How to Make a Star Out of Lights

A star made from plywood and a string of lights is fairly simple to make at home and is a stunning decoration when lit up at night. Inexpensive strings of lights are widely available, especially during the holiday season. This decorative star can be made any size, and designed to hang or stand inside or outside the home.

Things You'll Need

• Sheet of thin plywood (plus a scrap)
• Wood saw
• Drill and bits
• String of lights (indoor or outdoor)
• Sandpaper
• Paint/varnish (optional)
• Pencil
• Ruler

Instructions

1. Use a pencil and ruler to draw the outline of your star on a sheet of plywood, then cut out the shape with the saw. Smooth the edges with sandpaper.

2. Take a scrap piece of plywood and drill a hole in it. Try to insert one of the lights from the string through the hole. It should fit easily but snugly. Experiment until you establish the appropriate-size drill bit to use.

3. Count the number of lights on the string. You need to drill this many holes. Make pencil marks on the wooden star to indicate where you will drill holes for the lights. Try to have an even number of marks on each of the points and in the central area of the star.

4. Drill the holes. Smooth the surface of the star with sandpaper if necessary. Paint or varnish the star for a more finished look; metallic paints are especially festive.

5. Insert one light into each hole until all the lights are used and there are no holes left. You can prop the star on a mantle against the wall or add a hanging hook.

Tips & Warnings

• Drilling holes in a patterned arrangement enables you to change the look of the star. You could arrange the holes in stripes, in clusters or as a border around the perimeter of the star.

• Wear safety goggles, and clamp the wood securely in place when you are working with the saw and drill. Only use the star outside if you used indoor/outdoor light strings. Tiny lights are very fragile, so take care when handling them.