I have always loved Halloween. I had seen a few ideas here and there of people making cauldrons, and decided that one way or another I would be making one for myself.
I realized pretty early on it was not going to be an easy task but I was up for the challenge. First, I had to find a cauldron. I looked everywhere for a plastic cauldron that was light weight and also the perfect size. I finally decided on a 16 inch. Afterwards, I questioned myself thinking maybe it would be too small, but the 16 inch was perfect as you can see in the below picture.
Next, was time to figure out how to make the fire underneath the cauldron. I ended up getting some orange string lights and some spray foam. I personally used the brand Great Stuff. I made it work with one can, but do yourself a huge favor and buy yourself two of these!
I laid the orange lights out on a trash bag, and began spraying the Great Stuff. Make sure as you are spraying not to cover the bulbs too much with the foam. You also want to make sure to leave your cord out that will plug into the wall. After you are satisfied with the look of your "coals", leave it out to try for a few hours. I waited 24 hours before moving on to the next step.
Now, this step it totally up to your preference. I chose to spray paint my "coals" using red, black, and gray. Around where to bulbs were I made sure to spray more red in those places. I used mostly black but added spots of gray to make them seem more realistic.
If you already have a fireplace grate or know someone who has a spare you can borrow then take advantage of that. I realized during this project that fireplace grates are actually quite expensive. However, we found a cheap functional fireplace grate on amazon for a reasonable price.
Next, it was time to make the cauldron bubble and mist. I had seen a couple of people do it previously, but the materials they were using weren't easy to find. If you are a pinch and trying to get this project done quickly then maybe my experience can help you. It's not perfect, but it gets the job done!
We took a bucket, something similar to a cheap pumpkin treat-or-treat bucket, and flipped it upside down. We glued it to the bottom to keep it secure and then glued a planter plate to the top of it. Next, we took a black trash bag and cut it to size to line the plate. To secure the trash bag liner we used Flex Seal tape around the edges of the cauldron. This is our second year with this cauldron and it is still holding up extremely well.
To make the cauldron look worn and old I used paint, Mod Podge, oats, and little foam balls. I started with taking the oats and foam balls and Mod Podging them all over the cauldron. Once that dried, I then went over everything with paint. I used black, green, and a rust color to make the cauldron look used and old. After all the paint had dried, I added another layer of Mod Podge to seal every thing in, and then it was time to bring it all together.
Inside the fireplace we placed a strip of LED lights. We made sure to keep all of the cords well hidden. Inside the cauldron we placed more waterproof LED lights and the fog misters.
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