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! – 
Pilar
Great idea! So nice and fresh… I would like to doit whit candles. Wil be possible?
ananda
hi pilar! it will work, just the ice may melt sooner! =)
Dawn
these are so unique and BEAUTIFUL!!! Such a great idea!
Gina Henning
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!
Alisha H.
That is absolutely beautiful and how creative! I’ll be pinning this.
Cara of Stylish+Geek Blog
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 🙂
Joanna @ Motherhood and Merlot
Such a beautiful idea! It doesn’t get cold enough where I live to do it but, a girl can dream:)
Shipra Taneja
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. 🙂
Natalie
These are absolutely beautiful! They’d be gorgeous for a Christmas gathering! 🙂
Rebekah
Those are so pretty! I love the paper ones too!
Candace
These are amazing! I love them! Thanks for sharing. I trying to brainstorm all the ways I could make different ones!
ananda
have fun Candace ! xx
Breanna
How unique! I absolutely love these! 🙂 Gorgeous!
Lynn
Beautiful and economical to boot! Can really light up any holiday party entrance!
Erin
ooooh, so pretty!!! Sort of reminds me of Narnia, lol!
ananda
oh I love narnia, so magical! thank you Erin! xx
karissa
This is so beautiful and unique
Heather
I absolutely love this idea! I’m definitely going to try it this winter!!!! Very cute!
Michelle Snow
wow that is amazing. I didn’t even know that was I thing.
Lindsay LaMantia
I love this idea so much! Bookmarking to do this weekend 🙂
ananda
have fun my friend! xo
Myrabev
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.
ananda
thank you Mia! mine have melted! 🙂
estherjulee
that is too cool! you have the best DIY projects on here.
ananda
Esther you are so sweet! xx
Arti
These gorgeous creations are good enough to eat Ananda. Simply beautiful. I have to try this one out. Love your ideas:) xx
ananda
thank you arti! embed goodies sounds awesome! =) xx
Brenda
Wow! Those look gorgeous! Thanks for sharing the DIY!
Michelle Webber
Wow!! Those are absolutely gorgeous! What a great idea!
Maryn
Those are so beautiful and unique – I LOVE this idea! Thanks for sharing – will make a really fun holiday touch.
kristine foley
Can’t wait to attempt! So beautiful!
ananda
have fun kristine! =)
Erica Brooks
What a lovely project. I’ve pinned it for later.
Ashley Taylor
Pinning this! some of these would prefect around my tub.
Samantha
Umm seriously beautiful!
Lix
Holy wow, this is gorgeous.
Ayana Pitterson
Ummmm, yeah that is PINNABLE! Love this and would love to try and make it myself.
Thrifting Diva
http://www.thriftingdiva.com
Joanna Sormunen
These are geourgeous! I always miss ice luminaries, wish I could have them here too!
breanna
How awesome are these. I love them. They are beautiful and so fun. Very holiday looking.
Camesha | Mama Motivator
Those are super cute! How creative.
Lani @ Life Anchored
So beautiful!! Great concept.
Patrizia
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.
ananda
thank you patrizia! a beautiful 2016 to you! =)
Angela
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!!
ananda
hi angela! same here in california 🙂 just have to make them when you travel to a colder place then! 🙂