Fun Things to Craft With Ice

(Because If We’re Stuck Inside, We Might as Well Freeze Suff)

When a winter storm hits and the world slows down, it’s the perfect excuse to turn your freezer into a craft studio. Ice isn’t just for sidewalks and scraped windshields—it’s actually an amazing (and free!) crafting material. Whether you’re making fancy drinks, kid-friendly art, or just leaning into the chaos of a cold weekend, here are some fun, creative, and slightly ridiculous things to craft with ice.

Custom Ice Cubes That Are Way Too Pretty to Drop in a Drink

Regular ice cubes? Boring. Storm-weekend ice cubes? Elevated.

Try freezing:

Fresh fruit (berries, citrus slices, pomegranate seeds)
Herbs like rosemary, mint, or thyme
Edible flowers (if you have them—if not, pretend you’re fancy anyway)

Use silicone molds, muffin tins, or whatever random container you find in the back of the cabinet. The result? Ice cubes that make even water feel like a spa experience. I used these snack containers and made different shapes.

Storm bonus: Make a whole tray of “emergency fancy ice” so every drink during the storm feels intentional.

Ice Art That Only Exists for a Little While (Which Is Kind of the Point)

Ice art is messy, temporary, and surprisingly calming.

Ideas to try:

Freeze water with food coloring in shallow containers, then pop them out and stack them outdoors
Let kids “paint” ice blocks using liquid watercolors or diluted food coloring
Freeze small toys or objects inside ice and let them melt their way out

No pressure for perfection—this is art that literally melts away, which feels very on-brand for winter survival crafts. I re-create this Penn State Nittany Lion every chance I get.

Fun (and Funny) Winter Drinks That Lean Into the Cold

If it’s freezing outside, you might as well commit.

Create drinks using:

Flavored ice cubes so the drink changes as it melts
Coffee ice cubes for iced coffee that doesn’t get watered down
Juice or tea ice cubes for mocktails
Custom shaped ice cubes are my favorite (here they are, freezing up outside). This weekend little Nittany Lions will grace our drinks! This mold was a gift and I love it! — I found their site here.

Add a silly straw or an over-the-top garnish and suddenly the storm feels less annoying and more like a themed event.

Nature Ice Crafts (If You’re Brave Enough to Go Outside)

If conditions are safe, let nature do the work:

Freeze bowls of water with pinecones, leaves, or berries
Hang frozen ice ornaments from trees or railings
Make “ice lanterns” by freezing water in a container with a smaller cup inside

They’re beautiful, dramatic, and completely weather-dependent—kind of like winter itself.

Why Ice Crafts Are Perfect Storm-Weekend Projects

✔ Minimal supplies
✔ Easy cleanup (it melts!)
✔ Great for kids and bored adults
✔ Turns bad weather into a creative excuse

So if the storm keeps you home this weekend, grab some containers, raid your fridge, and start freezing things with purpose. Worst case? You end up with extra ice. Best case? You make something fun, funny, and totally unexpected.

Stay warm, stay creative, and may your power stay on ❄️💙

Annette's Creative Corner