Ice Centerpieces - Add Elegence to Any Occasion

Add some elegence to a table by doing a simple ice centerpiece craft. this will not only wow your guest, but it can save you money by doing it yourself.

Fire and Ice Centerpiece craft
1 empty half-gallon cardboard milk
carton, top removed
Pillar candle, 2 inches in diameter
6 or more rosebuds
Sprigs of fresh holly
Work gloves (optional)
Scissors
Shallow bowl or tray
Additional roses and holly, plus baby's
breath (for finished display)

Center pillar candle in clean milk carton. Cut the carton to a smaller height if necessary so top of candle (in particular, the wick) is well above the edge of the carton.

Add greens and flowers, then freeze. Stuff fresh holly and rosebuds around the candle. (You may want to wear work gloves when handling holly.) Fill the carton with water. Freeze the carton until the ice is solid.

Release the centerpiece from the mold. Dip the carton in warm water briefly, then peel the paper away. Place the arrangement back in the freezer until just before serving time.

To display, place the centerpiece in a shallow bowl or tray to catch the water as the ice melts. Cluster fresh holly, more roses and baby's breath around the candle's base.

Floral Ice Bowl craft
2 freezer-proof glass or aluminum bowls
of the same shape, one about 2 inches
smaller than the other
Water
Assorted edible flowers
Scotch tape

Pour 1 inch of water into the larger bowl. Place the bowl in the freezer, making sure it is standing perfectly flat. When the water has frozen remove the bowl from the freezer. Place the smaller bowl inside the larger one resting on the ice. Tape the bowls together using Scotch tape to make sure they don't shift. Pour water into the gap between the two bowls. Have it come halfway up the side.

Stick the edible flowers into the water all the way around the perimeter of the bowl. Use a pencil or skewer to push the flowers down if necessary. Place the bowls in the freezer again, until the water has frozen. Remove the bowls and add another layer of water so it reaches the top. Freeze again.

When the ice bowl is frozen solid, remove the bowls from the freezer. Remove the tape. Try to separate the bowls. If necessary, run under tepid water just until the bowls release. Place the ice bowl back into the freezer until needed.

Serve the bowl on a chilled glass plate or tray to catch drips.

You can try this concept with foil confetti, herbs or slices of citrus fruit.