One of my latest self-discoveries was that hating winter doesn’t make it shorter, and it certainly doesn’t make me any happier. So, after making ice candles, candle rings, and ice gems/marbles, I went hunting for more crafty ideas on Pinterest and found this genius named Tracy Lynn Conway who had pinned ice sun catchers using a cake pan and/or muffin pans. I was inspired.
The best thing about this cold snap is that I can stand at my kitchen door and watch water freeze. Shut up–it’s verry interesting. Stop judging me!! Mr. Wonderful found it pretty chuckalicious too, until I sent him a picture.
Eat those words, Larry.
This is a fast, cheap, and easy way to fight cabin fever, depression, and/or Seasonal Affective Disorder. This is also Parent of the Year stuff. Youngest Spawn is learning all about frostbite and how ice forms.
Tracy made her sun catchers in the freezer, but I had a blast watching the ice form outside. (And at -20, it was waaaaay faster. See her pin/blog for more on using the freezer.) My favorite effect is when the food coloring freezes while dissipating in the water…it looks like psychedelic snowflakes.
TIP: If you want to use multiple colors, wait until the water is almost ice. Otherwise, you will end up with brown sun catchers.
I’d tried making my ice marbles into hanging ornaments, but the curly ribbon always broke when I tried to remove the balloon. (And they were kind of heavy, which is tough on winter-brittle branches.) That’s where the muffin pan came in. I used magnets to hold the curly ribbon where I wanted it.
I like the way the silver curly ribbon catches the light.
Like the other ice crafts, it’s all about catching the light. A Bundt pan has a ready-made hanging hole, as well as ridges.
I only filled it 1/3 of the way..less weight for the string.
Glazed.
We have these sets of 3 plastic heart containers at The Barn ($.50 per set), and I just knew they would be good for something. Adding lace (also on clearance), and some foofy colored ice cubes I made from silicone baking molds…
Ice Valentines to hang in a tree.
Looking forward to seeing this in the sunlight.
On the thicker sun catchers, my color didn’t go all the way through, so I finger-painted a quick heart on the back of this one.
This is why my fingers are red.
Again, thank you to Tracy Conway for the great tutorial! Here are some other fun things to do with water in the winter:
Make ice gems/ marbles with balloons. And spray yourself and kitchen blue.
Make ice candles with Cool-Whip bowls.
Ice candle ring from Bundt pan.
Comments? Questions? Tips? Please “like”, share or Pin it! Better yet, vote to make me Employee of the YEAR!! Loveyabye.
Posted by Sophie's Mom :) on January 23, 2013 at 1:09 am
I love your writing! And really love your fun ice art ideas! Up here is Nor’ Dakota we need ideas like this to keep us from going crazy too
Thanks so much for sharing!
Posted by pajarigirls on January 23, 2013 at 8:15 am
Awwww, thanks Sophie’s Mom! You are most welcome.
Stay warm out there. And plant some trees, come spring!!
Posted by rebecca2000 on January 23, 2013 at 2:23 am
Wow you’re a virtual Martha Stewart. My kids would love doing this, we don’t get cold enough though.
I miss snow.
Posted by pajarigirls on January 23, 2013 at 8:20 am
Bahahaha, thanks! Could you make them in the freezer? They won’t last as long in your neck of the woods, but you could spend time outside enjoying them, anyway. (These will probably last ’til May up here lol.)
Posted by Kelly C on January 23, 2013 at 1:00 pm
Martha Stewart… Heeheheee Luvyabye!
Posted by pajarigirls on January 23, 2013 at 3:13 pm
If Martha talked more like a trucker…
Posted by Monday Thursday Friday Kathy on January 23, 2013 at 5:46 pm
I made some of the bundt pan ice candles for my neighbors from NV when they came up a week ago for a visit. We put a tea light in them and put them on her deck railing. She loved them. They were so pretty to look at from in the warm house as they glowed out on the deck. A couple days later we had that snow with a light coating of rain and it plugged the hole – so she used it for a bird feeder. She really loved it!
So I was thinking on combining the hanging ice suncatcher and ice candle. How to make a whole for the candle and a hole to hang with. After searching the kitchen for ideas I came up with – styrofoam. Cut and shape it – larger circle with a smaller nipple coming down the size of a tea candle. Put it in the pan (weighed down). So it will still hang and be pretty in the day and be lighted at night and glow from trees. Whadda think?
Monday Thursday Friday Kathy
Posted by pajarigirls on January 23, 2013 at 10:09 pm
yes! do it! take pictures! lol
Posted by pajarigirls on January 23, 2013 at 10:11 pm
Are they done yet??
Posted by Through the Window « pajarigirls on January 29, 2013 at 2:52 pm
[...] I also see the nifty suncatchers I made from bundt pans, [...]
Posted by pajarigirls on February 13, 2013 at 3:54 pm
Reblogged this on Cook Dollar Barn and commented:
ANOTHER stellar example of why LAURA is Employee of the Year. Originally posted on Pajari Girls Jan. 22, 2013.