DIY Holiday Ice Lanterns

I had always wanted to make these beautiful DIY Holiday Ice Lanterns for a winter party, so this was my chance! As the night of our Ugly Christmas Sweater Party approached, I realized that the temperature was going below freezing.

I had always wanted to make these beautiful DIY Holiday 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!

How to make a beautiful Winter Ice Lantern | OHMY-CREATIVE.COMWinter Ice Lantern | OhMy-Creative.com

More Winter Crafts:

How To Make A Winter Ice Lantern:

Use 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 it in place. Make sure the 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.

Make a pretty Winter Ice Lantern to warm you up on a cold winter night! So pretty to greet your guests for a party! | OhMy-Creative.com
Fill with water leaving at least 1″ of space from the top for the water to rise as it freezes.
How to make frozen ice candle holders in the winter.

When it’s frozen, remove it from the freezer. Lift the tape and add hot water into the center of the bottle. As the ice melts a little, pull out the 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 it in the freezer.

What containers to use to make frozen ice candle holders in the winter.
Pretty Ice Lanterns for Christmas Parties!
How to make frozen ice candle holders
Decorate a Christmas front door using live garland!
How to make a beautiful Winter Ice Lantern | OHMY-CREATIVE.COM

In the end, I was pleased with how the ice lanterns turned out. I also made smaller ones to line the walk as guests 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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Susan B

Susan B

Hi, I’m Susan! Thanks for stopping by Oh My! Creative. I like to have fun, make fun things…you know, create stuff! I love DIY, decorating and design and like any girl…shopping and lunch!
Susan B
Susan B

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71 Comments

  1. 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!!

    1. I’m sorry it has taken so long to respond to your question. Yes, it needs to be below freezing or they will melt!

  2. 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.

  3. 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.

  4. 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!

    1. The bottles do make a nice tall lantern, but are a little hard to get apart! Be careful of the sharp plastic!

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  5. 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!

  6. 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 🙂

  7. 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

    1. 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?

  8. 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.

  9. Fantastically gorgeous!!! This is a pinner 🙂

    <3 Christina at I Gotta Create!
    Wildly Original linky party is open

  10. 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

    1. 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

  11. 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

  12. 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

  13. 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.

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  15. I know that it is the middle of summer, but I just discovered your wonderful blog! I have been making similar lanterns for quite some time. I really appreciated the tip to make clear ice and thought that maybe someone might benefit from my two cents worth. My process is similar, but I don’t bother to remove the inner bottle. This helps the light source stay dry, and also helps the lanterns last through temperature fluctuations. After the water and decorations are frozen I add a little more water and top with crushed or small-cubed ice. This gives a nice finish and helps hide the bottle ends. You have made me anxious for the cold weather again! Thank you for all of your time and ideas. Keep up the good work!!

    1. Thanks for sharing your great tips! I like the idea of not removing the inner bottle…it was hard to remove and I agree it would help hold it all together longer! Good to know at winter will be here before we know it! Thanks!

  16. Hey! I just wanted to ask if you ever have any problems with hackers?
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    1. New Years would be perfect time to make these Ice Lanterns, Katie! Make sure you use battery operated candles so they last through the night!

  17. Hi there! Let me start by saying you are very talented ! AND, I’m not the most Pinterest savvy.. ?
    I love it, but do not have as much time as I’d like to spend on it…so I apologize for my ignorant/elementary question,,,if I’d like to print your project pics, tutorial, etc, do you have a printer friendly button somewhere, or just on a select few…I saw the access to free printable, but I didn’t browse through it… I’m talking specifically about the ice mold. Thank u!

    I’m thankful there are such talented people in the world such as you that are generous enough to share your wisdom!

    Thank you!,

  18. I was looking forward to making these for the Super Bowl this Sunday because they look so awesome ? However, my dilemma is that I’m in Canada and it’s impossible to find Candiquick here….any suggestions on a replacement?

  19. 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 DIY Holiday 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!

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