ICE LUMINARIES

AS THE WEATHER GET COLD IT IS THE PERFECT TIME TO MAKE ICE LUMINARIES. FALLOW THESE EASY STEPS AND HAVE FUN MAKING YOUR OWN

CHOOSE A LARGE STURDY PLASTIC BUCKET, SQUARE OR ROUND,  EITHER WILL WORK

FILL THE BUCKET WITH WATER AND ADD BERRIES OR ANYTHING TO ADD COLOR AND INTEREST, NOTE: DO NOT TRY PINECONES AS THEY CLOSE UP WHEN THEY GET WET. YOU CAN USE FRESH FLOWERS, FRUIT AND GREENS WORK WELL. YOU COULD COLOR THE WATER WITH JUICE OR FOOD COLORING FOR A COOL LOOK

THE ITEMS YOU ADD WILL FLOAT, THAT IS JUST WHAT YOU WANT AS THE TOP OF THE BUCKET WILL BE THE BASE OF THE LUMINARY

SET OUT SIDE TO FREEZE IT WILL TAKE ONE TO TWO DAYS DEPENDING ON HOW COLD IT IS.  BRING IT INSIDE TO THAW FOR ABOUT 20 MINUTES

HOLDING THE ICE WITH YOUR FINGERS INVERT THE BUCKET. THE ICE WILL HAVE FROZEN ON THE TOP[ AND SIDES. IF THE ICE DOESN'T COME OUT JUST LEAVE IT INVERTED UNTIL IT LOOSENS AND REMOVE THE BUCKET.   YOU MAY HAVE TO CHIP AWAY AT THE TOP OF YOUR UNMOLDED LUMINARY OR YOU MAY GET LUCKY AS WE DID AND IT WILL BE FROZEN PERFECTLY

CAREFULLY DUMP OUT THE WATER IN THE CENTER

CLEAN OUT ANY MATERIAL IN THE CENTER THAT DID NOT FREEZE IN THE ICE AND ADD A CANDLE.  WE CHOSE ONE OF OUR BATTERY OP[ERATED LED CANDLES WITH A BUILT IN TIMER SO IT WILL TURN ON EVERY NITE AT THE SAME TIME AND STAY ILLUMUNATED FOR EITHER 4 OR 8 HOURS.  THE LUMINARY  MAY NEED TO BE LEVELED AS THE ICE SOMETIMES BULDGES OUT ON THE BASE, A WREATH OR FRESH GREENS WORKS WELL FOR THIS. HOPE THIS INSPIRES YOU TO MKE ONE FOR YOURSELF OR A FRIEND