Making ice wreaths to adorn the outside of our home has become one of my favorite winter crafts, perhaps second only to my obsession with cutting paper snowflakes. A pretty winter ice wreath goes a long way to sprucing up an ugly fire escape, but will look equally wonderful hanging from a tree, porch or any spot you can find for it.
If the outside temperatures are not below freezing, fret not. A freezer will work just as well. Sure, an ice wreath might melt faster if it’s a little warm outside, but that’s all part of the adventure.
How to Make Ice Wreaths
What you need:
- Cake pan, preferably a pan with a hole in the middle, such as a bundt pan or angel food cake pan but not strictly necessary.
- Items from nature such as: pine needles, orange peel, rose hips, pinecones, berries, etc.
- Long ribbon or string for hanging
- Festive items (optional) like jingle bells, glittery items, beads, etc.
- Water (ha ha ha)
Instructions:
Fill cake pan with water and add nature items.
NOTE: As you see in the photos, we tried the sort-of-failed experiment of creating a space by placing a jar in the middle of a traditional cake pan. This was okaaaaay, but did not really work very well because removing the jar from the frozen wreath was a bit of a chore.
Just remember: I fail so you don’t have to. Ha ha ha.
If you don’t have a cake pan with a hole in the middle, simply add your ribbon to the pan with your other items, leaving a long strip out of the pan so you can hang up the wreath, once it is frozen.
Place pan outside if temperatures are cold enough, or in the freezer if they are not. We put ours out on the fire escape overnight.
After it freezes you may need to float the pan momentarily in a pan of hot water to release the ice. As you can see, in the morning we hung the ice wreath our garden gate which leads out into an idyllic snow covered woodland fire escape.
Even with simple fir needles stolen from the Christmas tree, an ice wreath is cheerful:
More frozen fun:
Raising a Happy Child says
This is the second ice post that I've seen today, and just in time for our temperature to return to comfortable 60s. I wonder how long will it take for the wreath to melt completely here 🙂 I hope you will all feel better soon!
Fun Mama - Deanna says
So sorry that you're sick! I think I must have shared my germs all over blogland. 😉
The ice wreath is a cool idea. We used to make wreaths for our punch bowls (my mama used to cater), but I never thought to hang them. Perhaps if it gets that cold again here. Who am I kidding? It will be soon enough.
For the record, I don't have a garden gate leading to a woodland either. Do we all pine for other than our experience? I miss the woodland where I was raised.
Julie says
I can't read (or say) bundt without thinking of My Big Fat Greek wedding. Thx for making me laugh.
and, thankful that we don't have freezing weather like you! High here today: 67*.
Hope you're feeling better, soon. If only Momma could have a “sick day.”
Swati says
Get well soon. And that ice wreath is the nicest thing in this cold weather!
Jessica says
Gorgeous! I love your idyllic fire escape…lovely! You crack me up! 🙂
maryanne says
So pretty!
Hope you feel better soon.
Eva says
wooow!! that is super awesome, I'm definitely going to give that a try 😀
cathy says
Another great idea! I'll just have to make a mental note to hang this where it won't clonk my dog on the head when it finally melts next spring!
Even in Australia says
So pretty! If only I had a fire escape… I guess there’s always the freezer…
Erica MomandKiddo says
Ha ha! Finally, someone envious of my “yard.” LOL
Heather Ondersma says
Gorgeous!! I love this idea. Why wasn’t I reading your blog in 2009? I totally could have done this with my children then when we lived in Chicago. But too warm where we are now…