Tool and Materials
Bamboo
Hand pruner
Small zip ties
Large zip ties
Scissors
Drill
A 44-inch length of 1-by-2-inch pine
Measuring tape
Finishing nails or brads
Light strand
Binder ring
Blackout caps

Part 1: Shooting Star Christmas Lights How-To
1. Cut bamboo to size with hand pruner.

2. Arrange stakes in a 5-pointed star.

3. Secure the inner 5 points with small zip ties.

4. Secure the outer 5 points with large zip ties.

5. Cut ends of zip ties.

6. Secure plug end of strand to point of star with small zip tie. Drape strand along length of stake; secure at end with small zip ties. Pass it along next stake; secure at end with small zip ties. Repeat until every point is done; trim ends of zip ties.

Part 2: Shooting Star Tail How-To
1. Drill 5 holes into the 44-inch length of 1-by-2-inch pine, spacing first hole 2 inches from the top and other holes 10 inches apart.

2. Place binder ring in each hole.

3. Place binder ring on inner point of star.

4. Hang star on tree with finishing nails or brads and hang the wood strip on another tree, lower than star.

5. Secure prong end of lights to top binder ring with zip ties.

6. Trim tie ends.

7. Pass light strand through binder ring on star and back toward strip, plugging in more light strands as needed.

8. Insert strand through next binder ring down on strip, and loop it back through star's ring. Repeat, finishing at strip's bottom ring.

9. Use blackout caps to conceal the lights between each star.

Resources
The blackout caps came from stnickschoice.com. For more information on this craft, visit marthastewart.com/living.