How to Create a Spooky Curiosity Cabinet

We’re sharing how to create a spooky curiosity cabinet for Halloween today.

This is a simple diy you can easily complete in an afternoon and customize to fit your Halloween party decorations or home décor.

My youngest nephews are bananas for all things Halloween and Spooky Season, which always makes things feel fun and festive.

Their excitement is so contagious that, over the years, I’ve crafted simple things to help them celebrate the season.

So far, we’ve created DIY Halloween Trees,  Easy Halloween Pumpkin Decorations, a Halloween Treat Station, and a Glow-in-the-Dark Halloween Bucket.

All the projects we’ve created so far have been very budget-friendly.

Most especially, the spooky curiosity cabinet.

I was certain they would appreciate the idea because they love to find “treasures” whenever they’re on nature walks. 

Like a lot of kids, it’s not uncommon for the littles to pick up random things, from a rock to a feather to a snakeskin. 

Creating a spooky curiosity cabinet for Halloween is not very involved at all. 

You just need a few items that can be picked up at most craft supply stores, a home computer with a printer, and paper. 

Here’s a look at how you can create a spooky curiosity cabinet for Halloween too.

How to Create a Spooky Curiosity Cabinet…

Curiosity Cabinet Supplies:

• Bottles (they should be label-free, clean, and completely dry prior to starting this project)
• Halloween Apothecary or Potion Labels (we used these labels from The Graphics Fairy)
• Mod Podge
• Foam or Craft Brush
• Scissors
• Tarp
• Curiosities (most of our curiosities came from the Dollar Tree)
• Home Computer
• Printer
• Paper

Curiosity Cabinet Steps:

Gather your supplies and lay a tarp down to protect your work surface.

Next, print out the Halloween labels on printer paper using your home computer.

We found these potion labels online at the Graphics Fairy. 

She has a variety of Halloween options, and most of the graphics on her website are free!

Using caution and care, as scissors will be sharp, carefully cut out each label.

Once you have the labels cut out, carefully brush Mod Podge glue onto the bottle in the area you’ll be placing the label. 

Then layer the Halloween label directly over the Mod Podge.

After you have the label in place, brush another coat of Mod Podge onto the bottle.

Set aside and allow to dry completely.

It’s up to you to decide when you want to fill your bottles with spooky Halloween curiosities.  

So, keep that in mind if you plan to fill your bottles with liquid, you’ll need to use a waterproof decoupage.

Spooky Curiosity Bottle Ideas to Try:

• Moon Dust – Crushed up Necco Wafers
• Love Potion – Two Faux Fire Ants + Water + 1-2 Drops of Red Food Coloring
• Witches Brew – Loose Tea Leaves + Pistachios
• Wing of Bat – Dried Black Beans
• Eye of Newt – Plastic Eyeballs + Water + 1 Drop Red Food Coloring
• Charmed Morsels – Dry Linguine + Water + 1-2 Drops Yellow Food Coloring (will look like flat worms over time)
• Web of Spider – Faux Spider Web + Plastic Spiders
• Glow in the Dark Mermaid – The mermaid grows once you add water and glows in the dark as well.  Every morning the littles check to see if she has broken out of the bottle yet.
• Lost Pirates – Plastic Skeleton Ornaments

Keep in mind, this spooky curiosity cabinet needs to be placed in an area where curious littles or mischievous pets do not have direct access or will be unsupervised. 

We picked up most of the items to make our spooky curiosity cabinet at our local craft supply store and the Dollar Tree.

But it would also be cool to go on a nature walk and find treasures too. 

Just make sure they’re free from pests before bringing the treasures inside or placing them in bottles. 

As with all the Halloween projects we’ve completed so far, our goal is to make ideas like this spooky curiosity cabinet for Halloween be simple to create, budget-friendly, and with supplies that are easily accessible.

After all, when it comes to Fall festivities, bobbing for apples and doing the Monster Mash ranks right up there with crafting ghoulish fun!

What are you making for Halloween? 

Other Festive Halloween Ideas to Explore…

DIY Framed Butterfly

Spooky Halloween Trees

Festive Halloween Pumpkins

DIY Witches Brooms

How to Decorate a Halloween Tree

Until next time, I’ll see you on Instagram, Facebook and Pinterest.

Many blessings,

CoCo