Day 10! Welcome back to Scandinavian Christmas! Today we get to hear from another Astrid from the blog Fab and Thrifty-Something. Her blog is super creative and tells of all her awesome thrifty finds. AstridYou can find Astrid on Pinterest here and her blog here. This is Astrid's very first year participating in the series and I am so glad she joined in the fun!
God dag,
I
am Astrid and I live in Ottawa, Canada.
I post about my thrifty, thrift store finds over at Fab and
Thrifty-Something.
My
father’s family is Norwegian and in 2010 I had the opportunity to
visit Norway and
Iceland. I like to include Scandinavian traditions in my family’s Christmas
celebrations. Ice lanterns are very
popular in Scandinavia to bring light to the darkness of
winter.
Last Christmas, I received
two Lee
Valley ice lantern molds from my mother-in-law as a gift (the
price is
cheaper if you buy 2 or more!). The star molds are made in Norway. I was
excited to try it out and cast a light on my dark porch.
First, I
filled my lantern mold halfway with water. Then I added some
frozen cranberries and pine branches for some festive
colour. I then left my mold outside to freeze overnight.
If you plan on adding
greenery, I recommend using a two step approach. First, freeze
the water only halfway to avoid
your greens floating to the top.
Once frozen, you can fill
the remainder of the mold with water and leave outside overnight to ensure it's
completely frozen.
To release the ice, run some
hot water over the mold and slide the ice
out very carefully.
Add a
tealight or candle
and viola!
The warm
glow will light
any porch or front entrance.
Want to make your holiday guests feel welcomed
during the Christmas season? Why not try making one of these
star-shaped Ice Lanterns from Lee Valley
Tools.
God Jul!
Astrid @ Fab and
Thrifty-Something
Another huge thanks to Astrid! Come back tomorrow for Day 11!
How great to know there are actually special molds for these!! Loving the star shape!
ReplyDeleteThank you Astrid for the tips for success! Now all that is needed here in the Pacific Northwest is a freezing night!!!
Using a two stage process is a good one, I did not know how to stop the greenery from floating to the top. We now have freezing temperatures so I will be able to try this.
ReplyDeleteI had no idea there were special molds for making these ice creations! I have used a Bundt pan and plastic round containers to make a wreath and candle holder. Your star shaped ice creations are fabulous and are the perfect outdoor decorations to greet guests.
ReplyDeleteThere will be no problem making these right now in our frozen winter wonderland here in Minnesota, I think I'll try making one today :)
It was nice meeting you Atrid ~ I have known your sister for some time now :)
These are awesome, I've already begun hunting around for things I could make into a makeshift mold. Thanks again for sharing Astrid!
ReplyDelete