Glowing Garland

In my latest tutorial I will show you how to make a glowing, paper circuit, garland made with the magic of Chibitronics Circuit Sticker LEDs!

 

For detailed instructions, please visit the complete tutorial, "Glowing Garland," on the Chibitronics website or my Glowing Garland Instructable!

My First Pop Up Book

I recently took an online course called "Pop Up Fundamentals:  Storytelling with Paper and Light" taught by Karen Friel!  

In it, we were invited to create a pop up book, inspired by a city we love!

This is my first pop up book, showcasing three of my favorite places in Munich!

Fraunkirche Munich

Chinese Tower Beer Garden 

Oktoberfest

Light Up Picture Switcher (Dissolve Card)

In my latest tutorial, Dissolve Card: Light Up Picture Switcher, I’ll show you how to make a light-up version of a Victorian Era mechanism known as a dissolve, or dissolve card.

This paper mechanics project combines a trick of the eye (and pictures that flip) with a little electronic trickery — Circuit Sticker LEDs and a sliding switch!

While the examples showcased in this project have a Halloween vibe, the paper circuit techniques you’ll learn may be applied for a variety of themes!

Two alternating images create an optical illusion in a dissolve card.

In addition to detailed directions and photos, the Dissolve Card: Light Up Picture Switcher tutorial also features a complete video demonstration, custom cut files that may be uploaded to a home fabrication machine, and other support materials.

I've also created an Instructable that teaches how to make this mechanical project!

Light-Up Rainbow Pop-Up Card (With a Sliding Switch)

 

I designed this pop-up rainbow card to light up the sun whenever the card is opened.  My favorite thing about it is the sliding switch mechanism that connects to the piece of paper that gives the rainbow its dimension.

To view my complete Rainbow Pop Up Card tutorial, which includes custom cut files that may be uploaded to a home fabrication machine, please visit the Chibitronics website.

Electrified Cobweb Card (With a Round Base)

If you are interested in learning how to make your own electrified cobweb card with a round base, visit my latest Instructable!

Light Up (Electrified) Cobweb Card With a Reed Switch (Normally Closed)

Cobweb cards were a popular mechanical structure popularized during the Victorian Era, a time when people spent a lot of time and resources making and sending each other elaborate (often hand-made) Valentine's.

Seeing one of these interactive cards in action on the Met Museum's blog gave me an idea!  What if, in addition to revealing a hidden image, my card could also light up when the lacy cobweb layer was lifted?  

That is where the "normally closed" reed switch comes in!

If you'd like to learn more about how reed switches work, or how to make your own light up cobweb card, please visit my tutorial on the Chibitronics website:

 Magical Magnetism:  Intro to Reed Switches (Normally Closed)

Here is a sneak peak!

Magic Wand & Reed Switch (Normally Open)

Did you know that you can use a magnetic component, called a reed switch, to alter the behavior of circuits, including paper ones? 

If you'd like to learn more about how to use a reed switch in a paper circuit project (or how to make a quick paper wand), please visit my tutorial on the Chibitronics website: 

Magical Magnetism:  Intro to Reed Switches (Normally Open).

Light Up Waterfall Card

Please visit the tutorial I created for Chibitronics if you'd like to see how I created these light up waterfall cards (or make one yourself).