DIY Bellatrix Lestrange Bird Skull Necklace

DIY Bellatrix Lestrange Necklace - mypoppet.com.au

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“I want to dress up as Bellatrix Lestrange” – It was decided, I’d be making Emma a Bellatrix costume for Comic-Con this year.

Emma’s interest in all things Harry Potter is still going strong, and even after a couple of years, shows no signs of waning.

After cosplaying Luna Lovegood last year for Comic-Con, this year she chose a much darker character – Bellatrix Lestrange.

DIY bellatrix lestrange bird head necklace - mypoppet.com.au

In the Harry Potter books and movies, Bellatrix is a fanatical Death Eater that is quite unhinged, especially after a long stint in Azkaban prison.

Bellatrix is a fun character to cosplay, as her look is gothic and slightly disheveled.

As usual when it comes to researching her cosplay, Emma studied the movie costumes in detail. After all, the key to nailing a good cosplay is in the details.

In the movies Helena Bonham Carter, who plays Bellatrix Lestrange, wears a silver bird skull necklace. Of course, I could have purchased a bird skull necklace online, but it’s more fun to make one don’t you think?

I’ll be sharing the full Bellatrix Lestrange costume DIY next week, including how to make a leather corset and how to style a Bellatrix wig.

DIY Bellatrix Lestrange Necklace - mypoppet.com.au

Our Bellatrix Lestrange necklace was quite easy to make with polymer clay, and other assorted items from my craft stash and around the house.

The idea to used polymer clay to make this bird skull necklace was inspired by this video tutorial by The Woodland Elf. I adapted it to use materials that I had on hand.

You won’t need much polymer clay to make this necklace, a ball about the size of a walnut will do, which is slightly more than a quarter of a regular 2oz (57g) pack.

Grey polymer clay is ideal as it only requires minimal embellishment to achieve the look of metal, but you can use any other colour. You’ll just need to paint it grey.

I didn’t have grey clay so I combined a few black and white polymer clay scraps together till they were blended sufficiently.

How to make a Bellatrix Lestrange Necklace

How to make a bellatrix lestrange bird head necklace - mypoppet.com.au

You will need:


How to make a Polymer Clay Bird Skull Necklace:

Polymer clay tools

1. Knead the polymer clay to soften. Roll a piece of clay into a ball about the size of a walnut. 

Note: If you don’t have grey clay, you can blend black and white clay together to make the desired colour. 

How to make a polymer clay bird head necklace - mypoppet.com.au

2. Form the clay into a bird head shape with a long thin beak.

How to make a polymer clay bird head necklace - mypoppet.com.au

3. Use a skewer to make a hole through the head section large enough to thread a ribbon (or cord) though.

How to make a polymer clay bird head necklace - mypoppet.com.au

4. Using a ball tipped tool, make 2 indentations for eye sockets.

How to make a polymer clay bird head necklace - mypoppet.com.au

5. With a pointed tool, make 2 nostril holes in the beak section.

How to make a polymer clay bird head necklace - mypoppet.com.au

6. Use skewer or tools to make indentations along the center of the skull and beak. Use the image below as a guide.

How to make a polymer clay bird head necklace - mypoppet.com.au

7. Bake as per polymer brand instructions, then allow to cool fully before decorating.

How to make a bellatrix lestrange bird head necklace - mypoppet.com.au

8. Use black shoe polish (or paint) on a cotton bud, to stain skull shape. Make sure you blacken the indented areas, and wipe off excess on smooth, raised areas. Allow to set/dry.

How to make a bellatrix lestrange bird head necklace - mypoppet.com.au

9. Use a silver paint pen to highlight the raised areas and give the appearance of metal. Use your finger tip or cotton bud to blend.

How to make a bellatrix lestrange bird head necklace - mypoppet.com.au

10. Cut a length of ribbon long enough to tie around neck and thread through hole in the skull.

DIY Bellatrix Lestrange Necklace - mypoppet.com.au

Now your Bellatrix Lestrange necklace is ready to wear and is the perfect addition to any Bellatrix Lestrange Halloween costume or cosplay.

Bellatrix Lestrange cosplay - mypoppet.com.au

Stay tuned for a full Belatrix Lestrange costume DIY coming soon.

You may also enjoy these Harry Potter Costume Ideas:

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