Photo by Michael Graydon
Creating a welcoming holiday tree
Give your home more curb appeal this season by crafting a portable, glowing tree
##Tools and Materials##
* 1 tomato cage
* 20" of wire
* 1 roll of chicken wire (36" x 25' 1" hex netting)
* 1 string of 50 outdoor mini lights (about 16' long)
* 6-10 bundles of five cedar branches (cut one foot long)
* juniper berry branches
* snowberries
* dried hydrangea heads
* bricks or sand
* work gloves
* wire cutters
* pruners
* container (opening should be slightly larger than large end of tomato cage)
##What it cost##
Tomato cage - $2
Wire - $1
Mini lights - $7
Chicken wire - $18
Cedar branches - $64
**Total** - $92
##Instructions##
**Assembling the frame**
1. Place tomato cage upside-down on a flat surface. Bend the three top prongs into a peak, and secure tightly with wire.
2. Wrap the bottom half of the cage in two layers of chicken wire. (Offset the hexagons to create small openings to weave branches through).
3. Measure remaining top half of the cage and cut chicken wire to fit. As above, wrap two layers around the cage.
4. Mould the chicken wire into a cone shape at the top. Snip away excess folds to form a clean, tight peak.
**Decorating the tree**
1. Wrap lights around the assembled form (as you would string a Christmas tree), hooking them onto the netting. **Tip:** Plug in your lights, stand five feet away and squint. This will allow you to see only the sparkle of the lights to make sure they are evenly spaced.
2. Gather three or four cedar branches by their cut ends and, starting as close to the top as possible, weave the bunch through the netting (as though threading a needle). Repeat until first tier is complete. Adjust foliage to hide netting.
3. Insert the next layer of branches starting three inches under the bottom ends of the first layer of branches. When complete, you should end up with four or five tiers of branches.
4. Weigh down your container with bricks or sand and set your tree into it.
5. Decorate with juniper berries, snowberries and dried hydrangea heads by securing their stems in the netting.
6. Mist with water regularly to keep branches green.
Wire - $1
Mini lights - $7
Chicken wire - $18
Cedar branches - $64
**Total** - $92
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