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Frugal Winter Wonderland: Ice Candles

by Mary Ann Romans | More from this Blogger

28 Jan 2007 12:19 PM

snow Want to turn your backyard into a winter wonderland for pennies? Try making some ice candles!

Making ice candles is an easy craft that you can do with your family. Children as young as preschool can help. You can make one or two ice candles for fun, or make a large bunch to light up your backyard, line your drive way and more. All lit up, these candles are truly magical.

For supplies you will first need some containers to make the outside of the candles. Kid's sand pails are a perfect size, but you can use almost any wide bucket or container, such as those large cat food buckets or large paper milk cartons.

Fill the container with water and place a tin can (such as a soup can) or cup in the center. Weigh the can down with rocks or beans so that it is about an inch from the bottom of container.

Place your container outside or in the freezer until the water is frozen solid. Carefully remove the ice from the bucket. You can make this easier by running some warm water around the outside of the bucket, or in the case of the milk carton, just peeling the carton off.

Carefully remove the tin can from the center of the block of ice. Place a small candle, such as a tea light or votive, into the space left by the tin can. Place your candle in a good spot outside and light.

You can get really creative with ice candles. Try tinting the water with food coloring to make different colored candles. Or create a rainbow candle by filling the container in stages, adding food coloring, freezing and then repeating with a different color. Try adding pretty leaves, cranberries, or other found objects to the water before freezing.

What do you think of this idea? If you try it, please share some photos.

Related Articles:

Frugal Decorating with Pine Cones

Frugal Fun: Make Your Own Snow Paint

 
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Learn more about Mary Ann Romans
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Mary Ann Romans is a freelance writer, wife and mother of three children. She lives in Pennsylvania with her husband, the kids and a 16-pound cat.

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User Comments

Linda Hansen (1796) 28 Jan 2007 12:25 PM

what a creative idea, Mary Ann. Living in south Tx, I would've never thought of that. Artcraft

Mary Ann Romans (26876) 28 Jan 2007 01:25 PM

You can actually use ice for molds to make wax candles, too!

Abi H (105) 06 Mar 2007 07:08 AM

This is such a wonderful idea. I wish it was cold enough in England to make these! Sadly our winters are all about the rain, and not the snow!

Mary Ann Romans (26876) 06 Mar 2007 11:45 AM

Oh I would gladly give up the cold we are having today for a trip to England!

pamperedpeterson (13238) 18 Apr 2007 09:31 PM

oooh! I will def'ly do this next year. :)

mrs_ray (2590) 04 Aug 2007 11:59 PM

Oh I love this!

Mary Ann Romans (26876) 05 Aug 2007 06:07 AM

Thanks Mrs Ray!

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