I took two scrap fence slats, nailed them together (you can use any scrap 2x4s or similar) and slapped a little leftover stain (the same as used on my cedar siding) from my garage on it to make it similar in color to my house, and then took a string of white Christmas lights and stapled them back and forth on the slats until when lit, they outlined the shape. Then just run an extension cord and plug it in.
Fast and simple project.
10-4 on simple. Your approach works fine. I have a five foot tall wood, lighted Cross in my yard, comes on automatically with the outdoor lighted Christmas trees. My neighbors comment on the Cross often. I also put the Cross up at Easter.
Thank you for the directions. Stapling twinkle lights to the cross could be "just the ticket" as my grandmother used to say. Come to think of it, Grandmother would not approve of my putting up a lighted cross in my frontyard, too ostentatious, don't ya know. I still want to do it, though, whether or not Mr. Adler cooperates.