Celebrate St Patricks Day at your makerspace by creating these fun light up cards.
This STEM project is perfect for beginners who are looking to learn about electricity and circuits. Included in this tutorial is a free PDF project template along with step by step directions.
May the luck of the Irish be with you !
Project Time: 15 Minutes
Materials Needed
- (1) LED – Any Color
- (1) Coin Cell Battery
- Copper Tape w/ Conductive Adhesive
- Project Template – PDF
If you need the materials for this project, we do have a paper circuit starter kit & ebook available. The kit includes copper tape, LEDs and batteries for 10 projects. Also included is a project ebook with 45 project templates.
Step 1 – Project Template
Download and print the St Patricks Day project template using the link below.
NOTE: This template is 2-pages in length. For the best results, print page two on the back of page one. If your printer doesn’t have two-sided printing you can print on two separate pages.
Step 2 – Copper Tape
Apply your copper tape to all of the brown lines on the template. Use your finger to smooth it down on the paper. We recommend folding the copper tape at the corners versus cutting it. Maintaining a single continuous strip of copper will help with its continuity and ensure the LED lights.
Begin by applying the tape until you come to a corner.
Next, bend the copper tape at a 45 degree angle in the opposite direction that you want to go.
Then fold the tape back 180 degrees in the direction you want to go.
Make sure your tape has conductive adhesive. We sell a paper circuit starter kit if you need the copper tape for this project.
Step 3 – LED
Next we’re going to attach your LED to the template. Before we do this you will need to locate the long leg of the LED. This is the positive (+) and the short leg is the negative.
Bend both legs of the LED at a 90 degree angle. Make sure you remember which leg is the positive and negative.
Place the negative leg on the copper tape that has a (-) marked on the template. Take two short pieces of copper tape and use it to mount the LED to the circuit. Rub your finger along both legs to ensure they are making good contact with the circuit.
Step 4 – Coin Cell Battery
Cut a small piece of copper tape and roll it up with the adhesive on the outside. Stick this to the circuit inside the grey battery circle on the template.
Take your CR2032 coin cell battery and stick it to the roll of copper tape with the negative (-) of the battery facing down.
Step 5 – Cut And Fold
Flip your template over so you can see the front image. Use your scissors or a razor to cut a small “X” on the spot that is marked.
Fold the template in half and push the LED through the “X” that you cut.
Step 6 – Test Your Circuit
Now it’s time to press the clover to make your gold light up.
Show Us Your Project
Follow us on Twitter at @Makerspaces_com and tweet us if you made this or another project. We love seeing your makerspaces and the creations you’re making.
If you’re looking for more paper circuit projects, please check out our ebook which has 45 additional project templates.
