Tuesday, February 21, 2012
Winter crafting - Ice Candles
Since the weather has turned cold again we have been searching for wintery projects, both inside and out. We have been reading about the history of ice candles. There are many ways to make ice candles, and many northern countries have wonderful long-standing traditions and festivities using ice candles during the cold dark months. This would be a great project to do with kids just before the winter solstice, but mid-February will do! To make an ice candle you can simply freeze buckets or cartons filled with water which, when unmolded, become candle holders; or create more elaborate ice scuplted shapes as the water slowly freezes; or another variation is to add ice chunks or cubes to a candle mold, add a wick and pour hot wax over (the ice leaves designs in the candle). We used a very easy method - freezing water in a round bundt pan - but first added sage, lavender, hops, cedar and thyme from the garden (and other bits from the yard) as decoration from our garden to add delicious scent as the ice melts and candle burns.
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fun to see your ice candles. When I lived in Fairbanks, AK I loved making them. I liked using balloons filled with water and letting them freeze half way. Then pop the balloon, pour out the inside water. These were beautiful lining our snowy driveway when we were expecting company. Now I live in TN and it's candles in jars.
ReplyDeleteMMMM Lavender! I used to make big ice candles every year in 5 gallon buckets, but I never thought of adding lavender! I'd line the driveway with ice candles for our annual skating party to add to the ambiance...
ReplyDeleteMMMM Lavender! I used to make big ice candles every year in 5 gallon buckets, but I never thought of adding lavender! I'd line the driveway with ice candles for our annual skating party to add to the ambiance...
ReplyDeleteWe used to freeze flat trays of ice - in metal pie pans, or metal cake pans,or even cookie sheets with edges. and lay jute or other heavy string in the pan. The idea is to have a 1"(2 cm.),more or less, plaque of ice that you can hang outdoors. You can also add things like food colouring or leaves. You can even start making little ice castles.
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