Good Wednesday morning and welcome to the CLASSroom. We’re having fun this week playing with the Chibitronics Chibi Lights LED Light Kit. I have to admit I was very intimidated about starting my project but I didn’t need to be. The booklet in the starter kit has very clear step by step instructions that are easy to follow and explain how to create a circuit and place the lights.
I would like to suggest that you take a look at Julie’s October 24 CLASSroom post where she shows a wonderful video tutorial on how to create a Simple Circuit and shares some great tips to consider before you start your project. You will also want to check out Carissa’s Let There be Light November 15 In Touch post showing how to create a Parallel Circuit.
My project was made using the Impression Obsession Cupcake Stand, Ornate Frame, Candle Border, Border Duo 2 and Leaves and Stems.
Cut all the parts and pieces of the cupcake tray. I chose to make chocolate cupcakes using Peanut Fudge cardstock and the cupcake papers and tray using Shimmering Pink Pearl cardstock. The card base and frosting were made using Neenah Heavyweight Solar White cardstock.
Assemble the the cupcake parts and attach together using glossy accents.
Cut tiny leaves and punch tiny circles and attach them to the top of the frosting to embellish the cupcakes.
Roll glue dots to attach the cupcakes to the tray.
Apply small pieces of mounting tape to the back of the frame and attach it to the card base.
Apply pieces of mounting tape to the back of the cupcake tray and attach it to the card base.
Die cut two Candle Borders using vellum and a third using white cardstock. Color the flames of one vellum candle border using a Mustard Seed Distress Marker.
Cut the flames off the top of the cardstock candles. Apply double stick tape to the back base of the border and a small dot of glossy accents to the back of each candle and attach it to the vellum candle border.
Cut a front base for the candle border 4.25” wide and 1.75” tall and die cut the scalloped border using Border Duo 2. Cut a second base that is slightly smaller than candle base to attach the circuits, LED lights and battery.
Use the second vellum candle border as a template to show where the lights need to be attached to line up with the front candle border.
Draw a line straight across the paper indicating where the lights need to be attached. Use one of the lights to get a measurement of how close the copper tape wiring needs to be attached so that both the top and bottom of the light touches both wires. I drew the additional lines across as a guide where to place the tape.
Mark the back side of the candle border to show where the lights will be set. I failed to get a picture of the next step. I placed the back layer over the front candle border and used my paper piercer to lightly punch through to mark where I needed to make the holes for my lights. Next I punched holes through each spot on the front layer using your paper piercer. I worked the piercer around in the holes to make them large enough for the lights to fit through.
Attach the copper wiring along both the top and bottom lines. I wanted the battery to be placed in the lower middle of my candle layer so I turned the corner with the copper wires and continued around with both layers of tape. It is very important that you don’t allow the two sets of wires to touch. Remember when building your circuit that positive always goes with positive, and negative always goes with negative.
The copper tape is the wiring for the circuit so you need to make sure you burnish it down to create strong connections between your copper wires, lights and batteries. Place the lights using your tweezers and burnish the connections. I used my teflon bone folder.
I had to run my copper wiring to the back of my light layer for the placement of the battery. I needed the front candle layer to be perfectly flat for the lights to pop through and show behind the candle flames. I secured the battery in place with the positive side of the battery facedown and attached to the positive wire and the negative wire attached to the top side of the battery. I applied three layers of mounting tape and attached the light layer to the card base.
I lined up the candle flames directly over the light and attached in place using double stick tape.
I attached three layers of mounting tape around the battery and back side of the layer and attached it to the card base.
I have to admit that I made some boo boos for my first Chibitronics project but I learned a lot and am really looking forward to making another. I hope you have been inspired by this week’s special focus on Chibitronics and that you’ll give it a try.
