Halloween Specimen Jars
I am a SERIOUS nerd. I get super excited about geeky things like Legos, board games .... and random jars of food that look like creepy Halloween specimen jars.
Oh pleaseeeee.
Like you don't think these jars look totally awesome?
Everyone has an inner geek.
I made these spooky Halloween specimen jars on Home and Family on the Hallmark Channel (weekdays 10am/9c - you all better be watching) and I freaking LOVE them. If you missed the show you can scroll down and see what I used to make these super simple (and cheap) specimen jars.
Note: Full ingredient list & Label templates are at the end of the post.
For the Unicorn Blood I used Glow sticks! I cut off the end with scissors (very carefully ... don't worry it's non-toxic) and poured the contents into the jar. So fun!
Eweeee this one is disgusting. I bet you can't guess what it is? Pretzel sticks! Yes, pretzels! Pour a bunch of pretzels in a jar and soak them in water for about an hour then drain the water and add one drop of black food coloring and give it a stir. Gross!
This is one of my favorites! This is burlap strands and red food coloring. Doesn't it look creepy?
Ok, this one is my favorite and like a complete idiot I didn't get a close up! This is half a portobello mushroom with one drop of red food coloring on it. Easy!
Gnome hearts! This is a jar of roasted red peppers with a couple extra drops of red food coloring.
Mummy Guts eweeeeee. This is cooked pasta with red and black food coloring.
Zombie brains ...... cauliflower and red food coloring of course.
Raven eyeballs! Toy plastic eyeballs, water, and green food coloring. Eek!
Spooky Halloween Specimen Jars
What you need
Random Jars (Use sauce jars, apothecary jars, mason jars - be resourceful with what you have in your house)
Free Lilyshop Label templates (print these off on your printer)
Antique Mod Podge
Paint Brush
Brown Coffee Filters
Lighter
Twine
Watercolor paints
Hot glue
Ingredients
Dragon Intestines - Pretzel Sticks, water, & black food coloring
Pinch of Pain - Baking soda
Dead Mermaid Hair - Burlap twine, red food coloring
Raven eye balls - toy eye balls, water, green food coloring
Unicorn Blood - Glow sticks
Zombie Brains - Head of cauliflower, water, & red food coloring
Mummy Guts - Cooked pasta, red and black food coloring
Gnome Hearts - Jar of roasted red peppers & red food coloring
Ear of Troll - Half of a Portobello mushroom & 1 drop red food coloring
Dash of Devastation - Vinegar, Alka Seltzer, green food coloring
How to make the Lid Covers
1. Take a brown coffee filter and brush one side with Mod Podge. Let dry.
2. Burn the edges CAREFULLY with a lighter.
3. Cover your jar with the finished coffee filter and tie with twine.
How to make the Labels
1. Download the Free Lilyshop Specimen Jar labels and print them on regular paper.
2. Brush each label with a tiny bit of brown watercolor paint and then immediately brush with antique Mod Podge. Let dry or bake in oven for 5 minutes at 250 degrees if you want to speed up the process.
3. Once dry you can rip the label so it's all jagged and burn with a lighter if desired. PLEASE be careful if using a lighter to burn paper. You must do this over a sink filled with water so you can immediately dip the paper edge in the water to stop the burning.
4. Attach to jar with a tiny dab of hot glue.