miy-free-Valentine-project

Miycreations Project article and photographs
by Madeleine M Langlois

Valentine Project: Valentine on-ice for a hot ambiance
Heart-shape illuminations

This Valentine day, make your special someone an illuminating gift from the heart,
which in this case is from the freezer. Get creative with this charming and super
easy ice-heart luminary which is sure warm up the mood for a romantic evening.

Hands-on time: half an hour at the most
Total time: Plus 4 hours for the ice heart to freeze
Skill: Super quick and easy.
Project cost: Under $10.00, you probably have most of these items around your
home

Materials & tools:
Heart-shape tin or plastic mould,

Decorative small glass hearts or beads, assorted sequences, and red or pink
sparkles
(all these items are available at craft and dollar stores)

Fresh or fake rose petals or rose buds

Red food colouring (optional)

Water

6 tea candles or votive candles of your choice

Masking tape, 1.3 cm to hold candles into place while the mould is in the freezer

Large plate to display the ice-heart creation

Clear Gelatine crystals to sprinkle around ice-heart to absorbed the melting water
(such as Instant Decorative Snow by SnowWonder, SnowReal or Decorative
Crystals available at florists, gift and décor stores)

(Materials for this project are available at arts, crafts, florist and dollar stores.)

To create this enchanting centerpiece first fill a heart-shaped mould with .6 cm of
water and add a few decorative items such as small glass hearts, beads,
sequence, sparkles and a few rose petals. Add a few drops of red food colouring
to the water to add a hint of colour interest. Place in the freezer onto a flat surface
and let set for a couple of hours. Remove from the freezer and add more
decorative accents of your choice. Add more water to the mould about 1.3 cm from
the rim. Place six tea candles in the mould. They will tend to float to the water level
of the pan but they will remain in place. If you are using votive candles, they will
need to be taped into place by putting masking tape over the edge of the pan,
across the candles and onto the other side of the edge of the pan. Repeat for all
votive candles in a line.

Once the heart is decorated with your special touches, place it back into the
freezer or outdoors and let it set for a few more hours.

To remove the heart from the pan, simply let the mould sit on the counter for
about 5 to 10 minutes. Then over a sink flip it over into your hand, turn it over and
place it on a presentation dish, plate or cake stand. Embellish the presentation
with fresh petals, decorative accents, greenery or perhaps even chocolate hearts.

Unless you are using a dish with raised sides or edges, I recommend that you
sprinkle clear gelatin along the edges of the ice heart. It will absorb the water as it
melts and you will be able to enjoy its glorious glows.

Dim the lights, let the romantic evening begin by the glow of the ice-heart luminary.

Variations: If you don’t have a heart-shaped mould, just improvise and use any
tray or pan shape that you have, (square, rectangle, circle etc). Other shapes can
make impressive ice creations. Use ice cream buckets to make larger luminaries.
When entertaining, I often like to use a Tupperware bunt cake mould, filled with
assorted items to suit the theme from foliage to sliced lemons and place a large
pillar candle at the center.

Gentlemen if you want to make an impression or surprise you’re special someone,
add an exceptional gift in the ice-heart mould such as a ring, a necklace, or
perhaps a key to your place. This project is so easy to put together, it really only
takes minutes.

You can also add letters to your ice creation which are made of candy, or
Scrabble letters to spell out a special message of love. A poem or message that
has been plasticized (with Scotch photo laminating sheets) can also be placed in
the mould.

Stylish or charming ice luminaries can be made for centerpieces for any dinner
party or occasion. If you make several luminaries you can keep them outdoors to
spare some room in your freezer, as long as the temperature remains below the
freezing point.

Tip: You can make the ice-heart mould a few days before Valentines day. If you
are making the ice mould with fresh rose petals don’t leave it in the freezer longer
than a couple of days or the exposed petals will change colour and get darker.
Any type of flowers can be used to personalize a creation. In case things get really
heated up and you forget about the ice mould, do not place it on wood furniture to
avoid water drippings.

Miy Valentine music pick;
Add a little romantic music to
your special evening...Nothing
is more seductive then a little
Barry White to set the mood!

My favorite titles from "Barry
White" The best of...are;
Can't Get Enough of Your Love,
I've Got So Much to Give
Just the Way You Are

Miy Valentine....Heart-shaped illuminations
....Miy Special Feature....
C r e a t i o n s & I n s p i r a t i o n s
"f o r t h e p u r e j o y o f m a k i n g t h i n g s"

To set a romantic ambiance
Rose petals on ice...
Dim the lights, let the
romantic evening begin by
the glow of the ice-heart
luminary.

Miy Book of the month pick;
Ladies this is truly the must
read book of the year! Its a
fabulous and inspiring read, it's
simply sensational. It's one of
those books that you just can't
stop reading...you'll love it..I did!