Turn Wire Hangers Into Oversized, Light-Up Snowflake Decorations
Transform clumsy wire hangers into twinkling snowflakes in a few easy steps with materials you probably already have on hand.
![DIY Tinsel and Wire Snowflakes Two Silver Tinsel Snowflakes](http://hgtvhome.sndimg.com/content/dam/images/hgtv/fullset/2020/11/16/1/Original_Crafty-Lumberjacks_DIY-Wire-Hanger-Snowflakes_Snowflake_Pics_18.JPG.rend.hgtvcom.616.493.85.suffix/1605558512450.webp)
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If you like to clean and purge before decorating for the holidays, this is the perfect upcycle for you. Use what you have to make a festive impact: Turn those old wire hangers into larger-than-life, light-up snowflake holiday decorations you can keep up all winter long and use year after year.
Materials + Tools
- wire hangers
- wire cutters
- duct tape
- tinsel garland
- scissors
- battery-operated fairy lights
- silver floral wire
Design Snowflakes
Find inspiration for your snowflakes online. For best results and easy assembly, choose a simple image without a lot of detail or design your own snowflake pattern. Measure the space where you would like to hang the snowflakes to determine their size.
![Search for snowflake images online and decide on which design to create. Measure the space where you would like to hang to determine the size. TIP: Choose an image without a lot of detail or create your own snowflake pattern from scratch.](http://hgtvhome.sndimg.com/content/dam/images/hgtv/fullset/2020/11/16/1/Original_Crafty-Lumberjacks_DIY-Wire-Hanger-Snowflakes_Snowflake_Pics_2.jpg.rend.hgtvcom.616.462.85.suffix/1605558514804.webp)
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Cut + Straighten Hangers
Use wire cutters to cut four hangers, cutting away the top hooks of each hanger. Use the wire cutters or pliers to carefully bend and straighten the hangers. This method will give you the most wire to work with. Don’t worry if the hangers aren't perfectly straight; the tinsel is very forgiving and will hide any imperfections.
![Use wire cutters to cut the hangers towards the top hook. This will give you the most wire to work with. Straighten each hanger using a pair of pliers. TIP: Don’t worry if the hangers aren't perfectly straight, the tinsel is very forgiving and will hide any imperfections.](http://hgtvhome.sndimg.com/content/dam/images/hgtv/fullset/2020/11/16/1/Original_Crafty-Lumberjacks_DIY-Wire-Hanger-Snowflakes_Snowflake_Pics_3.jpg.rend.hgtvcom.616.462.85.suffix/1605558514222.webp)
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Cut + Assemble Spokes
Using your design and measurements as a guide, determine the length of your snowflake's spokes and use wire cutters to cut the hangers down to size. Tip: You should be left with some extra hanger wire. Keep this for the snowflake details.
Lay out two pieces of hanger wire to create a plus sign with the center points meeting in the middle (Image 1). Tape them in place using small pieces of duct tape. Lay the remaining hangers in an "X" shape on top to create your spokes. Secure all the pieces with tape (Image 2).
![Use wire cutters to cut the hangers towards the top hook. This will give you the most wire to work with. Straighten each hanger using a pair of pliers. TIP: Don’t worry if the hangers aren't perfectly straight, the tinsel is very forgiving and will hide any imperfections.](http://hgtvhome.sndimg.com/content/dam/images/hgtv/fullset/2020/11/16/1/Original_Crafty-Lumberjacks_DIY-Wire-Hanger-Snowflakes_Snowflake_Pics_4.jpg.rend.hgtvcom.616.462.85.suffix/1605558517489.webp)
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![Lay out two hangers to create a plus sign with the center points meeting in the middle. Tape them in place using small pieces of duct tape. Lay the remaining two other hangers in an X shape on top to create your spokes and tape all pieces together to secure. Tip: Use a soldering iron instead of duct tape to make these weather resistant.](http://hgtvhome.sndimg.com/content/dam/images/hgtv/fullset/2020/11/16/1/Original_Crafty-Lumberjacks_DIY-Wire-Hanger-Snowflakes_Snowflake_Pics_5.jpg.rend.hgtvcom.616.462.85.suffix/1605558513003.webp)
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Create Snowflake Details
Cut the leftover hanger wire, straightening it out if necessary, into eight large pieces and eight small pieces. We'll use this to detail the snowflake spokes, so reference your design. Get as creative as you wish with the details, but keeping them simple works best. Bend each piece in the middle to create a “V” shape before taping it into place along the spokes (Image 1). Tape the larger V's towards the end of each spoke and tape the smaller V’s towards the center point (Image 2 + 3).
![Use the leftover parts of the hangers and cut them into eight larger pieces and eight smaller pieces. Bend each piece in the middle to create a “V” like shape. Tape the larger V’s towards the end of each spoke and tape the smaller V’s towards the center point. TIP: Get as creative as you want with the details, but keeping them simple works best.](http://hgtvhome.sndimg.com/content/dam/images/hgtv/fullset/2020/11/16/1/Original_Crafty-Lumberjacks_DIY-Wire-Hanger-Snowflakes_Snowflake_Pics_6.JPG.rend.hgtvcom.616.462.85.suffix/1605558513313.webp)
Crafty Lumberjacks
![Use the leftover parts of the hangers and cut them into eight larger pieces and eight smaller pieces . Bend each piece in the middle to create a “V” like shape. Tape the larger V’s towards the end of each spoke and tape the smaller V’s towards the center point. TIP: Get as creative as you want with the details, but keeping them simple works best.](http://hgtvhome.sndimg.com/content/dam/images/hgtv/fullset/2020/11/16/1/Original_Crafty-Lumberjacks_DIY-Wire-Hanger-Snowflakes_Snowflake_Pics_7.JPG.rend.hgtvcom.616.462.85.suffix/1605558512569.webp)
Crafty Lumberjacks
![Use the leftover parts of the hangers and cut them into eight larger pieces and eight smaller pieces . Bend each piece in the middle to create a “V” like shape. Tape the larger V’s towards the end of each spoke and tape the smaller V’s towards the center point. TIP: Get as creative as you want with the details, but keeping them simple works best.](http://hgtvhome.sndimg.com/content/dam/images/hgtv/fullset/2020/11/16/1/Original_Crafty-Lumberjacks_DIY-Wire-Hanger-Snowflakes_Snowflake_Pics_8.jpg.rend.hgtvcom.616.462.85.suffix/1605558514454.webp)
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Wrap With Tinsel
Starting at one end of a spoke, tightly wrap tinsel around to cover the entire snowflake (Image 1). You can cut the tinsel down to smaller pieces to make it easier to wrap. Tip: If the tinsel does not have wire, use a hot glue gun to glue down the edges.
Loosely wrap a piece of tinsel around the center point where the spokes meet, weaving the tinsel over and under each spoke (Image 2). This will bulk up the center and help hide the lights' battery pack.
![Tightly wrap the entire snowflake with silver tinsel starting at one end of a spoke and continuing until completely covered. Cut the tinsel down to smaller pieces to make it easier to wrap. TIP: If the tinsel does not have wire, use a hot glue gun to glue down the edges](http://hgtvhome.sndimg.com/content/dam/images/hgtv/fullset/2020/11/16/1/Original_Crafty-Lumberjacks_DIY-Wire-Hanger-Snowflakes_Snowflake_Pics_9.JPG.rend.hgtvcom.616.462.85.suffix/1605558515031.webp)
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![Tightly wrap the entire snowflake with silver tinsel starting at one end of a spoke and continuing until completely covered. Cut the tinsel down to smaller pieces to make it easier to wrap. TIP: If the tinsel does not have wire, use a hot glue gun to glue down the edges](http://hgtvhome.sndimg.com/content/dam/images/hgtv/fullset/2020/11/16/1/Original_Crafty-Lumberjacks_DIY-Wire-Hanger-Snowflakes_Snowflake_Pics_10.JPG.rend.hgtvcom.616.462.85.suffix/1605558511392.webp)
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Wrap With Lights
Place the battery pack in the center of the snowflake. Wrap the lights, working from the tips to the center (Image 1 + 2). Pay close attention when wrapping the lights to make sure you have enough to evenly wrap each spoke. Depending on the size of your stars and the length of your snowflake, you may need to either double-wrap the spokes with lights or only take the lights halfway up the snowflake's spokes.
![Place the battery pack in the center of the snowflake and begin to wrap the lights around each spoke. Wrap from the center to the end of each spoke, then back down to the center to then continue on to the next spoke. TIP: Pay close attention to the amount of lights you have as you wrap making sure you have enough to evenly wrap each spoke.](http://hgtvhome.sndimg.com/content/dam/images/hgtv/fullset/2020/11/16/1/Original_Crafty-Lumberjacks_DIY-Wire-Hanger-Snowflakes_Snowflake_Pics_12.JPG.rend.hgtvcom.616.462.85.suffix/1605558510781.webp)
Crafty Lumberjacks
![Place the battery pack in the center of the snowflake and begin to wrap the lights around each spoke. Wrap from the center to the end of each spoke, then back down to the center to then continue on to the next spoke. TIP: Pay close attention to the amount of lights you have as you wrap making sure you have enough to evenly wrap each spoke.](http://hgtvhome.sndimg.com/content/dam/images/hgtv/fullset/2020/11/16/1/Original_Crafty-Lumberjacks_DIY-Wire-Hanger-Snowflakes_Snowflake_Pics_13.JPG.rend.hgtvcom.616.462.85.suffix/1605558511396.webp)
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Secure + Hide Battery Pack
Place the battery pack on the center of the snowflake. Cut two long pieces of silver floral wire and wrap each piece tightly around the front of the snowflake and over the battery pack, creating an "X" shape to secure (Image 1). Use more floral wire if needed. Use more floral wire to hang in the desired location (Image 2).
![Cut two long pieces of silver floral wire, create an X and place the snowflake on top with the backside up. Place the battery pack in the center of the snowflake and wrap the floral wire around it tightly to secure in place. Use the extra wire to help hang!](http://hgtvhome.sndimg.com/content/dam/images/hgtv/fullset/2020/11/16/1/Original_Crafty-Lumberjacks_DIY-Wire-Hanger-Snowflakes_Snowflake_Pics_14.JPG.rend.hgtvcom.616.462.85.suffix/1605558512038.webp)
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![Tinsel time! Get step-by-step instructions on how to create these tinsel snowflakes from the Crafty Lumberjacks.](http://hgtvhome.sndimg.com/content/dam/images/hgtv/fullset/2020/11/16/1/Original_Crafty-Lumberjacks_DIY-Wire-Hanger-Snowflakes_Snowflake_Pics_16.jpg.rend.hgtvcom.616.822.85.suffix/1605558513977.webp)
Crafty Lumberjacks
Holiday Decorating Crafts
How to Make Paper Snowflakes
A great winter or Christmas craft to make with kids, you can let it snow inside by creating your very own wintry flurry of paper snowflakes.
Make an Embroidery Hoop Holiday Wreath
Make an elegant, oversized (but lightweight!) holiday wreath with an embroidery hoop and faux boxwood greenery.
Make Festive Tomato Cage Yard Gnomes
Add whimsy and cheer to your holiday decor by creating no-sew, larger-than-life gnomes out of tomato cages.