Create a slightly spooky Halloween centerpiece with many items you have around your house! Learn how to make Halloween potion jars in this easy-to-follow tutorial.
I love to go all out for Halloween. I decorate the front porch, the dining room, and every little nook and cranny around the house that I can find.
A few years, I purchased a set of vintage beakers and chemistry jars at an antique store. I thought it would be nice to add a set of “potions” to go with the jars.
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Today I’m going to show you an effortless way to decorate a set of glass jars to create a potions centerpiece. For a bit of extra fun, if you’re a Harry Potter fan, you can pretend that Professor Snape is yelling at you the whole time you’re concocting your potions!
Creating the centerpiece was easy. I simply filled the glass bottles with things I had at home (salt, water with food coloring, feathers, rice & some lichen). Then decorated the outside of the bottles.
Potions Centerpiece Supplies
- Small Glass Jars in a Variety of Sizes
- Food Coloring (I used red, but purple would also work well)
- Rice, beans, Spanish moss (anything that looks “spooky” to fill the jars)
- A set of alphabet stamps
- Various “findings” I love the Tim Holtz Brand for projects like this
- Distress Ink
- Wire
- Twine
- Free Potions Label Printable (download on our site using the directions below)
How to Make Halloween Potions Jars
These jars are very simple to make, and a lot of the construction steps are just personal preferences.
Step One: Create the Labels
Print off the label sheet from our blog, OR use a piece of plain cardstock to cut out rectangles that fit your jars.
Tip: Did you know that you can adjust the size of the labels printed in Adobe Acrobat? Simply change the page scaling down until you get labels the size you want.
If you are creating the labels using stamps, stamp out the letters on your pieces of cardstock.
Here are a few suggestions for potion jar labels:
- Poison
- Wolfsbane
- Bat Wing
- Venom
- Boomslang
- Acid
- Eye of Newt
- Toadstools
- Dragon Blood
- Ginger
- Sage
Step Two: Attach the Labels to the Jars
After you have printed or created the labels, distress the edges with a bit of distress ink. You can use a makeup sponge or just drag the edge of the label through the ink pad.
Use a bit of double-sided tape to attach the labels to the sides of the jars.
Step Three: Embellish
Using your “findings & ephemera”, twine and wire attach various elements to the jars. I used a lot of googley eyes on my jars.
Just twist the wire around the jars and add other elements as you like.
Step Four: Fill Jars
Fill the jars with items from around your house. You can fill jars with water and tint it with food coloring.
Rice and salt also work well as jar fillers, as do black beans and dried herbs.
That’s it! Now just arrange it on a cake plate or tray in the center of your table!
Lee says
My next creative project is a Thanksgiving Day banner and wreath for my mantel since I am hosting Thanksgiving this year! This giveaway would help! thanks for that and the coupon and Halloween ideas.
Breanna T says
I’m contemplating some wall hangings using my children’s footprints aass a gift for my mother-in-law. Also, I’m going to crochet mt almost Three year old’s Christmas dress.
Nichole says
I am finishing a fall quilt right now and next up is a Christmas table runner !
CJ says
The absolute next project I am working on is a paper bag waist skirt for my daughter.
Wendy says
My next projects are all wood shapes that need to be decoupaged with paper! I LOVE that you used the cake stand on your Halloween centerpiece, it gives it a wonderful unique look!!
Deb Cline says
I am working on a “mystery” wall hanging. I’m using Christmas fabrics and it should be done in plenty of time. (At least I hope so!)
Deb H. says
I am working on a lap blanket that will be stitched with hearts to give to my daughter for Christmas.
Jenny L says
I’m working on a baby quilt for baby #3 for my next door neighbor. Thanks for the opportunity!
Heidi says
My next project is my Thanksgiving centerpieces. Thanks so much for the giveaway!
Dawn says
My next project will be Christmas charm bracelets!
Margaret says
I am gearing up to finish a Christmas quilt (begun last year). I put it away because I didn’t like the way the machine quilting was looking – I wonder what I’ll think of it when I pull it out now???
Michelle says
My next project is completing a quilt for my in-laws 50th wedding anniversary. Then I’ll be sailing right into Christmas mixed media art pieces.
Karen says
Next on my list is to make Christmas gifts. I have been making purses and wallets and crocheting cloths and just doing all sorts of crafty stuff to give as gifts.
Rebecca says
I need to finish off a charity quilt from my quilting bee 🙂
ourbusylittlebunch(at)hotmail(dot)com
Rachel says
My next project HAS to be a Christmas quilt, no getting distracted…must do the quilt! Thanks for the opportunity and the coupon!
Roseann M says
Making Christmas Tree decorations. Nieces and nephews are now adults and need decorations for their trees.
Jill M says
I am a little behind on my holiday decor. I think at this rate I am going to skip right on through to harvest/thanksgiving and work on some fun bunting/garland to string around the house to help get into a more festive mood 🙂
Amy K. says
I have *most* of the supplies I need for floor cushions for my boys, and a whole-cloth quilt for my youngest… now I just need to find the motivation!
Shelly says
I’ve got the pattern traced to make myself a skirt, but I need to cut the fabric and actually make it!
Carin says
OMG … I LOVE what you did with those bottles. They are wicked…, creepy…, and beautiful !! You did a wonderful job with it.
I’m now working on a halloween quilt with 31 different blocks which are posted by a halloween blog hop. It is so much fun to make them and I just LOVE Halloween !!!
Alana Erickson says
Very cool arrangement. My next project is a table runner for my MIL birthday and then maybe a table runner for us.
BreannaS says
My next project is a table cloth or table runner to decorate for winter. I plan to use a lot of blues and silvers. or gold and burgandy. I won’t decide on a color scheme until I go shopping for fabric.
Rose says
My next project is a chistmas quilt,Thanks for the coupon, I can always use another one of those.
Lisa Marie says
Just today I offered to help a friend make a Halloween costume for her son. Given the late start this project has jumped to the top of my list. The other projects — pillow covers, Christmas gifts, etc. — will have to wait a bit.
melanie c says
Hot pads for Christmas gifts.
Amy DeCesare says
I’m doing some knitting now. I love the ruffled scarves I’m making from Sashay yarn!
Jenelle Boxberger says
I’m looking forward to an applique turkey table topper I have a pattern for. Thanks for the chance to win.
MarciaW says
Next on my list is to make two fabric flower necklaces as Christmas gifts for my grandnieces.
Catherine says
I need to make a pumpkin costume for my son, then it’s on to Christmas crafting!
Marilyn says
Time to wrap up some sewing projects and I would like to start on a Christmas table runner.
Beth T. says
Next on my list is to look over the list I made last year and get started on some of the projects I thought would have been perfect if i’d had the time. Right now, I still have the time…right?
jmniffer says
First up is to finish the striaght line quilting on a full sized quilt for my son. Once that is done I will start sewing together blocks for a lap quilt to use in the car. Thanks for the chance at your giveaway.
Deborah K. says
I need to machine embroider my Christmas cards. I have already bought the designs and now need to buy the stiff felt and get busy!
Abbe Coury says
My latest and next projects are the same – sewing lots of little girls’ clothing for my very first craft fair!
Jennie P. says
I still want to make some things for Halloween. I’ve been too busy lately unfortunately.
Jennie T. says
I’ve still got two Halloween quilts to finish! One is getting basted tomorrow, so it will be done soon. Yikes. Then it’s time to gear up for Thanksgiving and Christmas.
laura reid says
next for me to do is to finish getting supplies for my new Christmas display I will have this year. A big Santa, alpine trees and ?
Angie C says
Great project!! I have to finish the binding on a baby quilt! Thanks for the chance to win!
Rae R says
I would like to make a table runner for Thanksgiving. Thanks!
Marlene says
A baby quilt to finish before Christmas goodies. Thanks for the chance to win
Angie h. says
I am going to make new stockings for our family and a Christmas tree skirt. I need to make two tree skirts…yikes!
Pat V. says
I am absolutely going to finish quilting a baby quilt for my neighbor. It will be a 1st birthday present!
Lovie Ball says
Must finish up several quilted Mug Rugs that are Christmas gifts for co-workers.
gale says
My next projects are two lap quilts that I’m going to try to sew at the same time.
Audrey says
I’m going back and forth between an autumn colors wall hanging and sewing with knits in my Craftsy class. Great job on your centerpiece…I’m really inspired to try one!
Sheila Laurence says
I am thinking I will make some more fabric gift bags. Love Joann’s!
Stephanie Granite says
Next up on my to-do list is to decorate for Halloween! I still haven’t done it and I’m hosting a party at my house next weekend!!!
bookboxer says
My next creative project involves babies …. the next generation has begun in our family!
Stephanie Jensen says
I always have a zillion projects planned, but right now I need to focus on making a cute baby quilt for my little boy due right after Christmas.
Sarina says
I’m working on a couple of quilts and I need to finish decorating for Halloween and fall! 🙂 Then on to jammies for Christmas!
carol Broughton says
I am making Christmas stockings and gift bags. Love your blog! Carolann427@Aol.com
Julie P says
My daughter’s 6th birthday is coming up and we’re crafting for a flower theme
Katherine says
I’m planning to whip up a few more Halloween decorations and then I’m going to make blankets for my two boys and the new baby we’re expecting this spring!
KateInVA says
To do: Finish a fall table runner, before Christmas gets here!! Oh, and finish the painting started *last* fall. Thanks for the chance to win! Have a lovely day!
Brenda says
I’m going to start making Christmas cards soon, and I’m making my “to do” craft and recipie lists for Thanksgiving. I love the holidays! 🙂
Regina says
After finishing two large quilts last week, I decided to make flannel p.j. bottoms for my grandchildren. I’m almost done with pair number 5…..plus I made a little corduroy skirt for my granddaughter. Both the flannel and corduroy fabric were purchased at Joann’s…..I just love their sales. Next week I will begin a baby quilt for my nephew’s first baby. This is my 6th great niece/nephew born since April and another one is due in early January. I can’t keep up with all the baby gifts….but it is a pleasure to make all these gifts.
Carol Wilshire says
My next project is to start making some snowflakes out of some beautiful beads for our Christmas tree.
Jessica says
My next project is a gratitude tree for Thanksgiving. There are lots of cute ideas floating around Pinterest for them!