Candlelight, the longtime centerpiece of a dinner table, can elicit warmth and the joy of gathering for a meal. As we enter the holiday season, we explore ways to bring magic and sparkle to the dinner table through a variety of ice lanterns.
These lanterns can serve as a festive addition to all dinner tables and, for those of you in cooler climates, be brought outdoors for some evening illumination. We relished in the process of making them and testing different forms. We hope you get inspired to make your own and gather children and those who are kids at heart in the process.
Tools for making lanterns:
Variety of containers (bowls, cans, milk cartons, balloons, etc) – just consider that when freezing water will expand and may crack non-flexible materials.
Dyes (natural dyes like teas - Pea flower blossoms are wonderful, milk for cloudiness, or food coloring)
Decorative objects (Cranberries, rosemary, other greenery)
Weights - to keep a center container down to make a void for a candle (stones, beans)
Tape – to hold down a the smaller container in the center
Tools for displaying lanterns:
Candles (small candles that will fit within the size of your lantern whether they are flame or LED).
Tray or plate with lip. Ice melts, have a base that will catch the melting water.
Decorations to build up a centerpiece
Takeaways from the process:
Freezing takes time, make sure you have room in your freezer and plan to start at least a day before your meal.
When using balloons, you need pressure to fill them, so if you plan to use dye or objects in the lantern you will need to add them to the balloon before filling at a faucet
Set a filled balloon in a bowl to keep it standing upright in the freezer.
Leave an air bubble at the top of the balloon to leave a flat opening
To make a “cracked” lantern you can check on the balloon as it is freezing and break up the ice occasionally. This will lead to many thin layers instead of one thicker layer.
The goal is to have a frozen outer shell and then dump out the center of the lantern leaving a void for a candle.
If you are using a flame candle, you will need oxygen. Make sure there is an opening so the candle can get oxygen and not go out with water dripping onto it.
When using a milk carton or other container, run the outside under warm water to dislodge it
