Make a Light up Card with a Simple Circuit!


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I thought this year my son could make his teacher a special Valentine’s Day card. I wanted to use some of what we had learned about making a simple circuit from our Tinker Crate boxes. So I found a paper circuit kit, and we set off to make a special card for my son’s teacher!!

Circuit Card Ideas | Light Up Card Using a Simple Circuit | Valentine's Day Cards

Make a Light up Valentine’s Day Card with a Simple Circuit!

I found this paper circuits kit. The kit includes all the materials needed to build a simple circuit, including copper tape, batteries, and lights. Also included is a easy to read and follow guide on how to create simple circuits.

Circuit Card Ideas | Light Up Card Using a Simple Circuit | Valentine's Day Cards




Here’ how we made our super special card for my son’s teacher!

Make a simple circuit

Step 1:  Cut two 9 inch by 5.5 inch pieces of paper

Circuit Card Ideas | Light Up Card Using a Simple Circuit | Valentine's Day Cards

Step 2:  Fold one of the pieces in half lengthwise, and fold the top right corner.

Circuit Card Ideas | Light Up Card Using a Simple Circuit | Valentine's Day Cards




Step 3:  Unfold the top right corner. Using the copper tape and Chibi Lights circuit guide, create the circuit. Leave a space to add the battery and light.**The Chibi Lights circuit guide has great pointers on using the copper tape. Make sure to review their tips before creating your circuit!**

Circuit Card Ideas | Light Up Card Using a Simple Circuit | Valentine's Day Cards

Step 4:  Stick a white light onto the card in the space marked “light” in the last step.  Place the battery in the space shown in the late step, with the negative (-) sign facing up. Bend the upper right corner back over the battery, and secure the battery in place using a large paper clip. Make sure the two ends of the copper wire circuit are touching either the top or bottom of the battery.

Circuit Card Ideas | Light Up Card Using a Simple Circuit | Valentine's Day Cards

You have made a simple circuit for your card!


Decorate Card

Step 5: Fold the unused piece of paper from step1 in half. Open it back up and draw a map of the world on the right half of the paper.

Circuit Card Ideas | Light Up Card Using a Simple Circuit | Valentine's Day Cards

Step 6: Align the page you just drew on with the paper with the circuit on it. Poke a hole in the map where the light is in the circuit.

Circuit Card Ideas | Light Up Card Using a Simple Circuit | Valentine's Day Cards




Step 7: Color the map. Write “You Light Up My World” on the left side of the paper.

Circuit Card Ideas | Light Up Card Using a Simple Circuit | Valentine's Day Cards

Step 8: Glue the two pieces of paper together, making sure the hole lines up with the light in the circuit.

Circuit Card Ideas | Light Up Card Using a Simple Circuit | Valentine's Day Cards

And you’re all done!





I think my son’s teacher will love her special card. What do you think? Do you have any other great card ideas that include simple circuits? I’d love to hear you ideas!

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