The two projects at a glance
| Build | Difficulty | Time | Stock | Tools |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Star ornament | Beginner | About an hour for the first; less once the pattern is made | 1/4 in plywood or hardwood, about 4-1/2 in square per star | Compass, protractor, coping saw or band saw, drill, files |
| Slat tree | Beginner | An afternoon | About 55 in of 3/4 × 3/4 in stock; a 3/4 × 4 × 4 in base; a 7 in length of 1/4 in dowel | Saw with a stop, drill or drill press, glue |
Times are planning estimates for a first piece, not measured. Patterns are on the drawings.
Build 1: a star ornament
A regular five-point star has its points on one circle and its inner corners on a smaller one. With the points on a 4 in circle — radius R = 2 in — the inner corners sit at R × cos 72° ÷ cos 36°, about 0.38 R, which is about 0.76 in: draw a 1-1/2 in circle for them. The points are 72° apart and the inner corners halfway between, at 36° from each point. Once one star is cut and filed true, use it as the pattern for the rest.
Making the star
Lay out
On the 1/4 in stock, draw a 4 in circle and a concentric 1-1/2 in circle. Mark the top point, then four more 72° apart on the outer circle, and five inner corners midway between them on the inner circle. Join them in turn.
Drill the hanging hole
Drill a 1/8 in hole on the centre line 3/8 in below the top point, before cutting, while the piece is easy to hold.
Cut it out
Cut just outside the lines with a coping saw, the stock clamped to the bench, or on a band saw. The coping saw guide and band saw guide cover each.
File and finish
File and sand to the lines and ease the edges. Paint or finish both faces and thread a ribbon through the hole.
Build 2: a slat tree
| Part | Qty | Size (in) | Material |
|---|---|---|---|
| Slats | 8 | 3/4 × 3/4 × 12, 10-1/2, 9, 7-1/2, 6, 4-1/2, 3 and 1-1/2 | Hardwood or pine square stock |
| Base | 1 | 3/4 × 4 × 4 | Hardwood or pine |
| Dowel | 1 | 1/4 dia × 7 | Dowel rod |
The slats total 54 in; with seven 1/8 in kerfs, cut them from at least 54-7/8 in of strip.
Making the slat tree
Cut the slats
Cut the slats longest first from one strip, resetting the stop 1-1/2 in shorter for each.
Drill the centres
Mark the centre of each slat and drill a 1/4 in hole straight through; a drill press keeps them square. See the drill press guide.
Make the base
Drill a 1/4 in hole 1/2 in deep in the centre of the base and glue the dowel in, upright.
Stack and finish
Finish the parts, then thread the slats on from longest to shortest and turn each a little further than the one below to make a spiral.
Safety— Small pieces, small children
Cut small parts from longer stock and clamp work for sawing and drilling; see woodworking safety rules. Neither piece is a toy: the CPSC bans small parts in products for children under 3 because of the choking risk, so hang ornaments out of their reach. Keep candles and lights off and away from both pieces.
Before cutting
- Pattern drawn and checked with compass and protractor
- Hanging hole drilled before the star is cut out
- Slat strip at least 54-7/8 in long
- Stop reset 1-1/2 in shorter for each slat
- A plan for hanging or display away from candles and young children
More small gifts are in wood craft ideas, box plans and toy plans.
More project plans
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Sources
Both are BenchRoot designs; every dimension is on the drawings. The star's inner radius is geometry: for a regular five-point star, R × cos 72° ÷ cos 36°. Build times are planning estimates for a first piece, not measurements. The designs were not built for this page. Neither piece carries candles or lights, and neither is a toy.
- 1.
NIST Handbook 130 (2026), IV.B Uniform Regulation for the Method of Sale of Commodities. National Institute of Standards and Technology, 2026.
Used for: Lumber sold by nominal size and hardwood by the board foot, for buying the 3/4 in square stock and the base.
- 2.
Small Parts for Toys and Children's Products Business Guidance (16 CFR part 1501). U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission.
Used for: Small parts banned in children's products intended for children under 3, because of the choking hazard — why small decorations are kept out of reach of young children and not given to them as toys.
- 3.
Lead in Paint (16 CFR part 1303). U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission.
Used for: Paints on children's products banned at 0.009% lead by weight or more — relevant if a painted piece is made for a child.
About this guide
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