In this tutorial I show you how to make ice luminaries. They look lovely and are fun to make! 😀 Use them to light up your porch or the pathway to your house.
DIY ice lanterns are inexpensive and easy to make: You just need tap water, two containers and some greenery or berries.
DIY Ice Luminaries – Tutorial
You’ll need:
- large and small container *
- tap water
- rocks
- optional: greenery, berries, flowers etc.
- candle or oil lamp
- optional: freezer
* It’s important that the edges are straight and the top is bigger than the bottom. Use metal or plastic containers as glass can break while freezing.
1. Gather twigs, branches and berries. You can also use flowers, such as tulips. Here I used rosehips, fir branches and barberry berries.
2. Put the greenery and berries into the large container.
3. Place the small container inside the large container and pour water into the large container.
4. Put some rocks into the small container to keep it from floating to the top. The fir branches and berry sprigs help to keep the small container centered. Pour more water between the large and small container until the water is about 1/2″ (1cm) below the rim. Don’t make it too full because water expands when it freezes.
5. Place the ice luminaries outside if it’s cold enough or put them in the freezer overnight.
6. Once the ice luminaries are frozen solid, pour warm water into the small container and around the outside of the large container.
7. Put a candle or oil lamp into the ice candle holder and enjoy the glow! 😀 Be careful: when the ice melts, the greenery and berries might catch fire.
Related: DIY Oil Lamp & DIY Tallow Candles
I made the ice luminaries to light up our front porch on Christmas Eve, but because it was very warm that night the ice candle holders were gone after about two or three hours. But they looked so beautiful! And because they’re so easy to make I think I’ll make them again! 😀
Inspired by the ice luminaries, I also made edible ice bowls filled with colorful ice cream.
Related: DIY Edible Ice Bowls
Please Pin It!
Oh my goodness! Gorgeous!! Great idea!
Thanks Haley! 😀
Beautiful!
Thank you!
These are so pretty! They would look adorable on a patio table or leading the way up to the house.
Thanks Kari! 🙂 Merry Christmas!
These are so beautiful and perfect for our cold New England weather! Pinned.
Thanks for pinning! Merry Christmas!
LOVE these! So beautiful for the Christmas time .
Thanks Tuula! Merry Christmas!
Your ice luminaries are absolutely beautiful, your photos show them off so well. We never get that cold here so I won’t be able to try them. Others will have lots of fun making and displaying them. Great tutorial as well.
Kathleen
Blogger’s Pit Stop
Thanks for your lovely comment, Kathleen! Merry Christmas! 🙂
Oh my word, how incredibly beautiful they look. It’s at times like this that I wish it would get cold enough here in South Africa to do something like this. They are stunning
Thanks Michelle! 😀 Merry Christmas!
And to you too Lina and hope you have a wonderfully happy New Year
What a great idea, and so simple! Free doesn’t hurt either! Thank you for sharing. I will be making this whenever ole man winter decides to stick around.
Thanks Daisy! Merry Christmas! 🙂
This is so beautiful! Thank you for sharing. You are one of the Fan Favorites at The Sunday Showcase from the Make it Pretty Monday party at The Dedicated House. Here is the link to this week’s Showcase. http://www.thededicatedhouse.com/sunday-showcase-make-pretty-monday-8-29/ Hope you have a lovely week ahead! Toodles, Kathryn @TheDedicatedHouse
Thank you so much for featuring me! 🙂 Merry Christmas!
What a fantastic idea, Lina! Your luminaries are so pretty. I’m featuring this post at the Hearth and Soul Link Party this week. Hope you are enjoying the run up to the holidays!
Thanks so much for featuring me! Merry Christmas, April! 🙂
How beautiful! Sets the mood perfectly!
Thanks Leanne! Merry Christmas!
So pretty! Thanks for joining the To Grandma’s House We Go link party!
Thanks for stopping by, Sheri!
These are gorgeous and I love the look of them
Thanks Amber! 😀
These are lovely! What a cool (lol) idea. Thanks for joining us at Party in Your PJs!
😀 Thanks Donna! Merry Christmas!
These are magical! Thank you for sharing them at last week’s link party. I hope you’ll stop by again for the party that just went live. Merry Christmas!
Thanks Jennifer! Merry Christmas! 🙂
These are stunning. So fresh and beautiful looking. Pinning
Thanks for pinning, Leanna! 🙂 Merry Christmas!
These are really beautiful! And, since it is 25 degrees outside, we can do this! TY! #dreamteam xoxo
Thanks Lisa! Happy New Year!
These are beautiful! I’ll be featuring your pretty luminaries at Best of the Weekend tomorrow night!
Thanks for featuring me! 🙂
Your ice luminaries are beautiful. where can I buy the containers you used? What brand are they?
Thank you! 🙂 I used old yogurt containers.