After temperatures have dropped below freezing and will likely remain there for several weeks, consider using hanging ice creations to decorate your outdoor living area. They can be made using a number of easy methods. Adults as well as kids can have fun making frozen blooms, ice wreaths filled with cranberries and tiny pinecones and all sorts of colorful creations. They can be hung from tree limbs, Sheppard’s hooks, fence posts and any other area that will not become damaged by the melting forms. Consider these four ideas for easy frozen decorations that can only be used outdoors, and transform your yard into a gorgeous winter wonderland.
Use Distilled Water for Crystal-Clear Ice Creations
If you want your hanging ice creations to be crystal clear, do not use tap water. Use distilled water instead. Unless the container or the contents are covered in dust or other debris, the ice will look like glass. It is well-worth the price when making decorative ice.
Make Beautiful Frozen Snowflakes with Glitter and Silicone Pans
Silicone pans are available in many shapes and sizes, and they are ideal for crafting ice sculptures since they are easy to bend. The ice will pop out very easily. Buy a variety of snowflake shapes, and use them to freeze distilled water along with iridescent glitter. Also, be sure to add looped jute twine or ribbon to use for hanging the finished decorations. If they do not pop out with a twist or two, dip the bottoms of the molds in hot water. Hang dozens of snowflake creations on tree limbs. You will create an eye-catching display that will glisten and shine during daylight hours. If you want decorations that shine after dark, use glow-in-the-dark glitter to create a beautiful illuminated display.
Create Hanging Balls of Colored Ice
Imagine a bare tree filled with hanging balls of colored ice. Fill round balloons with colored distilled water. Before tying the knot in the filled balloon, thread a piece of jute twine through the opening. Place the filled balloons outside to freeze. If snow blankets the ground, make shallow depressions to hold the filled balloons. They will retain their round shape when properly supported. After they are solid, cut away the latex while avoiding the jute twine. While the world outside is white and gray, your ice creations will make a colorful difference. Passersby will wonder where you purchased your beautiful hanging decorations, but they will never find them in stores.
Fill Pie Pans with Holly Leaves and Berries before Freezing the Water
Disposable pie pans also make fantastic molds for hanging ice creations. Fill them with distilled water, holly leaves and bright red berries. Add jute twine to create a built-in hanger before the water turns to ice. If necessary, dunk the bottoms of the pie pans in hot water to easily remove the decorative ice. Hang them from low tree limbs or any other suitable location outdoors.
Make Frozen Jelly Ball Sun Catchers in Various Shapes
Jelly balls are amazing little gelatinous orbs that kids play with and others use for home decor. They make fantastic vase fillers, but they can be used in many other incredibly crafty ways. Fill a mold of your choice with distilled water and hydrated jelly balls in colors of your choice. Add a looped ribbon or jute twine for hanging. Place the mold in the freezer until the water turns to ice. Pop out the frozen decoration, and hang it on a deck post, a hook, a fence post or any other appropriate location outdoors. It will add color and character to your property along with the other unique ice creations.
Source: Advanced Crafting Experience