2023: Harry Potter – Forbidden Forest – Aragog and Buckbeak
Acromantulas and Hippogriffs: A Forbidden Forest Encounter
As our journey through the Forbidden Forest Experience continues, we find ourselves face-to-face with two unforgettable magical creatures—Aragog, the fearsome Acromantula, and Buckbeak, the noble Hippogriff. Each offers a wildly different kind of magic, one rooted in fear and the other in awe, but both are brought to life in ways that make you feel like you’ve stepped into the pages of Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them.
On the left-hand page, we descend into the darker depths of the forest, where Aragog lies in eerie stillness. Hidden in a dense, web-laced clearing, the legendary Acromantula waits for unsuspecting visitors, surrounded by the skittering movement of his eight-legged offspring. As we approached, the forest around us fell silent and the lighting shifted—casting a ghostly blue glow over the scene that made it all the more chilling. It was one of the most spine-tingling parts of the experience, a reminder that not all creatures in the wizarding world are friendly… or fond of visitors.
Capturing Aragog in photos was a bit of a challenge—the darkness, the webbing, and the creature’s scale made him nearly disappear into the shadows. To bring him to life on the page, I purchased a detailed spider SVG from Etsy and painstakingly cut it using my Cricut Maker in tones that echoed the cool, eerie palette of my photos. I enhanced the layout by drawing a delicate spider web directly onto the matting using the pen feature—giving the page a tactile, enchanted feel. The entire layout was crafted in Cricut Design Space, and like walking through that part of the trail, it took patience, precision, and a small dash of bravery.
The right-hand page offers a striking contrast—a moment of quiet reverence as we meet Buckbeak, the proud Hippogriff. Illuminated by soft, enchanted light, Buckbeak stood in a clearing that felt almost sacred. As fans will remember, approaching a Hippogriff requires respect—bow first, wait for the return gesture, and never forget your manners. The scene beautifully captured his intelligence and grace, with feathered wings outstretched and his head tilted in that watchful, knowing way.
This layout was also designed in Cricut Design Space and cut using my Cricut Maker. I chose to feature Hagrid prominently on this page, as he’s the one who introduced us to both of these magical creatures—and let’s be honest, no Forbidden Forest experience would be complete without him. To tie the two pages together, I used a black cardstock with a subtle wet mark pattern that mimics the misty, moonlit texture of the forest floor as a wide torn edge border. It creates just enough visual separation between the pages while keeping the overall spread cohesive.
From the shadows of Aragog’s lair to the moonlit grace of Buckbeak’s glade, this spread captures the dual nature of the Forbidden Forest—both dangerous and wondrous, wild and noble.
Mischief managed: See how this spread was conjured by clicking the video below.
Categories: 2023, Harry Potter
MASCrapping 