Step-by-step "how to" tutorial for making your own decorative Irish Flag for St. Patrick's Day using LED holiday light strings. Not only are LEDs energy-efficient, but they stay cool, which is ideal for a project featuring close bundles of bulbs.

1. Add a Little “Luck of the Irish”
to Your St. Patrick’s Day
How to Make This Decorative Irish Flag Using LED Lights
www.holidayleds.com

2. What We Need for the Project
 1 Wire Grid


approximate size 22 ¼” x 23 ¾”, square
holes are 3 ¾” x 2”
We got this at a local hardware store
(replacement wire utility shelf rack)
 3 Sets of G12 Raspberry-Shaped Lights



1 Premium Grade G12 Orange 70 ct LEDs
(#34607R-B at holidayleds.com)
1 Premium Grade G12 Pure White 70 ct
LEDs (#34613R-B at holidayleds.com)
1 Premium Grade G12 Green 70 ct LEDs
(#34614R-B at holidayleds.com)
 Zip Ties

www.holidayleds.com
we used 3 packs of 4” zip ties (100/pack)
 We also added sheer ribbon to this
display to fill in the spaces between the
bulbs and add color. We used 1 spool
each—orange, white, and green—of
sheer, non-wired ribbon (1 ½” x 10 yards)

3. Step 1: Preparing the Lights
 Before starting each color,
you will want to open the
set of LEDs—Stretching
out the set, making it
easier to work with.
TIP: Work on a flat surface, with
the rack overhanging the edge. This
will allow you to access both the
top and bottom of the rack as you
are working. We found it easiest to
have the “back side” of the rack
facing up, so you could tighten the
zip ties properly.

4. Step 2: Assemble the Design
TIP: Use needle nosed pliers to tighten the zip
ties—a lot tighter than you can get with your
fingers, keeping the bulbs nice and straight.
 Position rack the “long way”
(Fig. 1).
 Start first bulb (following either the male or female plug), at either
the top or the bottom. Start 1 cross bar in from the top/bottom, and
just inside the outside edge of the rack. (We left an empty border at
the top and bottom of the flag for ease of hanging.) Once satisfied
with the layout and design, zip-tie the light sets to the wire grid.
Fig. 1 Grid.
Fig. 2 First bulb.
Fig. 3 First bulb close-up.

5. Step 2: Assemble the Design
 Zip tie each bulb to the rack to
keep them “standing up,” and
spaced evenly. Place the bulb on
the crossbar of the rack, zip tying
the wires coming out of either side
of the bottom of the bulb to each
other, making sure the cross bar of
the racking is in between the
lighting wires (Figs 2 & 3).
 The bulb will end up on the front
of the rack, positioned over the top
of a cross bar on the rack. If you
are using our assembly tip above,
this will be the underside, as you
are assembling.
Fig. 2
Fig. 3

6. Step 2: Assemble the Design
 Go up and down the rack in a line, zip
tying each bulb to the crossbars. Once
you get to the bottom, you will place a
bulb next to the one you just did, and
then go back up the frame. Repeat this
process until you have finished your
first color (Figs. 4 & 5).
 Repeat the steps above with your
second and third color, making sure
you are starting with the correct plug
end. You will be plugging these sets
end-to-end to power them, and you
need to make sure that if your first
color ends with the female plug, start
your second color with the male plug.
Fig. 4
Fig. 5

7. Step 3: Finishing Up
TIP: We took our LED sets with us to
the craft store so we could pick out
ribbon that matched the bulb colors.
Fig. 7
Fig. 6
www.holidayleds.com
 Display completed with all 3 colors (Figs.
6 & 7).
 Once you have attached all of your bulbs,
you can add the ribbon to the display.

8. Step 3: Finishing Up
TIP: You may need to “re-fluff”
your ribbon, making sure it is
loose and not pulled tight.
 Once you have attached all
of your bulbs, you can add
the ribbon to the display.
Loosely weave it in and out
of the cross bars, making
sure to start your ribbon
going over the top of the
first cross bar (Fig. 8).
 Tie the cut/starting end of
the ribbon to the top
crossbar that your bulbs are
attached to. Make sure this
tie is pulled to the backside
of the display, so you cannot
see it (Fig. 9).
Fig. 8
Fig. 9

9. Step 3: Finishing Up
 The end of the ribbon
that is still attached to
the spool will be
pulled around the back
side of the display and
tied to itself at the tie
you just made to attach
the ribbon to the
racking (Fig. 10).
 Continue this process
until you have filled in
each space between the
bulbs with the
appropriate color
ribbon.
TIP: You will want to alternate the
side you start your ribbon, as this
will give you a fuller look.
Fig. 10

10. Completed Irish Flag
 Hang your display…
plug it in… and enjoy!
www.holidayleds.com

11. We hope you enjoyed this
step-by-step tutorial!
For more great tips and the
largest selection of LED
holiday lights, visit us at
www.HolidayLEDs.com!
www.holidayleds.com
facebook.com/ledchristmaslights
twitter.com/holidayleds
pinterest.com/holidayleds
© 2014 Holiday LEDs