As the night of our Ugly Christmas Sweater Party approached, I realized that the temperature was to go below freezing. I had always wanted to make these beautiful Ice Lanterns for a winter party…so this was my chance! They turned out to be beautiful and were welcoming on a crisp, cold night!
I used a 2 liter plastic soda bottle and a 24 oz plastic bottle for the inside – cut tops off.
1. Fill the 2 liter bottle with about 1 1/2 inches of water and freeze.
2. Remove from freezer and place 24 oz bottle inside resting on the ice. Center the 24 oz bottle in the 2 liter bottle and use masking tape to secure in place. Make sure space between bottles is even all the way around.
3. Cut greens from the yard (I used Boxwood) and cranberries to fill the sides. Cranberries float, so place some in the bottom first and then add green on top. Add a few additional cranberries on the sides. When you fill the container with water the cranberries will rise to the top.
When frozen, remove from freezer. Lift tape and add hot water into the center of the bottle. As the ice melts a little, pull out center bottle. This gets a little tricky as the plastic bottles have larger bottoms than the sides. You have to work it! Run hot water over the outside of the bottle to loosen the large bottle. I had great difficulty pulling the ice lantern out of the 2 liter bottle due to the larger bottom. I recommend cutting it down the sides to remove it. Be careful - the plastic can be sharp! I also recommend having a set of bottles for each ice lantern you wish to make.
I highly recommend using a battery operated candle inside – the flame melts the ice! Make a couple of days ahead and store in the freezer.
In the end I was pleased at how the ice lanterns turned out. I also made smaller ones to line the walk with as guest approached the door! For these I use cottage cheese containers and small disposable food storage containers. These were so much easier to separate as the cottage cheese containers had a smaller bottom and the ice slid right out.
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I love this idea! I love the rustic berries and greenery, but I might try doing this with gold and silver branch/feather things from the craft store and tiny baubles and glitter for New Year’s!! Great idea and a really great tutorial. Thanks!!
Thanks Megan! I think the gold and silver accents would look fantastic for the holidays!
This is such a neat idea and they turned out Beautiful! Love the wreath door too
Thanks Beckie! I loved how my ice lanterns turned out -they look so inviting on a cold winter night!
Does it have to be freezing outside? Or will they survive in the general wintercold?
I’m sorry it has taken so long to respond to your question. Yes, it needs to be below freezing or they will melt!
That is so beautiful! I love it. I just pinned your post to my Fall board. I do not think I am in a cold enough climate for this to last…but maybe for a trip to the snow in the future.
This is so beautiful. To use soda bottles is a great idea.
If you want to use candles (I always do) I do not put water at the bottom, instead I just make the candle holder with a hole through (like a donut).
To make the ice more glasslike and see-through you boil the water first (preferably twice) and cool it. That is necessary if you want to have the sides thicker – for example using bundt cake pan.
Thank you for posting this, it is one of the most beautiful example of ice candleholder I have seen.
Thank you, Margret! I like the idea of boiling the water first…I will give it a try!
I love this! I’m thinking of trying this even though it probably doesn’t get cold enough here for it to last very long. It’s gorgeous! And you did a great job explaining every step of the process. Thank you.
Gorgeous!
I love how you used pop bottles. I was trying to come up with the perfect containers this year and now I don’t have to! I think I will use pop bottles too! Very pretty. Cheers!
The bottles do make a nice tall lantern, but are a little hard to get apart! Be careful of the sharp plastic!
these turn out beautiful! thanks for the idea.
I haven’t made these in years…yours are gorgeous!! Visiting from Hometalk!
Thank you, Tanya! Happy Holidays!
so cool, I’ve always wanted to make these too.
Love this and I have pinned to my christmas board………..thank you so much andi thewednesdaybaker.blogspot.com
Thank you so much for pinning my the Ice Lanterns!
These are beautiful!! I cannot wait to try this out-perfect for Christmas!
Thanks for stopping by…perfect for Christmas!
What a gorgeous and creative idea! I can’t wait to try this. Thank you for sharing.
Wow! How pretty!
KC
I am having a party at my house this weekend and making these! I made an ice wreath with my bunt pan to put in the punch bowl for a party last weekend, but this is so awesome! Our porch light is out (dang complex hasn’t fixed it yet) which might actually be a good thing so these stand out more! Thanks for sharing, newest follower via Lil’ Luna’s link party!
Thanks for stopping by! These will be perfect for your party! Good luck with making them!
This is a great idea! I’ve seen it done years ago but I forgot all about it…thanks for sharing and reminding me, I’m pinning this one. I’m now following you, thanks!
Saw you sharing at Whimsy Wednesdays.
Debbie
Welcome as a new follower Debbie! Thanks for pinning my ice lanterns too!
This is just beautiful!! Congrats on your Hometalk facebook feature. I shared this to my very largest pinterest board
I hope you get many new visitor 
Happy Holidays!!
Thanks for pinning Shannon! I became a follower and have been pinning from your boards…lots of inspiration there! Happy Holidays to you and your family!
Beautiful idea. I’m going to attempt to make these this week. I have an annual Christmas Italian dinner and of course the colors of these lights go right along with the theme. I do have a question, what did you use for the center to help freeze it. I need all the help I can get!!
Thanks again for sharing
Liss
Hi Lisa, I am not following your question. There is nothing in the center…the small soda bottle is empty. The water with the cranberry and boxwood with freeze in the freezer. Someone suggested spraying pam around the outside of the small bottle to help them slide appart when frozen. Let me know if you need anything more?
These are beautiful!! I’ve seen ice wreaths, but not lanterns I love it!
Thanks for linking up! I featured your post in my wrap up http://tidymom.net/2012/christmas-holiday-ideas/
Happy Holidays!
That’s such a beautiful idea! Love it.
Megan
Oh, I love this idea! These are absolutely gorgeous! I wish my front door looked like yours
Thank you, Becky!
I made some using the square milk jugs they worked well and were easy to remove. Now will try with some greenery and cranberries as that is beautiful.
what a great idea!! It looks beautiful lit up too!! Thanks for linking up to Tasteful Tuesdays at Nap-Time creations. Your project is being featured this week. Link will go live Monday night at 8:30 central time! http://www.nap-timecreations.com/2012/12/b-inspired-mama-guest-post-delightful.html
oh and I would LOVE to be added to your party list
) Pretty please…
Fantastically gorgeous!!! This is a pinner
<3 Christina at I Gotta Create!
Wildly Original linky party is open
Beautiful!
Hey Susan, Lisa Rees again. In the middle of the 2liter bottle what type of bottle did you tape in it before putting the cranberries, fern and water to freeze it. Sorry. I promise I’m not a ditz. Lol. Lisa
Hi Lisa, Sorry I wasn’t sure what you were asking. The center bottle is a 24 OZ soda bottle…the size that comes in a six pack with the plastic holding them together at the top. Hope this helps! Good Luck!
Susan
Amazing! It is freezing where I am at and this would be perfect for an upcoming party we are having. Thank you so much for sharing.
Julie
Sounds like you need to make them for your party – good luck!
These are gorgeous. So cozy for a cold winter night.
Thank you, Mel! Happy Holidays!
I am featuring this tomorrow! Soo pretty Love it!
Kim
This is such a pretty & unique idea I love it! I am pinning it to try sometime,if I don’t get to make one this year. I am going to look around some more. Visiting from DearCreatives.com
Love this idea. I pinned it, tweeted it, and now I just have to get organized and make some!
Oh gosh…these ice lanterns are just gorgeous! Thanks for your great instructions. Your idea of using a battery candle is great to help make the lanterns last longer. I saw your post over at “The Girl Creative” blog.
This is wonderful! I love finding new, fun crafts this nice! Thanks!
Beautiful
Wonderful publish. I really like DIY Holiday Ice Lanterns
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