Any Ideas?

This is just a discussion blip.
I read somewhere (maybe here on blip, I can't remember) about encasing a flower or a leaf in a block of ice.
Tried it today and had a few mishaps.
Firstly the leaf was too near the surface and I lost a bit of it.
Then the ice block wouldn't stand up, fell over and broke.
The ice was too opaque.
The lighting was all wrong. (should it be backlit or should I use a flash?)
Would coloured water be better?
It sounds like a very interesting idea and I am wide open to any suggestions that could improve it.
Absolutely no photoshop involved.