Make a candle-lit ice lantern

I saw ice lanterns at http://wintercraft.com & thought I could make these without having to buy their expensive kit. 

Step 1: Items needed

-round balloon
-cup
-plate
-pin
-flat rock can be helpful
-tea light
-matches/lighter
-freezer

Comments

[TinaIsNoAcronym]

This is beautiful! Another instructable about making ice sculptures noted that when adding food coloring, the color would tend to freeze last in the center (presumably in the liquid that is drained out in this project) but that adding drops of food coloring to the outside after it is frozen left an all-over color. I really want to try this when my freezer is a little less full!

[chefsea]

Excellent idea, Browncoat and will try soon. So creative, pretty and easy.

[MsJan]

Looks nice. Please do not scented candles since they are toxic and can cause cancer. Remember a Healthy Home Has No Smell.

[bajablue]

What a FUN project!

BTW, I did add several drops of blue food coloring, but the ice pretty much stayed white.

[Browncoat]

It sure did! Wow, that looks great! :D

[bajablue]

Thanks BC! Love my patch... I feel like a Girl Scout! ;-D

I also used scalding hot water from a hose. The lantern ice was actually quite clear.

[roboticarrow]

You could also add food coloring to make colored lamps.

[Browncoat]

Worth a try, but the site where I got this idea indicated that it wouldn't work as well as one might think. But I haven't tried that, so I don't really know.

[roboticarrow]

You may get a brighter lantern if you used distilled water (clear ice).

[Browncoat]

There are 2 issues w/that idea:
1) Hard to fill a balloon with distilled water
2) I think the impurities in the water are what make the beautiful patterns.

But people may have different ideals, so if you DO manage to do this with distilled water, please post a pic! I'd be super curious! :)

[bajablue]

This is absolutely beautiful Browncoat!

I've never seen anything like it!

[Browncoat]

Thanks! :)

[sunshiine]

This is totally awesome! I will be doing this! So fun! Thanks for sharing.
Sunshiine

[Browncoat]

Thanks, Sunshiine!! It really IS fun to make!!