Calling all people who have been stuck inside for months on end and need a fresh new activity that requires zero skill! Did I get anyone’s attention? Here is an easy, kid friendly, and creative idea to try. The best part? Even those of us who do not possess a single crafty gene can knock it out of the park. I introduce to you… flower icicles.
So here’s how this goes – have you ever received flowers, put them in a vase, set them on your kitchen counter and forgotten about them for the next 3 weeks? Me too. You can stop feeling guilty about those long-forgotten parched flowers and put them to good use.
Here are the necessary materials for this project. Flowers – ranging anywhere from fresh to mostly dead (however the more color left in the flowers the better!). You’ll also need a bundt pan – find that pan from the back of your cupboard that’s likely only gotten 1-2 uses since it was gifted to you at your wedding. Lastly, you’ll need some water. Easy! I told you this was a craft for all skill levels.
So how do you assemble flower icicles? Follow this extremely detailed step-by-step: Trim flowers, arrange flowers in the bundt pan, fill pan with water, freeze for 24 hours, remove, attach string, hang flower icicle in your yard. Done!
Okay okay – so some of you may want a tad more detail. With that in mind, I’ve put together a few tips, tricks, and ideas to try out. Let’s go!
Tips and Tricks:
- Fill your pan with different water levels – if you have fewer flowers, maybe try a more shallow water level. Loads of flowers? Fill that pan to the top!
- Use a freezer to freeze your flower icicle. I tested the process in both my freezer as well as setting the pan outside to freeze. From my thorough testing, it appears that allowing the water to freeze outside causes the flowers to lose some of their color, so I recommend using your freezer.
- Once you remove the pan from the freezer, allow it to sit on the counter for a few minutes to slightly warm up so you can easily get it out of the pan. It takes a little elbow grease to get them out – but believe in yourself – it will happen!
Ideas to try:
- Try out different pan shapes and sizes. I found a couple of unique pan shapes at my local thrift store for a couple of dollars. You can also mix in sliced fruit or even use food coloring to color the water. The options are endless.
- Hang your flower icicle near a window – it will be a colorful surprise amongst the white snow each time you glance out your window.
- Surprise a friend with a flower icicle in her yard. Maybe make a flower icicle for a friend with a new baby or for someone who is under the weather – a pretty object to look at in their yard to remind them that friends and family are thinking of them.
- If you give someone flowers, tell them about this idea (or send this post!) so they can extend the life of their flower enjoyment.
Winters in a chilly climate are beautiful, but sometimes our yards could use a slight pop of color this time of year, so try out a flower icicle. This is a great activity to enjoy with your kids – there is basically no way to mess it up and lots of ways to create a fun and colorful decoration for your yard. Enjoy!
Lauren lives in Richfield with her husband and their three boys. Their home is full of loud noises, littered with legos and laundry, and it transforms into a wrestling ring in the evenings. When Lauren is not at home with her kids (which feels like a distant memory thanks to 2020), she likes to try new restaurants, have uninterrupted conversations with friends, and go for walks/runs around the city lakes. You can follow her on Instagram @the_middle_girl.
