How to Make Ice Candles

Winter is a magical time of year, with its glistening snow and frost-covered landscapes. It’s the perfect time to cozy up by the fire and enjoy the warmth of candles. If you’re looking for a unique candle-making project to try this winter, why not make ice candles?

Ice candles are made by pouring hot wax over ice, creating a beautiful and delicate lacy effect. The ice melts as the wax hardens, leaving behind a unique and stunning candle. Here’s how to make your own ice candles. See How to Make Candles at Taste of Home for full instructions.

Materials:

Candle wax (paraffin, soy, or beeswax)
Candle wicks
Ice (in various sizes and shapes)
Double boiler
Thermometer
Fragrance oil (optional)
Candle dye (optional)
Instructions:

Melt the wax
Begin by melting your candle wax in a double boiler. Use a thermometer to monitor the temperature of the wax, and keep it between 170-180 degrees Fahrenheit. You can use paraffin wax, soy wax, or beeswax, depending on your preference.

Prepare the ice
While the wax is melting, prepare your ice. You can use ice cubes, crushed ice, or larger ice blocks, depending on the size and shape of the candle you want to make. Place the ice in a container or mold, leaving a space in the center for the wick.

Add fragrance and color (optional)
If you want to add fragrance or color to your candle, you can do so now. Add a few drops of fragrance oil to the melted wax and stir well. You can also add candle dye to achieve the desired color.

Insert the wick
Once the wax has reached the desired temperature and consistency, insert the wick into the center of the ice mold. Make sure the wick is straight and centered.

Pour the wax
Carefully pour the melted wax over the ice, making sure to cover it completely. The hot wax will melt the ice, creating a beautiful and unique lace effect. Make sure to pour slowly and evenly to avoid creating air bubbles.

Let the candle cool and harden
Once you have poured the wax, let the candle cool and harden completely. This may take several hours, depending on the size and shape of the candle. You can speed up the process by placing the candle in the refrigerator or freezer.

Remove the candle from the mold
Once the candle has hardened, you can remove it from the mold. Gently break away the ice, being careful not to damage the delicate lace effect. Trim the wick to the desired length.

Enjoy your new ice candle!

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Summer is the time for sweet treats, whether eating them or stitching them. This collection of patterns is full of designs that are good enough to eat. Almost.

This year of ice creams from Simone Balman Art is lots of fun, and you could also stitch up these treats individually if you’d rather. The full piece is 210 by 300 stitches, though it’s not full coverage. It uses 25 colors and comes out to 13.6 by 20.1 inches, or 34.5 by 51.2 cm, as shown on 14 count fabric.

These mini Popsicles from Mariana Gonclaves ART as super sweet and quick to stitch. These would also be a fun border to another summer project. The full design is 43 by 46 stitches, which is 3.1 by 3.3 inches, or 7.8 by 8.3 cm, on 14 count fabric.

Sam X Stitch has this fun sweet treat sampler, which again would be fun to stitch as individual pieces (maybe on napkins?). In all it calls for 18 colors and measures 153 by 153 stitches. That comes out to 10.93 inches or 27.75 cm on 14 count fabric.

Another great sampler is this one with ice cream and other sweet treats from Cute Patterns by Maria. At 119 by 132 stitches total, working the full pattern would be about 8.6 by 9.4 inches, or 22 by 24 cm on 14 count fabric, and it uses 33 colors. You can also stitch individual designs, which range in height from 35 to 45 stitches, and in width from 11 to 28.

This collection of four sundae patterns from Stichrovia would be fun to make for a kitchen or a teen’s room. Each pattern is around 40 by 50 stitches, so they should fit in a four or five inch hoop if worked on 14 count fabric.

Or stitch up one of the treats from Stitch Chart Studio‘s collection of seven ice cream cross stitch patterns. These range in size and in number of colors needed, but most would fit in a five or six in hoop (and one in a four inch hoop).

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