Create an incredibly realistic fake fire prop with a few simple supplies. This cool DIY looks just like a real fake fire pit and makes the perfect Halloween decoration when you add a witches cauldron to it!
I’ve made a LOT of fun projects over the years, but I have to admit that this fake fire prop is one of my absolute favorites.
It still blows my mind that you can create a fake fire complete with faux burning embers from orange Halloween lights, spray foam, paint, and some plastic bones.
If you’re making a cauldron fire pit for Halloween, then the bones are the perfect addition for a bubbling, boiling witches pot.
Fake Fire Prop for Halloween
You might have seen the sneak peek I shared of the fire when I shared my plastic cauldron transformation.
If you missed it, you can learn how to transform a plain plastic witches cauldron into a realistic looking aged cauldron.
This faux fire Halloween prop and witch’s cauldron would have been perfect at my witch party or Gothic Halloween dinner party, especially with a DIY Snow White poison apple and DIY witch broom nearby.
Serve Halloween spaghetti with eyeballs or these easy creepy witch finger mozzarella sticks inside!
VIDEO- How To Make Fake Fire
Want to see our fake fire in action?!
Watch the video below to see a quick overview of how we made it.
Be sure to watch the whole video to see what the fire and lights look like during the day, evening, and in the dark of night!
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I am an Amazon affiliate and this post contains affiliate links, which means that if you make a purchase, I receive a very small commission at no extra cost to you.
Fake Fire Pit Supplies
- Orange Halloween lights (I bought these lights from Amazon, but if I were to do it again I would choose lights that twinkle)
- Great Stuff spray foam (I used 3 full cans of foam)- you can buy at Walmart, Home Depot, Amazon, etc. Any variety should work! This pack of 12 is a good deal if you need foam for other projects.
- Black spray paint (chalkboard spray paint is best because it’s ultra matte if you don’t want it to look shiny) and red spray paint
- Plastic bones (optional, but looks really cool for Halloween)
- White paint and paintbrush
- Sticks (optional)
- Large plastic cauldron (optional)- mine came from Oriental Trading Company, but this cauldron set on Amazon would work great too!
If you’re using this fake fire prop at a Halloween party, make sure to print our FREE printable Halloween charades cards, printable Halloween party invitations, and printable Halloween cupcake toppers.
Prep the Bones
If you want to add a little creepiness to your faux fire, then you definitely should add some bones.
Place some plastic bones on a piece of cardboard outside and give them a light spray of matte black spray paint to make them look a bit charred.
Place the Orange Lights
You’re going to need to create a base for your fire.
I used cardboard, which seemed like a good idea at the time, but I regret it now.
I wish I had used wood!
A large wood disk from Home Depot would have been more sturdy to use as a base.
The cardboard definitely works too, it’s just not quite as durable.
If you’re going to place a plastic cauldron in your fire like I did to look like a witch’s fire, then you need to cover your cauldron if you want it to be removable.
Once the spray foam goes down, everything touching it will get stuck and will be practically impossible to remove.
I wrapped my cauldron in a big black trash bag as tight as I could, then placed it in the middle of my cardboard.
Next came the orange lights.
I bought a set of 100 lights that didn’t twinkle, but this would definitely look even cooler with twinkling lights!
Wrap the lights around the cauldron so that they go all the way around.
Make sure the black electric cord is pulled away enough from the cauldron so it won’t get covered in spray foam.
Spray Foam Time
Now for the fun and scary part… spraying the spray foam!
Spray foam can be a bit intimidating at first, but fun at the same time.
Make sure to follow all the directions on the can.
Be sure to wear gloves because this stuff is seriously strong and sticky and does NOT come off.
Give the can a good shake for a minute, then place the included nozzle on the end and spray.
The gold here is to mostly cover the lights but not completely.
You want a nice layer of foam that extends out around the cauldron on all sides of your fake fire prop.
I used an entire three cans of spray foam, but how much you use will totally depend on which kind you use, how large your finished fire will be, and how thick you make it.
Add the Wood and Bones to the Halloween Prop
Let your spray foam sit for a little bit so it can start to set.
After a little while then add the painted bones and some sticks or branches to the foam to make it look like it is a real fire.
I overlapped my pieces to make it look even more realistic.
Remove the cauldron by lifting up from the top.
Remove the trash bag from the cauldron and throw it away.
Let the spray foam dry completely.
Painting the Fake Fire Prop
Once the spray foam is completely dry, it’s time to paint.
This is when the big pile of foam and bones begins to look more like a fire.
Start with the black spray paint and add as much black as you want over the foam.
I went a little heavy on the black because one of the cans of spray foam I used was more of a yellow color so I needed to cover it up.
I also added little bits of red spray paint to make it look more fire-like.
Creating Burning Embers
Picture looking at a fire that’s been burning for hours.
The wood and coals have a whitish grayish color to them, and that’s what I wanted to create for my fake fire prop.
To do this, I used a dry paintbrush and some white and black paint.
I poured out some white and some black on a piece of cardboard, then would pick up a little of both colors with the brush and brush off some of the extra paint.
I wanted my paintbrush to only have a little bit of paint on it.
Then I dry brushed on the small amount of paint all over the bones, then wood, and the foam.
This gray added more depth and dimension to my faux fire prop.
It was starting to look good!
Highlight with White Paint
To create even more dimension, I dry brushed on small amounts of white paint to the tops and ends of the bones and wood.
This REALLY made everything pop.
My fire pit totally looked like there were burning coals and embers that had been there for hours!
Place the Cauldron on the Faux Fire Prop
Once the paint is dry, cut the extra cardboard from around the edges of the foam.
Move the fire where you want it displayed, then place your cauldron in the empty hole in the middle.
Light Up the Cauldron Fire Pit
This was the moment of truth when it was finally time to see my fake fire in action.
I used a black extension cord plugged in outside to light up my electric fire.
It looked AMAZING!!
During the day the lights were subtle.
As the sun started going down, they looked great.
When it was dark, then looked absolutely incredible.
I just wanted to sit and stare at them for hours!
Look at all the cool detail on the bones!
The gray paint and white highlights helped make convincing burning coals, embers, and hot burning wood and bones.
Trick or treaters will love seeing this incredible witch’s fake fire prop that looks so real.
I left my fake fire on for a couple hours while I sat outside and watched.
I searched up some Halloween witch cauldron sounds and found some great effects that matched the cauldron and fire perfectly.
Even my five kiddos were super impressed, which is saying a lot!
A photo shoot with this cauldron and a child in our no-sew baby owl Hedwig costume would be so cute!
This fire will be going with us to our church’s annual trunk or treat this year.
I will love to create a fun witch theme and wow all the kids with my fake fire prop and the sound of cackling witches and a bubbling cauldron!
You could even serve Harry Potter pumpkin juice, glow in the dark punch, or Starbucks caramel apple spice inside.
More Fun Halloween Ideas
- Nightmare Before Christmas Wreath DIY
- Nightmare Before Christmas Halloween Party
- Goonies Halloween Party
Fall Favorites
- Easy Fall Stove Top Potpourri Recipe
- How to Make a Natural Fall Wreath
- Fall Bucket List Printable Punch Card
- Day of the Dead Skeleton DIY
Happy haunting!
This tutorial was updated in October 2024 and was originally published in September 2020.
Amy says
I showed this idea to my teenage daughter and we both love it. She’s getting old enough that she doesn’t go trick-or-treating. But it would be really fun to really decorate for Halloween this year and do something cool like this. I even have a giant black antique metal cauldron that I could use! Thanks for this incredible idea, I can’t wait to try it.
Laura says
This would be perfect to make with your teenage daughter! I think this would look incredible with a big black antique metal cauldron. Just make sure to cover it with a trash bag during the spray foam part so you don’t ruin it. Good luck!
Nadine Alldridge says
Hi Laura! I just went over your tutorial on the Fake Witches Fire Pit and you did a great job!
I used to teach this stuff for many craft stores and know how fun and difficult it can sometimes be. I have a question, though, on this project…
It appears in the shots of your fire pit that you totally covered the orange lights with the foam. I can see no places where the lights are showing or that are not covered with foam. Do the lights shine through the foam? You also say, “…Start with the black spray paint and add as much black as you want over the foam. I went a little heavy on the black …” That didn’t cover up the light from those mini-lights? I just want to do this and the thought of lighting it up and not seeing any lights show through, wasting all those supplies, would kill me. Are there any other precautions I can take in making sure they will show through? Is there foam you can buy that is white and not yellow? Or clear? Then painting around them seems more feasible. Maybe I’m over-thinking this, as what you did seems great.
Thanks for any suggestions/help you can give. I appreciate it!
Nadine Alldridge
Laura says
Hi Nadine, Great question! The orange lights aren’t completely covered. You can add as much or as little foam as you would like. I didn’t want to see obvious lights shining through so I went a little heavy on the spray foam, but you could go as light or as heavy as you would like with it. You can see in my final photos that you can still see the orange light shining through. Just add less foam to be sure if you’d like! I’ve never seen any clear foam, and I’m not sure about the white vs yellow. The one I used worked great for me. The painting will cover up white or yellow either way. Good luck!
Cindy says
Hi!
So, to confirm, spraying foam over the orange lights will still allow the light to show through?
It looks amazing! Thank you for sharing!
Laura says
Thanks so much for your kind words Cindy! Yes, the light will still shine through. The goal is to cover them enough so you don’t see all the cords and the full lights, but to have a light enough hand with the foam so the light still shines through. I was so scared that I overdid it on the foam, but you can definitely still see the lights shining through in the finished fake fire. If you want more light showing than in my photos, than just go a little lighter on the foam. Good luck, it will look amazing!
Judy says
It would be nice to have an idea of where to buy the nones
Laura says
Hi Judy, which thing are you wondering about? Maybe I can help.
Dawn Morales says
OMG, what a amazing idea for Halloween. Me and my Mom go all out for Halloween and this will definitely be added to my decorations this year.. Cant Thank you enough for such a GREAT idea…..
Laura says
Awesome, I love hearing that Dawn! The fake fire looks SO COOL when it’s done! I couldn’t stop staring at it when it was finished!! I played some Halloween sounds with a bubbling cauldron and cackling witches and it was just perfect!! Good luck!
Ryan says
This is awesome! I’m in the process of making my own. Can you explain where you ran the cord? You mentioned it not being attached to the foam what were you more referring to the end part not being caught up so that you could plug it in. Thanks
Laura says
Hi Ryan! Yes, the end of the cord is not attached to the foam. I left some of the end of the cord out, and then use an extension cord to add length as needed. Good luck!
Terri says
Thanks for this tutorial – I just bought a plastic cauldron and am going to view the tutorial on that as well. I see that you can randomly spray the foam so you can still see the lights, but I’m worried about the black paint covering the orange lights. Can you still see the orange lights through the paint or do you have to be super careful not to paint over them in spray painting?
Laura says
Great question! I ended up using more spray paint than I had planned and I could still see the lights fairly well. How much foam and spray paint you use to cover the lights is completely up to you and your preference, but I think you’ll be surprised at how much the lights still shine through. I wanted it to look as realistic as possible, so for me I probably went a little heavier than I needed to because I didn’t want it to be really obvious that string lights were under there.
Chloé says
Hello, is if reusable over the years? Being under the rain. Thanks a lot!
Laura says
Hi Chloe, Great question! I’m in Southern California where it hardly ever rains, so I never was able to test how well it holds up in the rain. I think it would be much better to bring it in if you know it’s going to rain, since I’m not sure how well spray foam holds up in the rain, especially if it’s on a cardboard base.
CArley says
Hi! What kind of black and white paint do you use for detailing? I want this decoration to hold up in the rain. Thank you!
Laura says
Hi Carley, I just used small bottles of black and white craft paint that I already had. I’m not sure how spray foam holds up in the rain, especially on a cardboard base that will be getting wet. Be sure to do some research on that before putting this out in the rain. I’d hate for your hard work to go to waste in a rainstorm!
Bonnie says
Thanks for the demo, I made it and love it! Did your recommendation of a wood platform and LED orange twinkle lights. If I can figure out how to leave a pic I will.
Laura says
That’s great Bonnie, I’m so happy to hear it! I wish I could see it! If you share it on Instagram you can tag me @makelifelovely. I’d love to see your work. 🙂
Trish says
This is so cool! I can’t wait to try making one. Did I miss what you painted the cauldron with? You made it look amazing!!
Laura says
Aww, thanks so much Trish! This was such a fun project. I shared exactly how I transformed the cauldron here- https://www.makelifelovely.com/witches-cauldron/ Check it out to see exactly how I did it!
Shelli says
Really Amazing, ready to attempt. I am going to take your advise and doo wood, I have the 16″ caldron too, about how wide (diameter) do you think the whole project is? I need to buy the right sized piece of wood. It looks about 36-40? I can’t wait !
Kati P says
Hey! With the spray foam – do you need to buy a spray foam gun? I’m trying to keep this cost effective and not wanting to spend a ton. Thanks!
Laura says
Hi Kati, Nope, no spray foam gun necessary! I just sprayed it like I would a can of spray paint- with my finger. That should save you a few dollars. Good luck, this is such a fun project!
Megan Erickson says
Just wondering is there is a tutorial for the cauldron? It looks like you started with a black plastic cauldron and painted it to look metal and old/burnt. How did you do that? Thanks, love this idea!
Laura says
Yes! I linked to it in the post, but here’s the link for the cauldron DIY- https://www.makelifelovely.com/witches-cauldron/ This is such a fun one, good luck!
Phillip says
I’ve done this a few times now and I found if you use a cheap plastic red tablecloth (like what you get in the party section at Walmart) and cover the lights first the foam with stick to the plastic without issue and you can leave larger space between globs. This has two good benefits, one you use less spray foam to cover a larger area, and two the plastic showing through lights brighter than the foam so it looks more dramatic even in daylight.
totally love the bones, going to add that to mine
Laura says
What a great tip, thanks so much for sharing Phillip! I like that it uses less spray foam that way and adds more color. So happy you love the bones, I love how they turned out!
Kari says
Thank you so much for this tutorial! My daughter and I made our witches fire for Halloween this year and it was a high hit! I can’t believe how good it turned out. Thank you!!!
Laura says
That’s awesome Kari, how fun that you and your daughter were able to to make this together! It turns out so amazing with such little effort. Glad you were able to make it!
Tom says
Amazing! Made a different scene! Thank you for sharing this! Fun and didn’t take long! Combined it with an animated Halloween decoration! Used a plywood base, great tip! Couldn’t find the twinkle lights, but the regular orange make it look realistic.
Laura says
That’s great Tom, I’m so glad you used my tutorial and made your own scene and put your own twist on it! I bet it looked amazing with your animated Halloween decoration. Thanks for your comment!
Kisha says
Thanks so much for the tutorial. I finally made the fire pit this past Halloween. My question is … how do your store it for the next season? I would prefer it to lay flat but it takes up too much space.
Laura says
Hi Kisha! I store it in a big garbage bag on top of boxes I already have stored. It definitely takes up space, but when I stacked it on top of other boxes it wasn’t too bad.
Sue says
I’m in Florida so it rains a lot do you have any suggestions for covering it or is it pretty easy to take in and out? I’m not sure how heavy spray foam is and is it permanently attached to the wood at the bottom or does the spray foam move? This looks amazing.!!
Laura says
Hi Sue, Spray foam is very very light, so this fake fire will be very easy to take in and out. The spray foam, once dry, doesn’t move, so you can definitely move this around.