How to Make an Ice Vase with Milk Cartons

Have you been looking for ideas for a fun and interesting centerpiece for your next party or get together? Why not try an ice vase? These beautiful vases look elegant and are incredibly easy and inexpensive to make. Here's how:

Supplies:

1 Empty Half-Gallon Milk Carton

1 Empty Quart-sized Milk Carton

Water

A Freezer

Some pebbles or small, heavy items

Start by cutting the tops off of both milk cartons so you are left with open-topped rectangular boxes. Next, fill the half gallon milk carton with about 1 - 1.5" of water and put it in the freezer. Allow the water on the bottom of the carton to freeze completely and then take it back out to finish making your vase.

When the water has frozen, put the smaller milk carton inside the half gallon container so that the bottom is resting on the ice you just froze. Center it so the spacing between the two cartons is even on all sides. Put some stones or other small heavy objects into the smaller carton to help hold it in place.

Next, pour water in the space between the two cartons and fill it up to the top. The stones in the smaller carton should keep it from moving around or floating. Double check to make sure that the spaces on each side of the center carton are even and then put the whole thing in the freezer.

Allow it to freeze completely. Finally, take it out of the freezer and dump the rocks out of the center carton. Run a little hot water into the middle carton to help melt the ice right around it so it is easy to remove and then pull it out. Lastly, peel off the outer carton to reveal your beautiful ice vase.

To use the vase, set it on a tray or dish that will catch and collect the water as it melts. You can fill the vase with branches with berries or with anything else you choose. Or, just leave it plain and allow the ice to speak for itself.

During the winter you can make vases and set them outside to hold pretty displays on your porch. Or just use them as a centerpiece and allow them to melt. Experiment with other containers besides milk cartons as well to make vases in different shapes and sizes. Or, try adding food coloring before you freeze them to make colored vases. Have fun