This project is so simple that it hardly needs a whole post, but here’s a really cool way to add some glow to your Halloween decorating. For my Mad Scientist table I wanted my plates to mimic uranium glass so I set out to add a little glow to some glass salad plates using black light paint and Mod Podge. I used the same treatment on the outside of my glass labware but then I added additional glow by filling up the labware with non-edible glowing water by adding highlighter ink. The best part about using the highlighter ink is that it glows by day all by itself and by black light. Check out the step by step below and feel free to mix up the color combinations by using different color highlighters and black light paint. Enjoy!
Easy Glowing Glassware
Here's an easy way to make glassware glow under a black light and make your Mad Scientist Halloween table look radioactive!
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Equipment
- Black lights
Ingredients
Glassware paint
- ½ cup Mod Podge, matte finish
- 1-2 tsp. black light reactive paint (green) (from Spirit Halloween)
- Glass plates and labware (various)
Glowing Liquid (non-edible)
- ½ gallon water
- 1 highlighter (any color) (I used yellow for it's brightness)
Instructions
Glowing Glassware
- Simply mix mod podge and black light reactive paint together in a small container. Paint the underside of glass plates and allow to dry. Repeat another coat if desired and allow to dry overnight. For the labware, paint the outside of each beaker or flask and allow to dry. I only used one coat on the labware so there was a little bit more transparency to the glass so that the glowing liquid would be visible through it, but feel free to put another coat if desired.Note: I didn't use the Mod Podge specifically for glass because didn't want the paint to be permanent and I wanted to be able to wash it off afterwards. But if you'd prefer it to be permanent, use the Mod Podge for Glass and allow for curing time according to product use instructions.
Glowing Liquid(non-edible)
- Add water to a pitcher. Use pliers to pull the tip of the highlighter out and drop it into the pitcher of water. Use the pliers to remove the cap off the end of the highlighter and tap out the ink felt and drop that into your pitcher. Allow to steep for about 15-20 minutes. It doesn't take much time for the highlighter ink to color the water. Divvy up the water into your labware and repeat as needed. The highlighter ink can be used many times to make more glowing water. Feel free to use any color highlighter desired.
Can I just use the highlighter water and still get enough glow? We are having a Frankenstein double birthday dinner in late October. But we have a 2 1/2 year old grand daughter so maybe just use food coloring and paint the black light on the lab bottles just in case she tries to drink them for safety?
That sounds like a good idea. Better to be safe than sorry. Enjoy your party. Happy HAlloween!
🖤Lori