Artistic Expression with Paper Circuits

Using copper tape and LEDs to make creative circuits on a flat surface, like a piece of paper, students can make light-up greeting cards, make origami animals come to life, or create three-dimensional pop-up paper sculpture that have working lights in them.

Circuit stickers are much easier to use than standard LEDs, as they make better electrical contact and have the polarity clearly marked. However, they are more expensive( $1.16 per LED sticker vs $0.48 for a 10mM LED vs $0.02 each for standard 5mM LEDs).

The standard LEDs sometimes need to be soldered in to make effective electrical contact, and you need to keep track of the polarity. Also, make sure you have the thicker copper tape, as the thin stuff tears easily and is difficult for novices to manipulate. It generally works to sandwich the LED lead between the copper tape and a small piece of copper tape on top.

Building Sequence:

       (1) Start with the artwork 

      (2)locate where the LEDS are going 

      (3)draw the positive and negative circuit paths to connect them 

      (4) Lay the copper tape along the path 

      (5) Insert the LEDs and bend the leads

      (6) Connect the LEDs.

      (7) Attach the coin cell battery with a small loop of copper tape.