How To Make Ice Lanterns (Ice Candles)

If it’s below freezing where you live, these ice candles can just live on your front porch or front steps all winter! But even if they only last a day or two, ice lanterns are a beautiful way to welcome guests to your home for a holiday party!

When the weather is consistently below freezing most days, I think it’s the perfect time for ice lantern decorations! They’re really quick and easy to make, and so gorgeous. Today’s tutorial will show you how to make ice lanterns (or ice candles) in a few simple steps.

how to make ice lanterns or ice candles

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These DIY ice lanterns are super easy to make, plus you can make them for under $5! All you need are a few recycled cans, water, and some faux greenery which you can find at your local craft store.

How To Make Ice Candles or Ice Lanterns

  • Time spent doing stuff: 15 minutes
  • Time spent waiting around: 6-8 hours (it takes a while for these to freeze!)
  • Total project time: 6-8 hours

Tools

Materials for DIY Ice Candles

how to make ice lanterns or ice candles

Instructions to make ice candles

Clean out your tin cans and remove the labels. Don’t worry about the sticky label residue; it won’t hurt the ice lanterns if it doesn’t all come off.

Put a small amount of water (about ½ C) into the larger tin can. Then put the smaller tin can inside the larger one. The smaller tin can should be floating inside the larger one at this point.

Add a few rocks to the smaller tin can to hold it down so that the tops of both cans are level. Then add tape on all four sides to help hold the smaller tin can centered in the larger one.

how to make ice lanterns or ice candles

Now cut apart your greenery and berries into smaller pieces and stick them down into the water between the two cans. The individual berries float, so I cut them into “sprigs” and just stuck the whole thing down the side of the can. This helped sort of wedge the greenery and berries between the two cans so they wouldn’t all float to the top.

how to make ice lanterns or ice candles

Once you’ve added greenery everywhere, add a little more water between the cans, until the water is about 1/2″ to 1″ below the top of the can. If your water is already too full, pour some out. Remember, water expands as it freezes, so don’t fill it too full or the water will overflow as it turns to ice.

If it’s below freezing where you live, stick the cans outside overnight to freeze. If it’s too warm outside, just put them in your freezer overnight.

Once the water is frozen, run slightly warm water over the outside of the can and inside of the smaller can to help loosen the ice. Once the outsides melt a little bit you should be able to slide the ice lanterns right out of the tin can molds!

how to make ice lanterns or ice candles

Stick a small tea light in the ice lantern, light it, and enjoy the glow of your ice candle! It’s just as pretty during the day too!

how to make ice lanterns or ice candles

Shop this project

faux greenery and berries
faux greenery and berries
husky 7 inch diagonal pliers
diagonal cutter

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How To Make Ice Lanterns or Ice Candles

5 from 4 votes
Ice lanterns are a beautiful way to decorate for winter, and you can make these for under $5! Learn how to make ice candles by following these simple instructions.
Active Time 15 minutes
Freezing Time 8 hours
Total Time 8 hours 15 minutes
Yield 1 candle
Cost $5

Equipment

  • diagonal cutters

Materials

  • 2 empty tin cans one small enough to fit inside the other with at least 1/2" of space between the two cans on hte sides and at hte bottom
  • faux greenery and berries
  • rocks or another small, heavy item
  • tape
  • 1 tea light candle

Instructions
 

  • Clean both tin cans and remove the labels. It's ok if some of the label residue remains.
  • Put a small amount of water (about ½ C) into the larger tin can. Then put the smaller tin can inside the larger one so that it floats on the water.
  • Add a few rocks to the smaller tin can to hold it down so that the tops of both cans are level. Then add tape on all four sides to help hold the smaller tin can centered within the larger one.
  • Cut apart the greenery and berries into "sprigs" and stick them down into the water between the two cans, wedging them between the cans so they don't all float to the top.
  • Add water between the cans until the water is about 1/2″ to 1″ below the top of the can.
  • Put the cans outside or in the freezer overnight to freeze.
  • Run slightly warm water over the outside of the larger can and inside of the smaller can to help loosen the ice. Once the outsides melt a little bit you should be able to slide the ice candle right out of the tin can mold.
  • Place a small tea light in the ice lantern, light it, and enjoy the glow of your ice candle!

Notes

Remember, water expands as it freezes, so don’t fill the cans too full or the water will overflow as it turns to ice.

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Jessi Wohlwend

I believe that anyone can do crafts and DIY projects, regardless of skill or experience. I love sharing simple craft ideas, step by step DIY project tutorials, cleaning hacks, and other tips and tricks all with one goal in mind: giving you the tools you need to “do it yourself”, complete fun projects, and make awesome things!

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Reader Interactions

  1. carol molnar says

    8 years ago

    I cauht a comment frm someone who used fake water and I would like to know how she got it out of the form she used. I want to make really bad for Chrstmas Will appreciate a reply!!!

  2. Maggie O'Brien says

    8 years ago

    I’m confused….. isn’t it going to melt?

    • Jessi Wohlwend says

      8 years ago

      Yes they will. I mentioned in the post that they’re temporary decorations. I made them when it was below freezing here in Chicago so they lasted quite a while, even when the candles were lit. But even if they only last a day or two, they are still pretty! And they’re easy enough to make that it didn’t seem like a waste to me.

  3. Fatima Lazarte says

    9 years ago

    es una muy buena idea,me encanta!se me ocurre hacerlo con otro material.gracias por el tutorial

  4. Thea says

    9 years ago

    This is sooo pretty. Christmas arrives soon but I think this would look really pretty for New Years Eve too. Thank you for the great tutorial!

  5. Toni says

    9 years ago

    this is a wonderful idea! Will def. try this.

  6. dj says

    9 years ago

    Beautiful. This might be a stupid question, but how exactly do you get them out of the tins once frozen? Thanks.

    • Jessi Wohlwend says

      9 years ago

      Just run the tins under slightly warm water for a few seconds and it’ll slide right out!

  7. Meredith @ unOriginalMom says

    9 years ago

    Oh my gosh, Jessi, this is SO neat!! It’s beautiful…I’m only bummed that I can’t keep it in the house!

  8. keri @ shaken together says

    9 years ago

    Those are gorgeous – and they look SO great in the day and night! Love the pops of red and green in the ice!

  9. Jocie@OPC The Better Half says

    9 years ago

    oh my goodness, so pretty and festive!!!

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