Simple Christmas Light Frame

This Christmas light wall hanging is super simple to make. With company coming for the the upcoming holiday, I needed something more seasonal to hang on the wall. The room was a little dark, with just an overhead light, so I decided some type of hanging light was in order. While using clear lights would have provided more light, this version with colored lights is more festive.

Simple frame or wrapped art canvas (the frame should be about an inch or more deep to hold the lights.

Tissue, wrapping paper, or paint to decorate the frame

Cardboard or thick craft paper for frame backing (if not using the art canvas)

String of LED lights (the image shows a 250 light string)

Yarn or twine that coordinates or contrasts with the frame decorations

Scissors

Glue

Lay out the craft paper or cardboard. I used a paper bag. If the paper won't lay flat, you can iron it with a dry iron. Trace around the outside of the frame. Cut out the tracing, slightly on the inside of the guidelines. This will prevent the backing from overhanging the sides of the frame.

Note: The frame in the image is just 4 pieces of balsa wood stapled together with a construction/craft stapler (not a paper stapler). The pieces were each 12 inches long, 1 inch wide, and 3/8 inch thick. I stapled both the front and back of the frame to prevent the sides from twisting.

Cut 4 strips of tissue or wrapping paper for the sides of the frame. Each should be slightly longer than the side of frame that it will wrap. It should be wide enough to wrap the frame side. Make sure they are wide enough to go around the frame. They can always be trimmed afterward.

On the back of the frame, glue one side of the frame. Press the edge of one paper strip to the glue, then wrap around the side. You may need to cut or tear the paper a bit at the inside corners. Add a bit more glue to the back and press the paper down to keep it wrapped around the frame.

Repeat with the other sides of the frame.

Trim any excess paper from the back and corners.

If you prefer, you can paint the frame instead of using paper to wrap it.

Glue around the back of the frame, except for one of the bottom corners of the frame. Leaving one corner unglued will let you slip the plug and cord through the back.

Press the backing to the frame. If the paper or cardboard backing has a "right" and "wrong" side, make sure the "right" side is facing the front of the frame.

Slip the light cord's plug between the backing and the frame, from the inside of the frame to the outside. Make sure the light part of the string is in the frame and the plug is on the outside.

Add the light string into the frame. Make it a "messy" swirl. Try to get the lights into all the corners of the frame.

Use the yarn or twine to secure the lights in the frame. Wrap the outside of the frame around all sides. Make sure you go side to side and top to bottom. I like to add diagonal wraps as well, but that isn't necessary. Wrap at least 4 times in each direction, spaced across the frame. This ensures that the lights won't fall out of the sides or corners.

Hang up the frame, plug in, and enjoy. To hang, I just poked the nail that was already in the wall through the back of the frame, right under the center top of the frame. If you use cardboard for the frame backing, you make need to cut a hole with a craft knife. You can also add a hanging bracket to the top, back side of the frame if you don't want to poke a hole in the backing.