Vampire Candles and a DIY Bubbling Witches Cauldron!

Two Easy Halloween DIYs (Quick Overview)

These are two easy Halloween decorations you can make in an afternoon. For the bubbling witches cauldron, glue iridescent ornament bubbles around an essential oil diffuser (or use a fog machine) and set it inside a plastic cauldron so it lights up and steams. For the vampire candles, refresh a thrifted candelabra with gold Rub n Buff and add bleeding vampire taper candles. Here is how I made both.

The countdown to Halloween is on and it’s time to start DIY-ing some spooky season decor! The ghost candles we made last week were so easy and fun and this week I have a couple more projects for you to try!

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Last year I thrifted this candelabra but didn’t end up using it. This year I had a perfect plan for it! Here’s what you will need:

• Candlesticks or Candleabra (I thrifted mine but I’ve linked a couple options)
• Rub n Buff
• Vampire Candles
• Lighter

I started by using some Rub n Buff in the color “Antique Gold” to freshen up the old finish. I don’t think this was anything nice and I got it from the thrift store for just a couple dollars. I use a small paint brush to apply the Rub n Buff and then buff it out with an old rag. This stuff is great!

I found these amazing “bleeding” Vampire Candles that were the inspiration for this little project. They look great! So fun for a Halloween dinner party, right? I know they have been selling out, so if you can’t find them here, I did find some other options for you here.

Next, I wanted to transform my beautiful essential oil diffuser into a bubbling witches cauldron! Here’s what you need:

• Large Cauldron
• Essential Oil Diffuser or Fog Machine
• Iridescent Ornaments
• Hot Glue Gun

This was super easy! I found a large plastic cauldron at Party City and ordered these medium sized iridescent ornaments which will look like bubbles! I took the tops of the ornaments off and glued them together around the glass globe of the diffuser with my trusty hot glue gun.

I made sure only to glue them to each other so that I could remove them so I could access the diffuser to fill it.

I glued a few “bubbles” down the side of the cauldron to give it the bubbling over effect! It looks so good! Once the diffuser is turned on, it lights up (you can change the light settings to several different colors or have it rotate between them all) and it looks like steam or smoke is coming out. It’s even better at night!

Witches Cauldron and Vampire Candle FAQs

How do you make a bubbling witches cauldron?

Set an essential oil diffuser or a small fog machine inside a plastic cauldron. Glue iridescent ornament halves around the diffuser globe and down the side of the cauldron to look like bubbles. When you turn it on, it lights up and mist rises like a real bubbling brew.

What makes the smoke or steam?

The ultrasonic diffuser turns water into a fine mist that looks like steam, and the built in light makes it glow. A fog machine gives a heavier, spookier effect if you want more drama.

Do you glue the bubbles permanently?

No. Glue the ornament bubbles only to each other, not to the diffuser, so you can lift the whole cluster off to refill the water and reuse the diffuser after Halloween.

Are vampire candles real candles?

Yes. They are real taper candles that drip red wax like blood as they burn. They make a fun centerpiece for a Halloween dinner, just keep an eye on any lit flame.

How do you refinish an old candelabra?

Rub n Buff is the easiest way. Brush a little on in a shade like Antique Gold, then buff it out with an old rag. It transforms a thrift store find for just a couple of dollars.

So there you go! A couple easy DIY’s for Halloween! Be sure to subscribe so you don’t miss what’s coming next! Lots more holiday content and more DIY’s coming soon!

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About the author: I’m Selene Teitelbaum, the DIYer behind Selene Builds Things. I share seasonal crafts, home projects, and beginner friendly tutorials so anyone can make something they are proud of. More about me.

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