At my place...

[Opsa]

I like the simple approach to the ice lanterns.

For those who *must* have a specific product to do this, I do know that molds (of Scandinavian design) are available to make star-shaped lanterns:
http://www.leevalley.com/us/gifts/page.aspx?cat=4,104,53208&p=52307

Wow, is that ever beautiful!

I wonder if one could use rubber gelatin moulds?

[pieces o nine]

Now the brain wheels are turning...

Using a mold-in-mold setup, freeze tinted water (e.g.: koolaid!).   

-or-

Freeze a shell of tinted water inside smaller mold, unmold and position inside larger mold, freezing clear water around it for a softer effect.

-OR!-

Freeze a shell of koolaid inside a BRAIN rubber gelatin mold for frosty halloweens!!1!!one!   

[Bob in a quantum-state-of-faith]

You could use readily available water-based paint powder-- back in the 90's when I was still volunteering right-and-left with kids programs, we used that stuff by the truck-load-- it comes in a variety of colors, but I know how to mix & blend the basic primary ones into whatever you want (except black--all three always ended up brown ... the pigments were not full-spectrum obviously).

But that water-based paint was nontoxic, water soluble and easily diluted.   Of course, liquid food coloring is just as easily available.   But the dry packets of Kool-Aid are cheap enough, and dissolve easily-even in cold water.   So... never mind.   

[Darlica]

Food rubber or silicon molds works excellent (there are mini molds for ice cubes in those materials) long they have some support to keep the shape.

Now the brain wheels are turning...

Using a mold-in-mold setup, freeze tinted water (e.g.: koolaid!).   

-or-

Freeze a shell of tinted water inside smaller mold, unmold and position inside larger mold, freezing clear water around it for a softer effect.

-OR!-

Freeze a shell of koolaid inside a BRAIN rubber gelatin mold for frosty halloweens!!1!!one!   

It seems I woke Pieces o nine evil genius side.  
You know I'd like to see some pictures from those experience...  

Be aware though sugar changes the freezing properties of the water (as do salts and acids).

[Swatopluk]

Actually anything dissolved does. But the effect of salt (ionic) in a polar liquid (water) is a good deal greater.

[Aggie]

Kool-aid packets typically are just dye and flavouring; the sugar is added separately.

Mom used to make homemade play-dough for us, and occasionally spike it with a Kool-aid pack to scent and colour it.

[Bruder Cuzzen]

Too COOL !

I want ice lanterns . Since it be sub zero centagrade these days I think a Frank Gery (sp?) type of thingie will go over well with me neighbors.

Or not ... there is a couple of architects two doors down ... at least they might like it 

Sibling blue , oi be jelly us m8 . Argh

[Sibling DavidH]

It would be a rare year when we had even a week of unbroken temperatures, so sadly these are not for us.  Lovely things, though.

[Bluenose]

G'day Brudder, great to see you round these parts.

Well I have to admit, that I am myself rather jealous of those ice lanterns, OTOH, I'm not at all jealous of the temperature required to have them - I reckon it's getting a bit chilly when the temperature gets down much below +5°C!   

BTW, the roos seem to have decided that behind our place is a good place to graze in the late afternoon - they seem to come around about the same time most days.  I do indeed count myself fortunate.

[Swatopluk]

We have -8°C at the moment but I do not have a good display option should I try to produce an ice lantern.

[Griffin NoName]

We were -6^o last night in London. Rarely that cold here. I now have a weather widget on my phone so I can see if it is snowing without leaving my bed.

[Sibling Zono (anon1mat0)]

Even in the worst winter an ice lantern would become a puddle in minutes here in South FL. 

Literally, cool things... 

[Opsa]

Aye, Blue. You ever see wild koalas?

[Bluenose]

Hi Opsa, no koalas around here, we have the wrong sort of Eucalyptus trees, but I've seen them plenty of times in the bush.  Also, there was one in one of the trees at my parents' house a few years ago.  Oh, and when we went to Kangaroo Island last year we had one in a tree right next to our camp site one night.  He put on quite a display for our benefit just on dusk.  It was simply fab!

Here's a picture of the cute little guy (it's not exactly at my place, except that I suppose you could say it was at my place when I was in camp - does that count?):

[Aggie]

Y'all have got me inspired to try this ice lantern thing (the temperature has been below zero here; there are lots of icicles hanging from the gutters).

I've just filled up a regular size balloon with water, placing it in a bowl for support. I was tempted to chuck it in the freezer, but the warmer temperatures outside (-5 C) should give me plenty of time to stop the freeze when there's still liquid water at the core. It should make a neat ice globe when it's done.

One could probably cobble together a globe out of two halves made in bowls, to achieve the same effect without the disposable balloon.

On a related note, I didn't get around to it at Halloween, but really wanted to try making a mummy lantern by wrapping a balloon with plaster tape (sold under the brand name Gypsona here; it's the stuff they used to use for making plaster casts for broken bones). It'd be a neat, reusable and cheap-to-make substitute for the typical pumpkin Jack-o-Lantern. The rolls of tape sell for a couple of bucks and would probably make a couple of lanterns each. I like the idea of the mummy masks because they wouldn't need any additional decoration, but one could make all sorts of different lanterns using the same process, and paint them however you like.  I use the stuff for mask-making as it's quick, easy and fun, plus the masks fit your face perfectly and are comfortable to wear. You can build up features with the plaster tape, paint the material directly or papier-mâché over it to smooth out the texture and build up features without adding much extra weight. Ops, this might be a good option for making masks for plays:
[youtube=425,350]IjdWH1G1GSA[/youtube]