How to: Ice Candle Holders

Fill your candle holders with miniature garland strands for festive decorations.

Create a striking ice piece for your coffee table or dining room table with a candle holder made completely from ice. You can add glamor to a tabletop centerpiece for a formal event or set out these ice candle holders to create a romantic ambiance for an intimate occasion. Find most of the items needed to make these candle holders in your recycling bin or outdoor space. Add objects to the candle holder that will color-coordinate with your living space or event.

Things You'll Need

• 2 liter plastic soda bottle
• Aluminum soda can
• Sharp scissors
• Small pebbles
• Wooden skewer or long stick
• Tape
• Whole cranberries, slices of citrus fruit or rose petals
• Decorative saucer or small plate
• Votive candle
• Lighter or matches
• Small plastic objects (optional)
• Glitter (optional)

Instructions

1. Find an empty plastic soda or water bottle that is the width you want for your candle holder. Clean the bottle completely and let dry.

2. Set an aluminum soda can in the base of the plastic bottle. Cut the top of the bottle off with a sharp pair of scissors so the bottle is approximately 1 inch taller than the can.

3. Fill an aluminum can with small pebbles to add weight. Set the filled can in the center of the plastic bottle. Hold the can in place and add water to the space between the can and plastic bottle; do not fill over the top of the can.

4. Place a wooden skewer or stick across the top of the can and sides of the plastic bottle to hold the weight down to the base of the plastic bottle. Use tape to secure the stick to the can and sides of the bottle.

5. Choose a color theme for your candle holder and add appropriate objects to the water. Add whole cranberries to the water around the can for a festive holiday candle holder; the cranberries will float but you should add enough berries to cover the entire surface of the water. Stick slices of citrus fruit, such as lemons or oranges, lengthwise into the sides of the water where they will sink to the bottom of the bottle for a brightly colored candle holder. Add rose petals of any color to the water, pushing half of them into the water so they sink while leaving the other petals at the surface, for a romantic theme.

6. Set the filled bottle outside if the weather is cold enough to freeze the water, or carefully place the bottle on a flat surface in your freezer. Let the candle holder freeze overnight for best results.

7. Take the frozen bottle and let lukewarm water run across the outside of the plastic bottle until the candle holder releases from the plastic; do not rush this process or you will crack the ice. Pour lukewarm water into the aluminum can and let the water heat the sides of the can until you can gently pull the can out of the ice.

8. Set the ice candle holder on a glass saucer or small plate with a decorative rim. Add a votive candle and light.

Tips & Warnings

• Add small objects, such as toy cars, miniature sports balls or plastic dolls, for a children's theme.

• Sprinkle glitter into the water for added bling.

• Do not use hot water to thaw the sides of the candle holder or the ice will crack from the extreme temperature changes and your ice candle holder will break.

References

• HGTV: Make a Holiday Candleholder Out of Ice