How to Make a Sensory Bottle: Fun and Relaxing Activity!
Learn how to make a sensory bottle using simple materials and your own imagination! In case you’re wondering, a sensory or meditation bottle is simply an empty bottle filled with multiple objects like beads or sequins in a clear suspension of liquid that enables the objects to float or free-fall as you hold it and rock it back and forth.
It’s kind of like a lava lamp but no electricity needed 🙂 So relaxing and fun watching pretty objects hypnotically moving; it’s the most creative way to”take a breather”  You can call them whatever you want, they have the same goal;  a great way to practice being mindful and chilling out…now I am going to show you exactly how I did it too!
Original Stationery 24 Extra Fine Craft Glitter
Pandahall 1 Box 12 Color 3mm Faceted Flat BeadsHygloss 9416 Sequins and Spangles, 16-OunceThe Beadery 1-Pound Bag of Mixed Craft Beads
Materials You Need To Make a Meditation Bottle
I was recently inspired to make a meditation bottle to give to my brother, who is special needs, for his birthday. (Ain’t I nice? I think he enjoyed it too.)  I must have been “in the zone” as I ended up making 5 of them in all  2 with Voss water bottles and then  3 using smaller, tube-shaped bottles that were part of a gift set.Â
You only need the items in the list below to get started making a sensory bottle for yourself or a gift like I did – they’re inexpensive and easy to obtain!
- Empty plastic bottle  – Voss water bottles are great with their smooth, ridge-free design.Â
- Mineral or baby oil – they’re clear so will make objects more visible.
- Assortment of objects – See suggestions below
- Waterproof Adhesive
– Must be waterproof, no exceptions since the last thing you want is for this bottle to leak!
Some suggestions for the objects include: Beads, glitter, flatbed faux gemstones, buttons, sequins, confetti, glass marbles, mini Lego bricks, scale model accessories (e.g. dollhouse use) The sky is the limit!
Step One: Choose Your Empty Bottle
Choose your bottle! You can use plastic or glass.
Best options for empty bottles are those with a smooth surface that doesn’t detract from the pretty objects. You could certainly use an empty 20 oz coke bottle, but thing is the opening is a tad small. Which might be cool if you want to use something like glitter or confetti 🙂
I really like the Voss bottles – perfect in every respect! Smooth, perfectly tube-shaped. And the label peels right off without any mess!
Carefully remove the label if any is present.Got a messy label? Try this approach…it’ll save you a lot of time!
Step Two: Fill it!
Fill the bottle with desired objects – Oh, and don’t think you have to stick to just glitter, just beads, etc., combine them together for a really dazzling effect! Try to keep the colors in sync with each other if you can. In my example you can see that silver, white and black look good together.
How much you want to put into the bottle is hard to say exactly – you can fill it up a few inches, three-fourths, half full –it depends on how “busy” you may want for the resulting bottle art to be. Personally half-full is enough for me; I feel that “less is more” and the effects are more relaxing overall than a more “busy” bottle filled up with stuff.
Step Three: Add the Oil
Fill up the bottle with oil of your choice…try to let it flow close to the top but leave a little room right below the “neck” part of the bottle (where the lid when capped on will conceal it) This will allow there to be enough room for the objects to move around freely as you tip it back and forth, but not have obvious gaps.
Step Four: Shake it Up!
You may have guessed I was going to say “now glue it on” but don’t…not yet. Cap your bottle and gently shake it a little, get a feel for how the objects are going to “perform”. You may find that you want to put in a few more objects, or add different color objects to make it more interesting.
At some point before the glue phase I decided to add a little glitter for a nice special effect….I had to go easy on it, though, as a little glitter goes a long way, especially in these smaller tubes I used here! I ended up pouring some of the glittery oil into the next bottle to thin it out a little.
Test out your bottle a few times, shake it a little bit (while keeping the cap on snugly but not too tight) Be sure you will be satisfied overall.
Step Five: Cap it Off!
When you have got your bottle just like you want it…add some beads of waterproof glue to the inside of the bottle cap. If you have kids supervise them though the glueing part as waterproof glues tend to be strong and can cause a sticky mess unless used carefully.
Tip: If you are using a Voss bottle, be sure to distribute the glue into the inner part of the cap too.
Now attach the cap and twist it on firmly. Curing time may vary, but I left my bottle alone for about a day before I picked it up to try ‘er out.
Congrats, you officially have learned how to make a sensory bottle for your personal enjoyment! Enjoy!Â
Enjoy Your New Meditation Bottle…Or Gift It!
This was lots of fun and you may just find yourself making more than one so be sure and stock up on those water bottles! They make great gifts too!
And it is a fun activity that kids as well as people our age can partake in too, since the ingredients are non-toxic. Educators recommend this activity for children as a great way to “chill out” in a moment of sensory overload, Plus at the age where it is recommended they don’t have access to small objects, this is a good way to enjoy then without the choking hazard present. A win-win 🙂
HAPPY CRAFTING!!!
Cousin 31673 Mixed Plastic Beads, Assorted, 5-PoundDarice Plastic Novelty Zoo Animal Shaped Beads, Multi ColorTwinkle Town Glitter Tubes 3 Grams 6/Pkg-Assorted Colors
I LOVE DIY projects that are easy, simple and can hack stress down to its roots. This qualifies on all grounds. Love it. Thanks for this crafting idea.
You should give this a try Darlene, I think you’d have some fun with it! Next best thing to watching a lava lamp LOL…Hardest part for me was sorting the proposed inside contents cuz I’m kind of a perfectionist at heart 🙂