DIY Network

Clothes Hanger Christmas Tree Deck the walls with these fun trees. From "B. Original" episode DBOR-513

Hang some holiday style.

Who says Christmas trees need to take up half a room? Not Michele Beschen. The B. Original host loves holiday trees so much she’s found ways to add the to her décor without giving up her floor space.

One of her favorites is this simple tree made from wooden clothes hangers and topped with a wire, folk-art star. It goes together in a snap, looks great on the wall and even stores easily for years of festive decoration. Scroll down to get started.

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Clothes Hanger Christmas Trees

Materials:

	Figure A
	Figure B
	Figure C
	Figure D
	Figure E

5 wooden clothes hangers
1 wire clothes hanger
3/4" pine – 1" wide by 36" long
wire cutter or bolt cutter
screwdriver or saw (depending on hanger style)
wood glue
air nailer with 1" nails, or hammer and small nails
scrap of wood, about 10" by 10"
5 drywall or decking screws
thin decorative wire

• Remove the rung (the horizontal part at the bottom) from two of the wooden clothes hangers. If the rung is held on with a nail, pry it loose with a flat-head screwdriver. Or, use a saw to cut off the rung if it’s glued in place.

• Use a wire cutter or bolt cutter to remove the metal hanger hook from all five wooden hangers (figure A).

• Position the hangers on the thin pine board. Place a hanger with a rung at the top, then alternate hangers with and without rungs down the length of the board.

• Make sure the hangers are centered and secure them to the board with wood glue and either nails or screws (figure B). Be sure to use two nails or screws in each hanger to keep them from wobbling.

• To create a jig to make a wire, folk art star, draw a star on a piece of scrap wood and install a drywall screw partway into the board at each point of the star. Leave about half of each screw exposed.

• To make the star, use wire cutters to open one end of the wire hanger. Hook one of the bends in the hanger over one screw, then bend the wire around the screws, following the drawing on the board (figure C). Over-bend the wire a little at each screw to make a well-defined point.

• Remove the star from the jig and trim off any excess wire. Wrap each intersection o the start with decorative wire (figure D).

• Lay the wooden tree structure so the hangers face downward and use a staple gun to attach the star to the top of the tree. Create a hanger on the back of the tree (where the hangers are) with a small piece of wire.

• Paint and decorate the tree as desired. Hang the tree and deck it out with lights, garland and ornaments (figure E).

Congratulations – you’ve added a Christmas tree without giving up any floor space!