Nature Meets Romance: A DIY Ice Luminary for Valentine's Day Celebration

Valentine's Day is just a few days away and we have a beautiful and unique craft idea for you!

This DIY ice luminary is not only easy to make, but it's also a great way to incorporate some elements of Nature into your home decor. So, bundle up with your love and head out for a winter hike for some inspiration, and to collect some greenery, pinecones, and other natural "decorations" that can be used to make your very own ice luminary.

We decided to buy flowers from our local grocery store to include in ours as well, to add a romantic, Valentine's Day flair to the end result.

Step-by-Step Guide to Making Your Own DIY Ice Luminary:

1. Gather your supplies: To make your ice luminary, you will need a plastic bowl or container of your choosing, a smaller glass jar that will fit inside your container (this will create the hollow where the candle sits), some rocks or marbles, elements from nature such as greenery, twigs, pinecones, winter berries or anything else you may want to include. You can also get creative with confetti, sparkles and even food colouring if you wish!
   
   
2. Put some greenery on the bottom of the container and then place your jar on top. This first step is important because it will keep your jar from sitting directly on the bottom of the container, which allows the water, and eventually ice, to form underneath.
   
3. Place some marbles or rocks in the jar. This will help to weigh it down and keep it in place once we add water to the container.
   
   
4. Add your greenery, pinecones, flowers, berries and other elements around the outside of the jar. Be creative and have fun with this step!
   
5. Fill your plastic container with water, keeping the inside of the jar dry. You won't want to fill it right to the top...leave an inch or two for expansion as the water freezes. The water will re-arrange your greenery a little, but no worries! Trust the process! If you want, you can use a stick or skewer to help put things back in place a little bit.
   
6. Freeze: Place your bowl or container outside (if it's cold enough) or in the freezer to allow it to freeze completely. This can take several hours or overnight.
   
7. Once the ice has frozen, bring your luminary inside and gently turn it upside down to remove the bowl or container. You may need to run warm water around the outside, and inside the jar as well to loosen them enough to get free.
   
   
8. Light it up! Place a candle or tea light inside your ice luminary, and watch as the light shines through your beautiful design.

Your DIY ice luminary is now ready to be enjoyed! Place it on your deck, garden or along your walkway and let the beauty of nature illuminate your outdoor space. You can also place it on a plate or candle base and use it as a centrepiece for your Valentine's Day dinner table. Of course it won't last as long inside, but it will be oh-so pretty!

Have fun....and Happy Valentine's Day, lovers!