Now and then you create something so new and fun that it has you gasping for delight. The Chibitronics Chibi Lights have done that for me. Imagine! You can light up your card with the press of a button. It's a little simple science that's easy to do with the Chibitronics Starter Kit and I couldn't be more excited. In fact, I'm not only creating art but making an interactive project that's sure to delight. This entire week in the CLASSroom we've been focusing on this amazing LED product and I hope you'll be inspired by the projects and tutorials to try it out for yourself.
Today I'm creating a fun light up my world card by pairing up Chibitronics with a great Altnew stamp set, Big World. I can't wait to share all the details so let's get started.
First of all, the starter kit. Chibitronics has put together everything you need to make it so easy. It shows you how to create interactive paper projects and shares simple circuit diagrams to get you started. And to make it EVEN easier, I've included lots of step outs and tips to share with you. Even if you bombed physics or have two left thumbs...you can do this! Trust me!
So let's start with the card design as that's what we want to plan around. I've sponged a space/sky background using Distress Ink and a blending tool.
Completely blend the inks until you get a beautiful rich colored background. I've used Blueprint Sketch and Chipped Sapphire Distress Inks by the way.
Once that's done I wanted to create a starry sky that would allow the beautiful light to peek through. You don't always have to die-cut the background, but when using a dark background, it really lets the light shine through better. I love the Taylored Expressions Starry Nights Cutting Plate for this and so many other designs as well. Die-cut the inked layer to get your stars.
I've lined the back of the layer with a piece of vellum the same size as the layer and adhered it. This still lets the light through but covers up any peek of the inner workings that might be there such as the copper tape.
Now here's an exciting detail about this card...seriously. I'm tickled about this idea. I wanted the world to pop and instead of using foam dots, I've brainstormed a way to light up all around the earth to really make it the highlight of the design. MFT Stamps has a cool new circular shaker pouch that is fab for easy shaker elements but let's think out of the box and use it under the world stamp!
Die-cut a circle in the front of the star layer where you want the world to go. THEN adhere the shaker pouch well into that negative space. Make sure the circle is large enough to insert the pouch but not too big or it will fall out.
Once that's done, add a DOUBLE layer of foam strips around the card. You need this extra depth to account for the depth of the battery.
Now for the world! Isn't this stamp set awesome! I love how it has different sections of the globe to stamp...so perfect if you don't want your image to feature North America as there are more options for you.
I've die-cut another circle...just a tiny bit larger than the circle opening so that it is covered up. Then the world has been stamped in Avery Elle inks of Aquamarine, Celery and Lemon Grass. Don't worry about that white edge...we'll cover that up.
I've pulled out my blending tool again and sponged around the edges with more Distress Ink. It gives the earth a more dimensional look and allows it to blend into the space background.
At this point I gave it a quick test to maker sure everything was lining up and going to work as I'd envisioned. I'm loving it so it's time to make it shine!
On a white cardstock layer (4" x 5.25") I penciled in where I wanted the LED lights to go and the button to make it work. Planning it out before adding the copper tape makes sure that everything goes in the right place.
The copper tape circuit looks harder than it is. I've cut the copper tape in half to make it thinner. This makes it go further as well as making it fit better into the small card size space. A little flap is made for the batter to sit in and then I've created a parallel circuit. When you use more than one LED, you'll need to create this type of circuit to get them all to light up. Adhere the copper tape lines side by side so that they don't touch but are still close enough that you can place the + and - sections of the LEDs over them and get them to complete the circuit. I like to really press the copper tape in place with a bone folder and then adhere the LEDs over the tape at the points I marked.
Press the flap on the battery down and the LEDs should light up. If you run into issues, do a little troubleshooting by first checking to make sure the Copper tape and LEDs are sercurely adhered together. Another quick fix is flipping the battery over. You may have the negative and positives mixed up.
I couldn't have been more excited to put it all together and find that the Shaker Pouch gave me just the glow look I was looking for!
Now that the "hard work" is done, there are just the finishing touches left. The sentiment was stamped on a strip of vellum card stock in two segments. The WORLD was stamped in red pigment ink and then clear embossed before stamping the rest of the sentiment in Jet Black Archival Ink.
The vellum is adhered around the enclosed LED layer and then the entire thing is adhered to a card front. I've added in Sparkling Sequins and Crystal Star Buttons to accent. To add a little more shine, the entire card is flicked with the brush of a Wink of Stella Glitter marker.
Oh! And I can't forget the red die-cut heart! I've layered it over the battery section to show where to press to light it up!
IF the above picture doesn't light up...just click on it to open it up and you'll see how my card lights up. So cool right?!
This card is going to my sweet hubby for Valentine's Day as he definitely mean the world to me. I know he'll love it. He's an electrician and gets a kick out of how much I enjoy putting together a simple circuit. I didn't even ask for his help!
Thanks so much for joining me today in the CLASSroom! I hope you'll try lighting up your creative world with some Chibitronics!
Julia
Supplies:
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