There are a lot of bubbling cauldron tutorials out there, and most of them involve hot glue. Which works… until you try to put it away. Then you’re stuck with a permanently attached cluster of plastic bubbles that take up way more space than they should. By stringing the ornaments together with fishing line, you get the same floating, clustered “bubble” effect, but you can adjust it, reshape it, and when the season’s over, just tuck everything neatly inside the cauldron. It’s cleaner, more flexible, and holds up better long term.
What You’ll Need
- Black cauldron
- Clear plastic ornaments (multi size and iridescent finish)
- Fairy lights (battery-powered)
- Elastic fishing line
- Needle
- Polyfill (or tissue paper)
Step 1
Take your clear ornaments and use a needle to carefully create small holes near the top of each one. Run elastic fishing line through the ornaments and start linking them together in clusters. Vary the spacing so it doesn’t look too uniform.
Once you have a few strands, start layering them together. Let some hang lower, some sit higher, and build out that “overflow” look where bubbles are spilling over the rim of the cauldron.
Because nothing is glued, you can keep adjusting until it looks right.
Step 2
Wrap your fairy lights around and through the ornament clusters. Tuck the battery pack down inside the cauldron so it’s hidden.
The pearl finish on the ornaments catches the light and gives that soft, slightly magical glow instead of harsh points of light.
Step 3
Add polyfill inside the cauldron to create a base and lift the lights slightly. This helps diffuse the glow and gives the illusion of something “brewing.”
No polyfill? Tissue paper or any bulky white material works just fine. You’re just creating volume and softness.
Set your ornament clusters on top and let some spill over the side. Adjust the fishing line tension until everything sits naturally.
Just the Tips:
- Use warm white or soft purple lights for the best effect
- Don’t overpack the ornaments—negative space makes it look more like bubbles
- If it looks too perfect, it probably is—mess it up slightly
