Required Supplies:

Optional Supplies:

 

Instructions:

It's time to make!

  
  • Take out this piece



 
  • Fold back and forth along the score lines to make it easier to fold



 
  • Put down a piece of scrap paper

  • Apply glue to the star shape in the center as shown, stopping at the score marks



 
  • Place the transparent star over the glued area

  • *** This is not an equilateral star! The two rays at the bottom have parallel sides, so if it doesn't fit, rotate it :)



 
  • Turn the piece over, remove any adhesive from the front



  • Fold the shape in half at the center of the star, with the transparent star on the inside



 
  • Reverse the fold, pressing the top of the star inward



  • The finished fold should look like this:



  • Measure about 1 inch of copper tape to be placed where shown, use your fingernail or a pencil to mark the correct length



  • Peel the white backing off the copper tape about 1/2 inch

  • Position the tape a bit below the top of the paper, peeling the backing off while pressing the tape down, band-aid style



  •  The finished position:



 
  • Turn the shape over



 
  • Place a piece of copper tape in the same location on the other side, as shown



  • Put down a piece of scrap paper

  • Make sure the transparent star side is up

  • Apply glue to the half-star shape on the end, stopping at the score mark



  •  Fold the shape - match the glued part to the star in the center



 
  • Push the left edge of the paper so that it folds into a box



  • It should look like a box from the bottom



  • Apply glue to the right side of the shield-like shape, stopping at the score mark



  •  Fold it over to align the glued half with the matching half shield



  • This is what it looks like from the front



 
  • A correctly folded star should be able to flatten to the right...



 
  • And the left



  • And fold flat at the center



  • Take out the front of the card



  • Apply glue to the entire bottom of the star



  • Place the star in the center of the card



  • Align the back shield-like shape with the very top of the card



  • Close the card, pressing down where the star is inside



 
  • Open the card, check to ensure the star is completely adhered to the card and centered




- CONSTRUCT THE CIRCUIT -

 

The first part of the circuit instructions include diagrams with explanations and tips, the second part is a step-by-step building guide with photography.


A Simple Circuit: Battery, Switch, LED

  • The battery will be placed on the top right corner. The positive side touches the copper tape on the right.

  • The switch is a break in the copper tape and a patch to bridge the gap when the paper is squeezed.

  • The LED is placed on the vertical structure inside the star with the positive side (the longer wire on the LED) on the left. Electricity travels through the LED to the other side of the paper where more copper tape continues around to the negative side of the battery.

  


Cool. Now let's make it happen.


  • Start the circuit at the small horizontal guide line on the right side

  • Remove a 1/2 inch piece of the tape’s backing

  • Position that end just above the guide line

  • Slowly press the tape into place while peeling off the packing, band-aid style



 
  • Add another piece of copper tape starting just below the guide line as shown, continuing just beyond the center fold

  • Be sure this piece doesn’t touch the first one



 
  • Add a small piece of copper tape on the switch flap as shown



  • On the same flap, fold the tiny flaps up and down



 
  • Fold the switch flap over



  • Add a vertical piece as shown



  • Hold the LED with the long wire (the "+" side) on the left



 
  • Hang the LED over the center of the star structure, making sure the long wire is on the left



 
  • Collapse the star structure to the right, exposing the LED's wire resting on the copper tape from the first step



 
  • Connect the wire to the circuit with a piece of copper tape



 
  • Add two more pieces on top to ensure a good connection



  • Add another piece of copper tape as reinforcement as it passes over the center fold of the card



  • Also reinforce both connections with clear tape



 
  • Collapse the star structure to the left



 
  • Attach the other LED wire with three pieces of copper tape



  • Add another piece as shown, be sure to make it long enough to come close to, but not touch the other copper tape



 
  • Add a horizontal piece as shown



 
  • Reinforce those connections with clear tape



 
  • Continue the circuit to meet the battery at the top right as shown



 
  • Reinforce the connection with clear tape



 
  • Fold the top flap over



 
  • Place the battery on top of the flap, "+" side up



  • Secure with a binder clip



  • OK! Test that circuit! (Press the switch)


Didn’t light up?

  • Make sure the electricity has an uninterrupted path from the positive side of the battery to the negative when the switch is closed.
  • The switch makes a good “bridge” between the gap in the copper tape ( try bridging the gap with a scrap piece of copper tape).
  • Check that the LED has a good connection to the copper tape, and be sure that the tape is not going over the paper to connect to the other side creating a short circuit.
  • Be sure the battery is installed with the “+” facing up – if the circuit works with the bottom facing up, the LED is in the wrong way and needs to be installed with the long wire on the left.
  • … more troubleshooting coming soon!
 

 

- Almost there: Making the Tree -


  • Take out the green paper, making sure it's folded so that the words are readable (not backwards)



 
  • Fold each branch along the score line, starting at the top



  • Fold the tree flat again, then turn it over



  • Repeat the same on this side



  • Flatten the tree again...



  • ... and open the page



  • Push down on the bottom of the card below the tree, then fold like a card inward



  • Put down a scrap piece of paper

  • Apply glue to the perimeter of the card, including on top of the switch and above the star

  • Use a cotton swab to apply glue to the tight places if you have one



  • Slide the two points at the top of the tree on either side of the star



  • Move the top of the green paper around to the back of the star



 
  • Repeat on the other side



  • Turn the card over

  • Before the glue sets, make sure the border is even and reposition if needed

  • Remove any unwanted adhesive



  • Locate the switch on the right side, and test the light again (yay!)



  • Apply glue to the tiny star



  • Glue it in place over the center of the switch - the card is complete! :)



  • After waiting for the glue to dry, put the card in its envelope



  • Then give it to someone you love! Merry Xmas!


I hope you had fun creating your card!

Happy Holidays everyone! <3 Natasha

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