Use winter’s frosty temps to your advantage when decorating your home’s outdoors for the holidays. These ice lanterns are pretty, festive and just require water, plastic containers and a chill in the air. Now that the weather is consistently below freezing most days, I think it’s the perfect time for ice lantern decorations! They’re really quick and easy to make, and so gorgeous! Today’s tutorial will show you how to make an ice lantern (or ice luminaria) in a few simple steps!

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HOW TO MAKE ICE LANTERNS (ICE LUMINARIAS)

Here’s what you need:

  • two empty tin cans, one small enough to fit inside the other with at least 1/2? of room on either side and at the bottom
  • faux greenery and berries
  • wire clippers
  • rocks or some other heavy item
  • tape

Fill a small plastic cup with water and put inside a larger plastic container. Fill large plastic container with water. As an option, add evergreen sprigs and/or berries to water to add some color and texture. Carefully put inside a freezer (or outside if temperatures are below freezing.) Allow it to freeze for several hours or overnight. Tip: The size and shape of the lanterns are only limited by the containers you find. Try making two huge ones to flank a front door by using 5 gallon buckets and large pillar candles.

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The ice may crack, but the cracks look beautiful against the candlelight. Set outside and insert tea light candle or pillar candle that will fit inside ice lantern.

If it’s below freezing where you live, these guys can just live on your front porch or front steps all winter! But even if they only last a day or two, they’re a beautiful way to welcome guests to your home for a holiday party! Never leave candles unattended!

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