DIY Potion Bottles for Halloween
Halloween is around the corner, and this year I made a lot of potion bottles. Over the years, I’ve saved various bottles and other bits and pieces specifically for this project.
In this article, I’m sharing my very first set: Mana, Health, and Stamina Potions, made from Actimel bottles. These bottles have a great shape for potion bottles, making them perfect for this craft.
Check out the full tutorial on my YouTube channel
Making the Base
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Wash and Dry:
Start by washing the bottles thoroughly and letting them dry. -
Cover with Paper:
Cover the entire bottle with paper using school glue. I used packing paper because it's thicker and covers uneven surfaces well. You can also use wiping paper (tissue, newspaper, kitchen towel, napkins, or even toilet paper). The key is to cover everything. If you use thinner paper, like napkins, you may need to add extra layers over the indented parts for full coverage.
In the video, I didn’t show the making of the 'Stamina' bottle since the process is the same as the Mana and Health bottles. The only difference is that I used napkin paper for the base of the Stamina bottle, which I found tricky because of its thinness. While it gave a nice texture, it was harder to cover indentations. So, if you want texture, use napkin paper for the smoother parts and thicker paper for the indented areas.
For the 'Mana' I added jute twine at the end. For the 'Stamina' bottle I added simple thicker thread. If you don’t have jute twine, you can make twine from napkins, like I did with the 'Health' bottle.
Painting and Decorating
Once the bottles are dry, you can either paint them directly or glue modeling clay molds onto the bottles first. The order doesn’t matter. For the Mana and Health bottles, I painted them first, then added the clay moldings and painted over them.
For the Stamina bottle, I added the molds first and then painted everything.
For dry brushing, I recommend using metallic colors like gold to give the bottles a beautiful shine and to enhance the patterns of the modeling clay.
Labels
You can either handwrite the labels or print them. There are plenty of free potion labels available for personal use, but since I’m making a video, I created my own.
I recommend using slightly thicker paper than regular office paper. I used yellow/beige toned paper for a vintage feel.
For the Stamina label, I printed it and added a digital texture before cutting it out. The Mana and Health labels were handwritten, and I tore the edges to give them a rustic look. I used distress ink and Inka Gold for an aged, metallic effect.
Distress ink works better than printed textures. It looks more rustic and it doesn't cover your writing. You can also use watered-down acrylic paint to match the label color to the bottle, but be aware that acrylic paint can dull the writing. Check Mana bottle in my second set bottles.
Alternatively, you can soak your paper in black tea to create an aged look, then handwrite the labels.
Corks
For the best look, I used corks from sparkling wine bottles. Their mushroom-shaped tops fit the Actimel bottles perfectly, and you can easily open and close them.
Bonus Potion Bottles
Royal Blood Potion Bottle:
The base was made by covering the bottle with paper, followed by the addition of modeling clay molds. I used light foam clay for the molds too. I have large packs of foam clay in only two colors—white and purple—but it works well with silicone molds that have fine details. After pressing the clay into the mold, let it dry for a day before removing it. If removed too early, the clay will stick and stretch. It is still flexible, not like air hardening clay after it dries.
I painted the bottle royal blue and dry brushed it with gold. I added a jute twine wrap and hand-painted the label with watered-down acrylics.
I found a cap in my collection that visually matched but didn’t function, so I glued it to the top. While this bottle isn’t functional, it looks beautiful.
Fairy Bones Potion Bottle
For this one, I covered the entire bottle in light foam clay and added a basic stone for decoration. I left space for the label by placing an oval cardboard piece on the bottle, then glued the label on top. I painted the bottle with iridescent acrylics in various colors and added jute twine around the label. A sparkling wine cork finished it off.
Materials Used:
- Actimel bottles (or any other similarly shaped bottles)
- Paper (wiping paper, tissue, newspaper, kitchen towel, napkins, or toilet paper)
- School glue
- Hot glue
- Jute twine/ thicker tread (optional)
- Distress ink by Ranger (optional)
- Inka Gold (optional)
- Basic stones (optional)
- Air-hardening modeling clay
- Silicone molds
- Light foam clay (optional)
- Acrylic paint
Final Thoughts:
Potion bottles are a great addition to any Halloween decor, and with a little creativity, they can take on a life of their own. Whether you go for a rustic, hand-painted look or add intricate details with modeling clay, these bottles are fun to make and even more fun to display!
Arrange them on a shelf, mantle, or table to create a magical potion station. You can add other Halloween decorations like candles, spider webs, or cauldrons to complete the spooky ambiance.
These DIY Halloween potion bottles are not only a fun and creative project, but they also make great party favors or gifts for friends and family. Get creative with your designs and have fun adding a touch of magic to your Halloween celebrations this year!
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