Day 20

Light up Paper ornament

Hi everyone! My name is Heather Lister and I'm a STEM educator & librarian located just outside of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. For this project, I've collaborated with my friend Ryne from this amazing space called Flux. We were able to do this project and several others with some after school programs. Definitely check them out.

1: Gather materials

  • 2 strips of copper tape (5" and 6")

  • 1 brass fastener (1 inch works best)

  • 1 pair of scissors

  • 1 LED

  • 1 coin-cell 2032 3V battery

  • Tape (any kind)

  • Ornament template

Note: the ornament template is sized at 4.25 x 4.25 allowing you to print 2 per standard letter size paper

2: color template

  • If you weren't able to print your ornament in color ink, now is the time to show off your coloring skills! Use makers, crayons, colored pencils - or all!

3: Add copper tape

In order to make our ornament light up, we'll need to create a circuit. Instead of using wires, we'll be using another type of conductive material - copper tape.

Looking at your template, place the copper tape.

4: TAPE SEGMENTS

Paying attention to the numbers on the template, find pieces 1 & 2 and lay them directly across from each other and tape them together.

5: TAPE SEGMENTS

You'll do the same thing for #'s 3 & 4 but you'll create a giant "+" sign

6: Add battery

In order for our light bulb to turn on, we need a power source. For this, we'll use a coin-cell battery.

You'll want to locate strips 5 & 6 (the ones with copper tape) and you'll sandwich your battery between these two pieces before securing them to your +

7: Form ornament

Starting with strip #1, thread the strip through the brass fastener. You'll repeat this process (in number order) until all of your strips are secured with the fastener. It should now look like an ornament!

8: ADD LED

The smaller hands you have, the easier this task will be. Take your LED and identify the longer leg. This is the positive lead. We want to make sure that this connects to the piece of copper tape that is touching the positive (top) side of our battery. You'll want to make sure the shorter leg of the LED is touching the other side of the copper tape. If you've got mad skills, you can do this by wedging the LED between the legs of the brass fastener. If you're like me - you can just use tape :)

9: ADD STRING

Totally optional, but if you'd like to hang your ornament somewhere, you can simply place a piece of string (or a hair tie) through the brass fastener.

You did it! congrats.

Feel free to tag or DM me on Twitter/IG (@heathermlister) with any questions or pictures of your creations!