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Let's play dress up! But this time set aside the dolls and Barbie and pick up your ordinary clothes hangers. Organizing the closet meets interior design with this easy craft project, and when you finish, you might have a few less Christmas gifts to buy.

In no time at all, you can make a collection of colorful padded hangers with a small cost in materials. This is all you need:

1. Plastic hangers

2. 12 or more plastic shopping bags per hanger

3. Tape (scotch is preferable)

4. 4 ' yards of ribbon (1 ' inches wide) per hanger

The most expensive item in this list will be the ribbon, so to save on cost you might get creative (like using strips of cotton cloth instead). Any material that has the color and design you like can be used as long as it is an inch and half wide or so. Ribbon is simply more convenient because it can be purchased at the width, length, color, and design that you want.

Once you gather up all of these items you are ready to start hanging your clothes in style. You should begin by wrapping plastic bags evenly around each hanger, using small pieces of tape to attach both ends of the bag to the hanger. Then, wrap the ribbon that you collected around the padding that you just created with the plastic bags. It is best to start at the base of the hanger's hook and leave an extra 12 inches of ribbon to use for tying a bow at the top of the hanger later on. Make sure that the ribbon hides the plastic padding by overlapping the ribbon on itself. When the hanger is completely wrapped with ribbon and you arrive back at the hook of the hanger, cut the ribbon so that you have another 12 inch tail. To finish off the project, tie the two 12 inch pieces of ribbon into a tight bow. This will keep the ribbon from unwinding itself and also add the final decoration for your new padded hangers.

Dressing up hangers is a great activity for all ages. It is so fun for kids and easily altered for the more avid craft maker. Ornaments and rhinestones around the bow and different layers of ribbon for a multi-colored effect are just a couple of simple additions that truly personalize your hangers. So whether you are creating a themed playroom or spicing up your coat closet for a dinner party, dress up your hangers for a quick fun craft.