9 beautiful ice lanterns—check out these ideas!
Looking to make traditional ice lanterns or try something entirely different? You can embellish your DIY ice lanterns with tulips or create fun surface patterns with napkins.
1. How to make a basic ice lantern
To make an ice lantern, all you need is water and a bucket. Fill the bucket with water and set it outside to freeze. Once the ice along the sides of the bucket is a few centimeters thick, pour out the remaining water. If a thin layer of ice has formed on the surface, simply break it in the middle. Gently tap the ice lantern out of the bucket or pour warm water over the surface to release it. The freezing time depends on the temperature, so keep an eye on the process.
2. Ice lantern in cake mold
Fill a round metal cake mold or silicone mold with water. Arrange decorations like branches, lingonberry sprigs, pinecones, or frozen berries in the mold. If you’re freezing the lanterns in the freezer, ensure the mold is on a flat surface. Freeze the molds overnight in the freezer, or, if it’s freezing outside, a couple of hours in the garden is enough. Place the frozen mold in the sink, turn it upside down, and pour water over the mold until the lantern releases.
3. Carve a pattern into the ice lantern
Make the lantern in a bucket following the basic instructions. Carve your desired pattern into the finished ice lantern with a knife. Simple patterns like stars are easy to make and look beautiful.
4. Decorate the ice lantern with napkins
Make the ice lantern by freezing water in a bucket overnight. In the morning, gently remove the ice lantern with warm water. Make an opening for a candle and pour out any water inside. Choose a napkin you like; the ice lanterns in the photo feature Erja Hirvi’s ‘Hongisto’ design. If the napkins are thick, it’s best to use only the outermost layer, which is thin enough for light to shine through beautifully. Cut the napkin to an appropriate size and gently attach it to the outside of the ice lantern with water. You can use a spray bottle for this. (Tip provided by Ulla Tuomela)
5. Ice lantern with tulips
Even slightly wilted tulips can find a new purpose when you put them in an ice lantern. Place the tulip upside down in a bucket and secure it at the edges with clothespins. Carefully fill the bucket with water, a little at a time. Gently swirl to remove air bubbles and let it freeze. You can also freeze flowers or pinecones in small molds and connect the pieces with strings to create a garland.
6. Ice decoration in a cake mold
When it comes to freezing ice decorations, the only limit is your imagination. You can use almost any materials. It’s a good idea to collect stones, pinecones, moss, and berries in the autumn so that you have them before the freezing temperatures arrive. Remember to check if you need the landowner’s permission to collect branches, moss, or soil materials.
7. Decorate the ice lantern with branches
This is another creative ice lantern idea: gather branches for your lantern—larch or alder branches are great options that make a beautiful ice lantern. Experiment with different freezing times. A thin layer of ice is clear and pretty but can break or crack easily. Melt the frozen lantern a little so that it becomes loose in the bucket, make a hole in the bottom, and carefully pour out the excess water.
8. Colored ice lantern
You can color your ice lanterns with berries and juice. Pomegranate seeds create clear patterns because they don’t easily release juice.
9. Make ice lanterns from milk cartons
A bright, brick-shaped DIY ice lantern is easy to make from old milk cartons. Fill the milk cartons with water and freeze them outside. Once the water has frozen, remove the milk carton from around the ice brick. Arrange the bricks on stairs or assemble them into a snow lantern formation. If you’re making a formation, put a little snow between the bricks. Dip the blocks in water if necessary to help them stick together. Put outdoor candles or electric lights inside the ice structure.
