DIY Ice Lanterns ~ Winter family projects, Foraged Luminaries
Let's make some Ice Lanterns!
You will find instructions for the foraged luminary above at the end of this post.
A simple instructional precedes it for the whole family to enjoy with a lot less work!
Since I live in North Dakota and there isn't much to do for fun around here in the wintertime, I figured I'd share something that doesn't involve getting frostbite!
Our weather lately has been pretty harsh. We just finished up with wicked blizzard number 3, luckily our power stayed on this time, and being cooped up inside has been getting to everyone.
When it's -45 with the wind chill, you can't build a snowman, you can't go sledding, you just have to stay inside. Staying inside might sound great until you've been stuck in your own house with crabby, bored children for 72 hours...it's not all that great.
One project I found that only required a few minutes of me being outside is making an ice lantern. My sister-in-law showed me hers a while back and I thought it would be perfect for a 1-degree day (that quickly dropped down to -9). With how cold it was, it cut my lantern-making time in half.
It's a fun and easy project that you can do over and over until your steps or yard are filled with different colored lanterns! So, follow along if you want to learn how to make your own:
Step 1:
Find a bucket.
Bucket choice should be easy. But, if you're me and you don't always think things through, I'll give you a warning. DON'T pick anything with a built-in handle like a coffee container. DON'T pick anything wider on the bottom. DO choose a bucket that is the same size, smooth all around, or square all around, and that will be your ice lantern.
My bucket choice? Ice cream:
Step 2:
Fill your bucket with water.
(Do you really need a picture of a bucket full of water?)
Step 3:
Pick your colors:
Step 4:
Add your dye any way you'd like. I have done solid mixed colors before and decided to try it without mixing it all the way in. Just drop and go.
If you want a bolder color, add lots of dye. For a lighter shade, 5-10 drops will do.
Step 5:
(My dye pretty much mixed itself)
Set that bucket outside in the cold somewhere your dog won't lick it. Unless you don't mind a blue dog.
*Usually, you'd leave it for 24 hours or overnight. It was -9 out, so I left mine for 6 hours and it worked perfectly.*
Step 6:
Poke a hole.
You can make a big hole or a little hole depending on how tall your candle is or how long your lighter/match is. You need to be able to get your candle in. So take that into consideration during the "hole-poking process".
Step 7:
Dump out the water.
After dumping my water out, I ran warm water over the outside of the bucket and the bottom for a few seconds to free it up without cracking. Don't use super hot water, you'll melt a hole in your lantern.
Step 8:
Put your candle in and light it up!
Do you see how easy that was?
Give it a try!
Add lots of colors!
Add multiple colors!
Use different shapes!
The possibilities are endless!
*** This Ice Lanter was made from foraged berries and branched from the Sheyenne National Grasslands.
For this lantern/luminary, I used two plastic bowls, one slightly smaller than the other. Then I laid my foraged materials into my larger bowl in a way that they came up and around the sides (it takes some doing) and then placed my smaller bowl inside weighted with a rock.
Then, I poured distilled water (it keeps it more clear) carefully into the large bowl, then set them outside to FULLY freeze!
It took a bit longer for this to freeze completely and I did have to add a bit more water as it froze to fill any gaps caused by the berries and branches, however, it was definitely worth it!
If you make one for yourself, please share it with me! I'll add your finished luminary/ice lantern to this post!
Enjoy this video of my beautiful finished foraged luminary:
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