How to Make Ice Luminaries

This is what the ice orb luminaries look like when finished. Below are step-by-step instructions. Here is a link to video instructions: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xkE20xAuOmw&feature=youtu.be

Start with medium-sized balloons (9-inch size). Before filling with water, add 10-12 drops of food coloring.

Fill the balloon with water from your tap. Let out any air from the balloon.

Shake the balloon to disperse the food coloring.

Place the balloons into a cloth bag.

Set balloons out into the snow to freeze.

Make sure the balloons are frozen all the way. Notice how the food coloring will collect toward the bottom. This balloon is not ready yet.

These balloons need to sit out longer. Depending on the temperature and the size of your balloons, this step can greatly vary in how long it takes. If the temperature is between 0 and 10 degrees Fahrenheit (-18 to -12 Celsius), it may take up to 48 hours.

These balloons are needing to sit outside longer.

Here you will notice how the food coloring concentrates in the bottom center of the balloons.

Finally, these orbs are completely solid and ready to go.

Cut off and remove the balloons.

Use a blow torch to smooth out the ice and clear the orbs up.

This is what they'll look like after the blow torch.

Use a 1 1/2 inch wide drill bit. The hole it leaves should be wide enough to fit your flashlights.

Tip over the orb and slowly start drilling the hole.

Turn the orb over every once in a while so the ice shavings can empty out.

Drill until you have about a 2 inch hole in the orb.

Flip over all of the orbs and drill holes into the bottom of each one.

Flip them back over. Use a blow torch to smooth them out and melt any snow stuck to them.

When it is dark outside, turn on the flashlights and insert them into the holes in the bottom of the orbs.

This is what they will look like with the flashlight in them.

Place a flashlight in each of the orbs.

Set each orb in the snow next to your sidewalk.

Line your sidewalk like this.

Turn off your porch light.

Here's what they look like when illuminated. Below are extra pictures of the orbs.