~Luminaries~

~Paper Bag Luminaries~

Make paper bag luminaries to accent a walkway. Purchase coloured small or medium sized paper bags in a craft store. Use a cookie cutter or other template to cut a moderate sized holiday design in the front of the bag. Cover the cutout with coloured cellophane on the inside of the bag. Fill the bag part way with sand, insert a tealight or votive candle into the sand. ***Watch carefully at all times when you are burning these luminaries.**

~Ice Luminaries~

You will need a plastic bucket, such as a one gallon ice cream container, a plastic jar, such as a peanut butter container, a votive or pillar candle, greenery and berries (optional). Centre the plastic jar in the ice cream bucket. Place rock in the jar to weight it. Spread greenery and berries around in the ice cream bucket. Fill the bucket with water up to the rim of the jar. Place the bucket outdoors or in the freezer until the water is frozen. Remove the rocks from the jar. Pour warm water into the jar to release it from the ice, remove jar. Wrap the ice cream container with a warm, wet towel to release the ice from the bucket. Place candle into the well in the ice. Place on steps and along pathways out of doors. They look spectacular and if the weather remains cold will last quite a long time.

If you have a large planter, you can place an ice luminary in the centre of the planter and then tuck sprigs of evergreen and berries around the outside.

Fill a large galvanized bucket half to 3/4 full with sand. Inset taper candles into the sand. Leave enough space between each candle for lighting. Tie a bow around the outside of the bucket. Light the candles and enjoy. Very simple but very effective and very country!

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