If you live in a particularly cold climate this time of year, winter that is, why not decorate the outdoors too! Make outdoor ice ornaments for the animals to enjoy in your yard. These sweet winter solstice ornaments are so simple to make and look so festive on our tree outside the kitchen window. Celebrate the winter solstice with icy tree ornaments using natural materials for easy outdoor winter decorating.

MAKE ICE ORNAMENTS FOR WINTER SOLSTICE

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OUTDOOR DECORATING

Make super simple winter solstice ice ornaments to hang on any of your outdoor trees this season. They make a lovely festive touch that can be enjoyed by everyone. We were inspired by our Winter’s Ice Melt science activity to create these hanging ice ornaments for the tree near our bird feeder.

ALSO CHECK OUT: DIY Bird Feeder

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These winter icy tree ornaments are easy to make and sparkle in the sunlight on a cold, clear day!

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Make a dozen quick and easy winter ice ornaments in a muffin tin!

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LEARN HOW TO MAKE YOUR ICY TREE ORNAMENTS BELOW!

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ICE ORNAMENTS

SUPPLIES

  • Water
  • Muffin Tin
  • Natural Materials {evergreen branches, pine cones, holly, acorns, and whatever else you have available}
  • Ribbon

TIP: Take a nature walk and collect materials or check out what you have in your own yard. We actually have holly bushes which makes the front of our house look exceptionally festive in the winter. You may also be able to pick up a few trimmings at a local green house for free or a few dollars.

HOW TO MAKE ICE ORNAMENTS

STEP 1. Add bits of nature that you have collected to each compartment of your muffin tin. Alternatively you can use small plastic containers or even cut down milk cartons and other plastic jugs from the recycling bin.

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STEP 2. Once you have filled each compartment with your materials, slowly add water to fill the compartment as well. Don’t worry if some of your items stick up and out of the water! You can push things down as needed and rearrange, but we had quite a few with branches sticking out here and there.

YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE: Crystal Evergreen Science Experiment

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STEP 3. To make a hanger for your icy winter tree ornament, cut an appropriate length of ribbon. We used ribbon from our gift wrapping station. Stick the two cut ends into the ornament and make sure the looped end doesn’t fall into another compartment. I found this packaging ribbon worked well for this as it was light enough to stand up on it’s own.

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STEP 4. Place your muffin tin in the freezer and wait! The ornaments should be frozen solid before you try to remove them. You may need to run the bottom of the pan under cool water, but ours came out fairly easily. Giving the muffin tin a small twist {my husband helped out} was enough to free the rest.

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HOW TO DECORATE OUTDOORS

Get your ice ornaments outdoors before they start to melt and use them to decorate your trees! My son loved this activity and now wants to make more outdoor ornaments to fill the whole tree. Bonus, the muffin tin makes 12 at a time! If you want to make a bird friendly ornament, try this recipe!

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This is such fun and simple activity to do with the kids this winter season. Pair it with exploring the winter solstice and create a new family tradition this year.

YOU MAY ALSO LIKE: Winter Solstice Lanterns

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ICE ORNAMENTS FOR KIDS TO MAKE THIS SEASON!

Click on the photo below or on the link for more great winter ideas.

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8 Comments

  1. These are so beautiful! We celebrate Christmas in the middle of summer in NZ BUT my kiddos would still love these as a way to cool down at the moment!

  2. Terrific! We hope to burn a “yule” log outside if it isn’t too cold. You could definitely do that!

  3. These are pretty, but the plastic bows are a danger to the birds & other animals. A natural fiber not tied in a circle would be better.

  4. Pingback: Ways to Celebrate the Winter Solstice
  5. I would use a biodegradable string… I would not want to hang plastic in the trees for fear it would hurt and animal or end up in a stream.

  6. Pingback: 15 Winter Solstice Activities For Kids | Little Bins for Little Hands

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