#AtoZChallenge | Enchanted winter ice display

Easy with a big impact does not always describe the crafts that I attempt but this one was extremely easy although to make enough for that big wow factor it does take a little time. It also helps to do this one when the temps dip below freezing which was not a challenge in Maine during the winter.

I put this one together in February and it made for the perfect enchanted winter Valentine’s Day display.

Round One

While the craft itself is simple, I did a test run. Fortunately, our January was light on snow so I was able to collect some natural items from around my yard to use in my ice sculptures. There are so many amazing things to choose from outside and just about anything small will work.

I did a test run with a few items:

  • Pine Needles
  • Dried Buds & Flowers
  • Mini Pine Cones
  • Fabric & crocheted flowers

I grabbed my heart cake pan, scattered the items around the pan and added water. I also cut a piece of cord to freeze into the ornament to use for hanging. Because everything is floating in the water, you don’t have a lot of control over the placement of all the items although I did try to spread them around after I had added the water to distribute them somewhat evenly. I set it on the front porch overnight to freeze.

The next day, I checked on the pan. I don’t know if it’s because my porch is somewhat sheltered or that the pan was large, but it didn’t freeze all the way through. I left it another day but it still had pockets of water. I changed directions and put the pan in my freezer. That did the trick and it finally froze all the way through.

I ran the frozen heart under warm water to loosen it from the pan and it came out easily. I hung it on my front porch.

Round Two

I liked it but didn’t love it. So, for the second attempt, I made round ornaments using a muffin top pan. I used the same filler minus the crocheted flowers as I planned to hang these from some tree branches and wanted everything to be biodegradable when they melted. I added a few red peppercorns for color and dill seeds for dimension.

I left this second batch in the freezer overnight and the next morning they popped right out. I had frozen some brown rustic cord in them and used that to tie my ice ornaments to some tree branches. Instantly I had an easy, beautiful winter display. It was snowing as I hung them up outside adding even more magic to the final display.

I really loved how easy this craft was and how beautiful the ice ornaments looked hung on the tree. I will definitely do this again next winter although I would make a few changes:

  • I would add more color to the display. The ornaments needed a little more pop. I had added a few red peppercorns but it was still a little too brown overall. I think some flower petals would be perfect.
  • I would make even more of them to display together in groupings. Having a larger grouping would really up the wow factor.
  • I would display them closer to my house. I ended up putting these on a tree by my garage but I would like to have them closer to my entrance to enjoy them more. I think a winter display of tree branches hung with these ice ornaments would have a beautiful impact.

Fortunately, I’ll have many more attempts to perfect this one. Winter comes every year to Maine.

Have you ever made ice ornaments? What do you put in them?

I’m participating in a Blogging A-Z Challenge for April 2021. I will be posting new content every day this month except most Sundays. Each post is associated with a letter of the alphabet, starting with A and ending with Z. My theme for the challenge is Craft Projects for my Home. To read more of my A to Z posts from this year, click HERE.

WIM Signature

Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

44 thoughts on “#AtoZChallenge | Enchanted winter ice display”

  5. Eli Pacheco says:
    Reply

    Another crafty win here, my friend. Freezes don’t last too long in Carolina, so mine would be up for a couple of hours in the morning, tops. Looking forward to seeing the more colorful versions you’ll do next time, too.

    Liked by 1 person

  8. Crackerberries says:
    Reply

    Oh I love this idea…I’m definitely saving it and even though there is not much freezing temperatures where I live now, I have plenty of family in Maine that I will share this with. What a great idea. How about some sunflower seed or other little treats for the birds, or squirrels? Fabulous and extraordinary. Love it.
    Cheers,
    Crackerberries

    Liked by 1 person

  9. Lisa says:
    Reply

    Those are really cute. I like the small ones on the tree. It reminds me of my childhood. My mother would mix milk, sugar, vanilla extract, in a pie pan and put it out to freeze (we didn’t get a lot of freezing nights), and in the morning it was slushy and we’d have “ice cream” for breakfast!

    Liked by 1 person

  12. Unishta says:
    Reply

    How enchanting it must look ! I’m fascinated with the snow and during my brief winter stay once in the US I was struck by the natural beauty of snow ….

    Liked by 1 person

  16. Pamela J says:
    Reply

    I love these – so simple but so beautiful. I must remember to try these next winter and I’m thinking I might put some seeds in them so that when they melt the birds can eat them. Thanks for the inspiration.

    Liked by 1 person

Leave a comment