If you live in a cold winter climate, these easy and pretty ice lanterns will look gorgeous on your door steps. If you live in a warm climate like I do, don’t let that be a reason to stop you from experiencing the fun and magic, however long it lasts!
This DIY is so easy and so much fun, perfect way to create a little winter wonderland!
First step, gather some botanical treasures from where you live, try and find different foliage textures, sizes and colorful berries.
Next, find some plastic containers of different sizes in diameter so one can fit inside another, such as tin cans, yogurt containers, shampoo bottles…
You will see that I used glass for some of them. My hubby made a great suggestion later that plastic would be better since glass can break easily in the freezing process. See, I love starting things out the hard way! =) Also make sure the smaller container is still wide enough for an LED tealight!
Place the smaller container inside the bigger one, I had a 0.5″ to 1″ space all around. Place some pebbles or coins to weight down the inside container. Make pretty compositions with your botanical clippings, and pour water into the space between the 2 containers.
An improvement: use tin cans like below, they won’t break! 🙂
Put them in the freezer for a few hours untill they are frozen. To pop them out, place the in a container of room temp water, and also pour room temp water into the inside container, After a couple of minutes, they will come out nicely.
Place 1 or 2 LED tea lights (or large LED candle if you made a big one!) inside each luminary and see how beautifully they light up!
Tip: although these ice luminaries are hollow on the bottom, if you are concerned about the LED light getting wet, place a pebble below the light so water would drain away!
Arrange them in the snow or on your windowsill outside, you shall be Santa’s first stop!
Love luminaries ideas for the holidays? Check out these simple ones made from paper!
Dimensional flower luminaries with colored glow- 
Enchanting little houses great for a mantle or as Chriatmas tree ornaments! – 
I love this idea SO much and am really sad that I live in a warm to hot climate (Brisbane, Australia). This wouldn’t last very long at all here even in winter (the winter just gone had a lowest temperature of maybe 16°C – 60°F). These are just sooo pretty and a fabulous idea though!! I guess I’ll just have to be happy with the Mason Jar oil candles, which are also really pretty. Thanks for these amazing ideas!!
hi angela! same here in california 🙂 just have to make them when you travel to a colder place then! 🙂
Mi chiamo Patrizia, per la prima volta arrivo ora in questo blog stupendo, e dal meraviglioso nome che fa sognare!!! COMPLIMENTI!!! Tantissime idee entusiasmanti! Adoro tutto davvero, e poichè abito in montagna, l’idea mi piace moltissimo presto la realizzerò , la spiegazione chiara e dettagliata su come farle e’ molto utile e ben fatta! GRAZIE INFINITE PER LA CONDIVISIONE!!!!!!! Un caro saluto e auguri di buon anno di vero cuore da Patrizia from Italy.
thank you patrizia! a beautiful 2016 to you! =)
So beautiful!! Great concept.
Those are super cute! How creative.
How awesome are these. I love them. They are beautiful and so fun. Very holiday looking.
These are geourgeous! I always miss ice luminaries, wish I could have them here too!
Ummmm, yeah that is PINNABLE! Love this and would love to try and make it myself.
Thrifting Diva
http://www.thriftingdiva.com
Holy wow, this is gorgeous.
Umm seriously beautiful!
Pinning this! some of these would prefect around my tub.
What a lovely project. I’ve pinned it for later.
Can’t wait to attempt! So beautiful!
have fun kristine! =)
Those are so beautiful and unique – I LOVE this idea! Thanks for sharing – will make a really fun holiday touch.
Wow!! Those are absolutely gorgeous! What a great idea!
Wow! Those look gorgeous! Thanks for sharing the DIY!
These gorgeous creations are good enough to eat Ananda. Simply beautiful. I have to try this one out. Love your ideas:) xx
thank you arti! embed goodies sounds awesome! =) xx
that is too cool! you have the best DIY projects on here.
Esther you are so sweet! xx
This is such a cool idea, I think it would survive longer in my climate. You’re so creative and I am still amazed with the lanterns.
thank you Mia! mine have melted! 🙂
I love this idea so much! Bookmarking to do this weekend 🙂
have fun my friend! xo
wow that is amazing. I didn’t even know that was I thing.
I absolutely love this idea! I’m definitely going to try it this winter!!!! Very cute!
This is so beautiful and unique
ooooh, so pretty!!! Sort of reminds me of Narnia, lol!
oh I love narnia, so magical! thank you Erin! xx
Beautiful and economical to boot! Can really light up any holiday party entrance!
How unique! I absolutely love these! 🙂 Gorgeous!
These are amazing! I love them! Thanks for sharing. I trying to brainstorm all the ways I could make different ones!
have fun Candace ! xx
Those are so pretty! I love the paper ones too!
These are absolutely beautiful! They’d be gorgeous for a Christmas gathering! 🙂
Wow, that’s amazing!! I know a restaurant that serves their alcohol shots in a shot glass made of ice, and I see this seems to be the same way to create one or the other. 🙂
Such a beautiful idea! It doesn’t get cold enough where I live to do it but, a girl can dream:)
I love this DIY and I will actually give it a try during the winter break! I’ve been seeing a lot of the beautiful Fall leaves and it would be wonderful to preserve them in this! Thank you for sharing 🙂
That is absolutely beautiful and how creative! I’ll be pinning this.
Wow, this so pretty I’m going to pin for my Christmas party, http://www.pinterest.com/henningland/christmas-party-at-mistletoe-mansion/ (you can come play to win too!)
Love it!
these are so unique and BEAUTIFUL!!! Such a great idea!
Great idea! So nice and fresh… I would like to doit whit candles. Wil be possible?
hi pilar! it will work, just the ice may melt sooner! =)