When the temperature drops below freezing this winter, add a little shimmer to the backyard by building your own ice sculptures. Blocks are made by filling household containers with water and setting them outdoors to freeze. (You can even stir in some food coloring for a special effect.) Then, all you need is a spray bottle filled with water to cement the blocks together. Here are some tips for creating and working with ice blocks of different shapes.

CORNERSTONES: Use kitchen buckets, small wastebaskets or plastic ice-cream containers.

RECTANGLES: (For building walls): Cut the tops off milk jugs or cartons or use aluminum loaf pans.

WINDOWS: Experiment with gelatin molds or Bundt-cake pans.

TOWERS: Remove the tops from plastic soda bottles.

SPIRES: Plug the end of a funnel with clay.

CRENELLATIONS: Fill ice-cube trays, egg cartons or muffin tins.

REMOVING THE MOLDS: When you're ready to unmold the frozen blocks, briefly dip the containers into a pail of warm water. The ice should then slip out easily. Be sure to wear gloves to protect your skin.

RAISING THE WALLS: To assemble the blocks, just spray water on the surfaces to be joined and hold the blocks in place for several seconds until they freeze together.