Frigid temps got you down? Here's a fun, easy, and creative project to try at home. Nothing to buy for this clever project - just use water, plastic containers, cups, and buckets you have around home, and whatever botanical, food, or other items you choose.
Instructions:
Tips: if you use too many fillers (pinecones, petals etc.) between the two bowls, the light won't shine as brightly through the ice. If using food coloring put a paper plate underneath the containers and final lanterns so as not to stain anything they are placed on top of.
Instructions:
- Fill a plastic bowl/container with water about two-thirds full.
- Inside of this water-filled bowl place a smaller plastic bowl or cup. For example, a small old sour cream plastic container inside of a larger yogurt container filled with water.
- Place tape over the two bowl rims so that they are same height. This will help you hold down the second little cup inside of the larger water-filled one. You'll want at least an inch of water at the bottom, between the two cups and also around the sides.
- Carefully place decor items into the space between the two bowls/cups. You can use anything - rose petals, dried bits and bobs, pinecones, pomegranate seeds, grapes, lemon and orange slices etc. Anything will work!
- Slowly fill the large container all the way to the top without getting water into the second container.
- Place outside until frozen solid (this super cold weather means they'll be frozen in 4 - 6 hours. For very large buckets like five-gallon buckets, expect freezing to take longer.
- Once frozen solid, pour hot water into the smaller, empty cup and wriggle it loose and out of the larger container. Then run warm water over the sides and bottom of large container just enough to allow the entire frozen mass to slip out of the large container.
- Place a tea light or small candle inside the hole left inside the lantern, place back outside, and enjoy!
Tips: if you use too many fillers (pinecones, petals etc.) between the two bowls, the light won't shine as brightly through the ice. If using food coloring put a paper plate underneath the containers and final lanterns so as not to stain anything they are placed on top of.
