low-budget spell.

Tiny practical note: if you work with resin or epoxy, follow the label and safety data sheet, use as much ventilation as possible, wear the right protective equipment, avoid skin contact, and cure it according to the manufacturer’s instructions. A tiny craft project does not mean tiny fumes. My respect for resin people has increased dramatically. CDC/NIOSH epoxy and resin safety guidance ↗

The final reveal

And finally, after paper towel, glue, plaster, gold paint, champagne gold, glitter, failed Mod Podge dreams, and too much UV-pen pointing, it became this:

Is it movie-prop perfect? Absolutely not. Is it better than the plastic peanut-butter bubble I started with? Yes. Very much yes.

Actual Snitch inspiration

Tim Hortons version

My revamped version

And that is the joy of making, isn’t it? Not perfection. Not professional-level results. Just taking something disappointing and saying, wait, I can make this more mine.

I got to use my hands. I got to make a mess. I got to problem-solve badly and then slightly better. I got to watch something plain become something shiny. And now, instead of sitting on my shelf as a sad promotional object, it gets to sit there as my upgraded Snitch.

So yes, this goes on my Harry Potter shelf. Not because it is perfect. Because I made it better.

And honestly, that is its own kind of magic.