Are you getting ready to add some magical Halloween decor to your home? I have made my own version of the popular color-changing potion bottles that are more affordable because they use supplies from the dollar store. With just a few dollars worth of supplies, you can make your own Halloween potion bottles that have a magical surprise!
DOLLAR STORE HALLOWEEN POTION BOTTLES
WHAT YOU NEED TO MAKE MAGIC POTION BOTTLES
The other color-shifting potion bottle DIYs that I have seen use more expensive pigments, alcohol inks, and food coloring to get the magical swirling effect in the bottles. I bought the majority of the supplies I used for this project at my local Dollar Tree, but you might have some of the supplies in your bathroom already. I used dollar store loose pigment makeup to create the magical swirls in the bottles, but if you have makeup that you no longer use on hand, use that!
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- glass bottles with stoppers
- rubbing alcohol
- highlighters
- shimmery makeup
- glue gun
- black hot glue (optional)
- sticker paper (optional)
- black stamp pad (optional)
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Visit the Mad in Crafts Amazon Storefront to learn more and to buy your own supplies!
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HOW TO MAKE POTION BOTTLES FOR HALLOWEEN DECOR
It is really easy to make your own magical potion bottles and you will feel a bit witchy yourself adding the ingredients into the bottle. Experiment with different ink and makeup color combinations to get fun new results. Watch the video below or scroll for the step-out tutorial.
Halloween Potion Bottles
- Fill a glass bottle with a cork stopper about 90% full with rubbing alcohol.
- Remove the ink cartridge from a marker or highlighter.
- Carefully squeeze the ink into the bottle. Replace the cork stopper and shake to mix.
- Add powdered shimmery makeup in a contrasting color into the bottle.
If you don’t use loose pigment, you can break up pressed eyeshadow, highlighter, etc., and add that in. You DO NOT want to use matte makeup. Use something that has shimmer or glitter.
- Replace the cork stopper and shake to determine if you need to add more makeup.
- Optional: Print Halloween potion bottle labels onto sticker paper.
- Optional: Lightly distress the edges of the sticker labels with a black ink pad.
- Optional: Add the label to the bottle.
- Seal the cork onto the bottle with black hot glue.
If you don’t have black hot glue, you can use regular hot glue and paint it after it has dried.
HOW TO ACTIVATE THE “MAGIC” OF THE POTION BOTTLES
Because the powdered makeup is heavier than the rubbing alcohol, it will naturally settle at the bottom of the bottle. The liquid in the bottle will be the color of the marker that you used to color the rubbing alcohol. But when you give the bottle a good shake…
The pigments will magically swirl in the bottle! If the color of the marker and the makeup are distinctly different, the potion will even change color! The pigments will swirl for a minute or two, then they will begin to settle again. After a half-hour or so, the bottle will return to its original color. Anytime you feel the need for a little magic, just shake the potion bottle again!
FREE POTION BOTTLE LABELS
I was going to design some labels for these potion bottles, but my creative friends have such cute designs already that I just used theirs! Here are a few options for you to download for free!