Glowing Ice Crystal Ball

The other day, I showed you how to make LED throwies and glowies. What I like about the LED toys is that you can seal them and use them just anywhere. They make great decorations, such as this glowing ice crystal ball. You can float one or more of these in a punch bowl as a safe way to add light to your party. Here's what you do:

Glowing Ice Ball Materials

This is a glowie that has been sealed and frozen inside a water balloon.

• LED (light emitting diode)
• small 3-volt battery
• wax, tape, or a small plastic baggie or another balloon
• small balloon (7-9" diameter balloon works well)

Make the Glowing Ice Crystal Ball

1. Make a glowie by inserting the battery between the prongs of the LED with the long LED connector on the flat (+) side of the battery.

2. Seal the glowie. I wrapped the connectors with tape and placed the LED glowie in a small plastic baggie, but you could dip the glowie in melted wax. If you choose to wrap the connection with tape, but not enclose the LED in a baggie, make sure the tape is non-toxic (if you're using this project for food/drink) and that you have a really good seal around the battery. If there isn't a good seal you'll short out your glowie and get nasty corrosion products in the water.

3. Place the sealed glowie inside a balloon. If you didn't wrap the ends of the LED well, you'll probably puncture the balloon, so be careful about that.

4. Fill the balloon with water until it is the desired size for your crystal ball.

5. Place the water balloon in the freezer and freeze it.

6. When you're ready to use the glowing ice sphere, cut away the balloon. I do not know exactly how long you've got before the battery charge is expended, but I left one in my freezer for a day and it was still glowing when I removed it. My recommendation would be to allow 6 hours for the crystal ball to freeze and then to use it sometime that day.