Underwater Mushroom Garden Potion Tray
Some activities begin with an idea. This one began with a shopping trip.
When I spotted these adorable glass mushrooms at Bed Bath & Table, I noticed the tiny holes in the top and instantly imagined potion fizz bubbling up through them like little underwater vents. I knew they had to become the centrepiece of a new potion tray.
Setting up our underwater mushroom garden
I started with a tray that had a lip around the edge to catch all the fizz and overflowing potion.
In the centre, I placed a wooden slice and surrounded it with Shell Sand and Dune Sea Salt, creating the ocean floor.
Banjo then took over decorating. He carefully arranged seashells he’d collected around the house, a few starfish and some dried botanicals, turning the tray into his own little underwater garden.
Botanicals we used:
I filled three small pouring bowls with our fizz colours:
Alongside them, I added two of my favourite ingredients for bringing a potion to life:
The copper shimmer from the Sea Snail Pearlescent Drops was absolutely stunning, while the Coastal Fog shimmer added just enough soft blue to make the whole tray feel like it belonged beneath the sea.
Watching the mushrooms come alive
Banjo carefully spooned the fizz and shimmering ingredients into each mushroom.
He wasn’t rushing.
He was completely focused, deciding exactly how much of each ingredient each mushroom needed.
When it was finally time to pour in the potion activator, we both watched as the fizz bubbled up through the tiny holes in the top of the mushrooms.
Foamy bubbles spilled over the caps and cascaded down onto the ocean floor below.
The copper shimmer caught the light beautifully, creating little bubbling pools around each mushroom that looked just like an underwater reef.
It was one of those moments where you simply stop and watch.
Why I love potion trays
This is exactly why I love creating potion trays instead of simply mixing everything in a bowl.
A tray becomes an entire world.
Children naturally move pieces around, create little scenes, scoop ingredients from one place to another and invent stories as they play.
Even after the fizz had finished bubbling, Banjo stayed completely engaged.
He continued scooping the colourful potion, filling the mushrooms over and over, watching the pearlescent drops swirl through the water and discovering new combinations along the way.
The play lasted well beyond the fizz itself.
Before / After
Don’t throw your potion away!
One of my favourite things about these trays is that very little goes to waste.
When play had finished, I simply poured everything through a sieve to separate the larger pieces from the liquid.
The shells, botanicals and sensory bases can be left out to dry and used again. Just keep in mind that because they’ve been mixed with food-based ingredients, they won’t last forever.
Ideas for Left Over Potion Water:
The leftover potion water doesn’t need to be wasted either.
Pour it into ice cube trays or a bowl and freeze it for another day of sensory play. Frozen potion cubes are perfect for smashing, melting or adding back into a new potion tray.
Shop This Tray
Everything we used
You’ll need:
- Glass mushrooms (Bed Bath and Table) or some other vessel
- Shell Sand
- Dune Sea Salt
- Sea Shell Fizz
- Rockpool Fizz
- Nautilus Fizz
- Coastal Fog Sea Salt Shimmers
- Sea Snail Pearlescent Drops
- Seashells
- Starfish
- Dried botanicals - Calendula, Butterfly Pea, Cornflower
- Wooden slice
- Potion Activator (we used water, but you can also use our Mystical Waters)