kjm161

It is a perfect gingerbread train, right down to the peppermint connectors between the cars.

Truly stunning! Congrats on the display, the layout is wonderful. Happy Holidays.

Lovely creations and very festive story. Merry Christmas

Horray, I got a manatee! Thanks for doing this again CopMike and Siegfried. Happy Holidays!

Can't believe the lake here has already frozen and there is lots of snow on the ground. Santa's travels by Karen Metz, on Flickr

Thanks, I had so many more ideas and a few more magical creatures to include but nowhere to put them. Thanks, the box sits on a 32x32 baseplate so roughly the size of a modular building. All of the moving sections take up a fair bit of space.

Thanks! If you go to the Youtube link above or below it shows how many of the mechanisms work. Here is a picture of the interior with the devil's snare room removed that has some of the gears for the music box and top rotation. Harry Potter Magical Creatures Puzzle Box by Karen Metz, on Flickr http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uCMqffIuyyo

Hope this works to show video of the puzzle box. Didn't seem to. If someone knows how to embed videos I would appreciate any advice. Thanks [media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uCMqffIuyyo[/media]

Harry Potter Magical Creatures Music Puzzle Box by Karen Metz, on Flickr Video of music box function: Harry Potter Magical Creatures Music Puzzle Box by Karen Metz, on Flickr If you have ever played the online mystery game “The Room” you know that the game involves beautiful and complex puzzle boxes that contain marvellous moving parts and multiple clues. I wanted to create a similar box out of LEGO but that also included a Harry Potter magical bent. This is the result, my Magical Creatures Musical Puzzle Box. I drew inspiration from many sources for this puzzle/music box. The general themes are the magical creatures from Harry Potter with kinetic puzzles that refer to puzzles/mysteries in the first and last of the Harry Potter novels. Each side of the box has a unique function those being: Side 1 A combination safe whose mechanism is borrowed from MocBuild101. The combination can be discerned from clues on this side of the box. The safe contains items from the four founders of Hogwarts and a couple of horcruxes. Harry Potter Magical Creatures Music Puzzle Box by Karen Metz, on Flickr HPMCMPB by Karen Metz, on Flickr Harry Potter Magical Creatures Music Puzzle Box by Karen Metz, on Flickr Side 2 A hidden drawer with key card mechanism contains the Deathly Hallows. This side also contains the mechanism for music box function with rotating magical creatures. Harry Potter Magical Creatures Music Puzzle Box by Karen Metz, on Flickr Harry Potter Magical Creatures Music Puzzle Box by Karen Metz, on Flickr Side 3 A sliding puzzle inspired from one created by “Mahj” that also hides the winged keys room and potions puzzle from the first novel. The Deathly Hallows symbol artwork is from AnoraMakani. Harry Potter Magical Creatures Puzzle Box by Karen Metz, on Flickr Harry Potter Magical Creatures Music Puzzle Box by Karen Metz, on Flickr Side 4 The Devil’s Snare Room moving parts are inspired from LEGO’s Doctor Strange set and Jason Allemann aka JK BrickWorks “Inside the Mind of A LEGO Engineer”. Harry Potter Magical Creature Puzzle Box by Karen Metz, on Flickr Harry Potter Magical Creature Music Puzzle Box by Karen Metz, on Flickr Harry Potter Magical Creatures Puzzle Box by Karen Metz, on Flickr Each corner of the box can open to reveal more magical creatures. The top of the box has four magical creatures that rotate when the music plays. Harry Potter Magical Creatures Puzzle Box by Karen Metz, on Flickr Harry Potter Magical Creatures Music Puzzle Box by Karen Metz, on Flickr Harry Potter Magical Creatures Music Puzzle Box by Karen Metz, on Flickr Harry Potter Magical Creatures Puzzle Box by Karen Metz, on Flickr Harry Potter Magical Creatures Music Puzzle Box by Karen Metz, on Flickr The box was built with almost all LEGO parts except a Brick Forge Centaur lower part and torch and three Brick Forge potion bottles, a Brick Warriors Elder Wand and of course the “Hedwig’s Theme” music box. Unfortunately one LEGO piece, the spiral horn, was harmed to make unicorn and I painted an umbrella pink and Moaning Myrtle’s hair. Some custom stickers were added as well. Harry Potter Magical Creatures Puzzle Box by Karen Metz, on Flickr Harry Potter Magical Creatures Puzzle Box by Karen Metz, on Flickr Magical creatures/objects: Mermaids, Half-Giant (Hagrid [Gryffindor]), Witches (Bellatrix LeStrange [Slytherin], Professor Pomona Sprout [Hufflepuff] and Luna Lovegood [Ravenclaw]), Owls (Hedwig, Pigwidgeon and Errol), Phoenix (Fawkes), House-elf (Dobby), Goblin (Griphook), Kneazle/Cat hybrid (Crookshanks), Toad (Trevor), Animagus (Scabbers Rat), Troll, Mandrake, Devil’s Snare, Mirror of Erised, Three-headed Dog (Fluffy), Winged Keys, Animated/Guarding Portrait (Fat Lady), Dementor, Viper Snake (Nagini), Acromantula (baby Arragog), Unicorn, Centaur (Firenze), Hippogriff (Buckbeak), Thestral, Norwegian Ridgeback Dragon (Norbert), Werewolf (Professor Remus Lupin), Poltergeist (Peeves), Doxy, Ghost (Moaning Myrtle), Boggart (as Professor Snape in drag), Rememberall, Time turner, Elder Wand. Invisibility Cloak, Resurrection Stone, Marvolo Gaunt’s Ring, Salazar Slytherin’s Locket, Helga Hufflepuff’s Cup, Goddric Gryffindor’s Sword, Rowena Ravenclaw’s Diadem, Tom Riddle’s Diary, Marauder’s Map, Holographic Wizard Trading Card from Chocolate Frog Box (Dumbledore) (Many of the photos are short video clips if you click on the Flickr link. There are some more photos on my Flickr page) Hope you enjoy!

Thanks, very glad you like them and looking forward to seeing some of your MOCs.

Your three 16 wide buildings really blend well together. The spring/yellowish green is a very pretty colour and works well with this architectural style. I like all the details in the boys bedroom. Great build.

Fantastic build. Really like the interesting part uses throughout like the vehicle mudguards used on the chairs by the fire , the printed brick sidewalk and so many others. Great car as well. Interesting comparison to the real life building with its four arches on the first level and thus seeming more symmetrical than your MOC where my eye is drawn more so to the second story and the wonderful brick built windows..

Not mentioned on the list but thought I might add my process because it is slightly different from others. Many of my builds actually are conceptualized from the interiors out. I hope that my buildings have a story and that usually involves a detailed interior like many miniature dollhouses. I draw inspiration for the buildings from events, holidays, or favourite places or stories that may or may not resemble any actual buildings. I build only through trial and error using bricks. Lots of time has been spent on Bricklink to find the right parts, and looking at others creations online to see how they created architectural details like shingled roofs, clapboard siding etc. There are so many wonderful MOCs out there with so many different techniques used. Santa's Workshop at the North Pole by Karen Metz, on Flickr Santa's Workshop at the North Pole by Karen Metz, on Flickr And Then There Were None by Karen Metz, on Flickr And Then There Were None: Living Room by Karen Metz, on Flickr A Child's Christmas in Eastern Ontario by Karen Metz, on Flickr image by Karen Metz, on Flickr image by Karen Metz, on Flickr image by Karen Metz, on Flickr haunted mansion 1 by Karen Metz, on Flickr

Thanks very much! I would love to share the model instructions with others but none really exist. Not exactly sure how to go about creating building instructions in that I build directly with bricks through trail and error rather than digitally first. Maybe sometime in the future I will figure out a way to do it.

Merry Christmas and Thanks CopMike for doing the raffle/calendar again this year!

Great first MOC! Like the addition of the well built Marine One .

Here are the remaining days of the advent calendar since there are only new characters added and no new builds. Hope you enjoy and thanks again for all the comments. Have a Very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! Day 18 Santa's Workshop at the North Pole by Karen Metz, on Flickr Day 18 Cold hearts even melt at Christmas Day 19 Santa's Workshop at the North Pole by Karen Metz, on Flickr Day 19 Santa's Workshop at the North Pole by Karen Metz, on Flickr Day 19 Someone needs to send the return letters to all the children who write to Santa but there is always time for a hot chocolate or popsicle break. Day 20 Santa's Workshop at the North Pole by Karen Metz, on Flickr Day 20 Santa checking over his nice list to make sure no one is forgotten. Day 21 Santa's Workshop at the North Pole by Karen Metz, on Flickr Day 21 Christmas is almost here! When can we start eating? Day 22 Santa's Workshop at the North Pole by Karen Metz, on Flickr Day 22 The elves get to let their hair down. Hats off to a job well done. Day 23 Santa's Workshop at the North Pole by Karen Metz, on Flickr Day 23 Tryptophan makes you sleepy. Day 24 Santa's Workshop at the North Pole by Karen Metz, on Flickr Day 24 Santa's Workshop at the North Pole by Karen Metz, on Flickr Day 24 Santa's Workshop at the North Pole by Karen Metz, on Flickr Day 24 Merry Christmas Everyone!

Day 17 Santa's Workshop at the North Pole by Karen Metz, on Flickr Day 17 Reading the sleigh manual to get up to speed.

Day 16 Santa's Workshop at the North Pole by Karen Metz, on Flickr Day 16 Outside friends help out during this busy time of year.

This is my favourite Lego winter village display that I have seen. The buildings are fantastic and very cohesive. Love the village lit at night. Beautiful.

Thanks Andy, I should credit others from whom I drew inspiration for some of these creations. The rocking horse is modified from those created by Matt Armstrong aka monsterbrick. The tractor is modified from a design by Jason Allemann aka JK Brickworks. The toy soldier and locomotive are modified from ones found in TLG ’s Toy Workshop. The helicopter and jack in the box are from TLG’s Winter Toy Shop. The cars and truck are also TLG designs. Credit should also go to Thorsten Bonsch aka Xenomurphy for his typewriter design.

Day 15 Santa's Workshop at the North Pole by Karen Metz, on Flickr Day 15 Rockin' around the Christmas tree.

The town forum is the theme I check out and post on most frequently. I really enjoy checking out both the large and small MOCs. So much inspiration. I like the seeing the Winter Village themes layouts and creations at this time of year. I try to comment on many MOCs but it is difficult to comment on everything. I really appreciate the comments I receive both good and constructive. The number of views on TLG sets shows that this is a popular part of the theme for many people although I am personally more interested in other AFOLs creations.

Very nice! Really like the bird's nest, clock and lamppost. The minifigs used are great. "Interesting" clue that Sherlock is checking out.

Day 14 Santa's Workshop at the North Pole by Karen Metz, on Flickr Day 14 Planes, trains and automobiles to finish with only 10 days before they need to be packed on Santa's sleigh and out for delivery