Lava Lamps. They’re so mesmerizing. Today, I’m going to show you how to make your very own lava lamp with just a few simple ingredients.

Step 1: Get a Container

Grab a clean plastic or glass container from your recycle bin.

Step 2: Fill With Water

Fill the container about a 1/4 full of water.

Step 3: Fill With Oil

Take some vegetable oil and pour some into the container filling it about 3/4 full. Leave some space at the top to prevent splatter outside of the container. I’ve read that you can use other oils, but vegetable oil seams to be the most common used.

Step 4: Add Food Coloring

Add about 8 to 10 drops of food coloring. Remember that the colors will blend together so be careful of your mix. I just made two different lava lamps using one color for each bottle. You can also add some glitter for some extra bling.

The food coloring droplets will fall through the oil and rest on top of the water. A few seconds later, they will burst making for a cool show as the colors blend with the water.

Step 5: Add Alka-Seltzer

Break a tablet into a few pieces if needed to fit inside the bottle top and drop them in. A few seconds later…BAM!…you have a DIY lava lamp.

Step 6: DIY Lava Lamp in Action

For best results, use one or more Alka-Seltzer tablets at a time. The effect will last 5-10 minutes of rigorous bubbles. Just add more tablets to keep the fun going. The bubbles will slow down, but there will still be a few bubbles left around 20 minutes later.

You can use these over and over again, so keep the lid and store it away for a rainy day. I’m uncertain about the ultimate longevity, but we used about 70 some tablets so far and it still works great. If you’re curious like me and shake the bottle (cap on, of course) it will eventually re-seperate, but the color will be a little cloudier than the original. So, don’t shake it.

Step 7: Sensory Bottle

When the bubbles are almost gone, replace the cap tightly and it becomes a sensory bottle. The blue color gives the effect of ocean waves if you tilt the bottle back and forth.