DIY Paper Circuit Card

by bee-a-maker

17K698

Intro: DIY Paper Circuit Card

Who doesn't like getting or gifting handmade cards? Making paper circuit cards is the perfect union of STEAM. Let kids unleash their creativity as they experiment with paper circuit cards that really light up.

Craft a glowing card for friends and family this summer with paper circuits and no soldering required.

Design a basic circuit:

  • Draw a layout of paper circuit card as shown in the image.
  • Take a copper tape having adhesive on one side and trace on the circuit diagram.
  • Make sure to continue the tape at corners.
  • For the corners, bend the tape at 45 degree opposite to the direction we are going and then trace on the line. This way continuity of circuit is assured.
  • Bend the legs of LED at 90 degree and secure with a tape.
  • The positive of LED should be connected to positive of cell and negative of LED to negative of cell leaving a gap for switch.
  • The switch which a small strip of copper tape is at a distance few cms away from gap.
  • By folding the paper the circuit gets complete and the LED lights up.

In the next steps I present a few paper circuit card made by me.

STEP 1: Superhero Paper Circuit Card

Materials for making card:

1. Blue, red and white color A4 sheet paper

2. Circle cutter

3. Cutter

4. Scissor

5. Translucent paper

Materials for circuit:

1.Light emitting diode of white color

2.Copper tape with adhesive of 5mm

3. A clear tape

4. Button or coin cell of 3 Volt

Steps:

1. Take a blue A4 sheet paper and fold in half.

2. Cut and paste a circle of red colored sheet with the help of circle cutter.

3. Cut and paste another circle of white paper of a diameter 1cm lesser than the previous circle.

4. Similarly cut and paste another circle of red colored paper of diameter 1cm lesser than the previous circle.

5. Again cut and paste another circle of blue colored paper of diameter 1cm lesser than previous circle.

6. Now cut a star shape at the center as shown in the image.

7. Place a translucent sheet on the star from inside of the card.

8. Make the circuit as shown in the image and described in 1st step of instructable.

Note that the placement of LED should be at the center of the star.

STEP 2: A Unicorn Card

Materials for making card:

1. Purple and white color A4 sheet paper

2. Pencil (to draw the sketch of unicorn)

3. Colors to decorate

4. Scissor

Materials for circuit:

1.Light emitting diode of Blue color

2.Copper tape with adhesive of 5mm

3. A clear tape

4. Button or coin cell of 3 Volt

Steps:

1. Take a white A5 sheet paper i.e half of A4 and draw unicorn of your choice.

2.Cut and color the unicorn.

3. Poke a hole in the eye of unicorn and insert LED from front of card such that the legs of LED are inside the card.

4.Bend the legs of LED at 90 degree and secure it with tape on the circuit. To know how to make circuit follow step 1 of instructable.

STEP 3: Card for Mom

Materials for making card:

1. Yellow, white and black color A4 sheet paper

2. Paper cup/ Styrofoam cup/ Thermocol cup

3. Scissor

4. Glue

Materials for circuit:

1.Light emitting diode of Yellow color

2.Copper tape with adhesive of 5mm

3. A clear tape

4. Button or coin cell of 3 Volt

Steps:

1. Fold yellow colored A4 sheet paper and insert the yellow colored LED from front of the card.

2. Connect the circuit as described in step 1 of instructable.

3. Bend the legs of LED at 90 degree such that the legs touch copper tape and then secure the legs with a clear tape.

4. Cut half of styrofoam cup and paste on LED for a good illumination and representing letter O of MOM.

5. Cut and paste letters M from a black sheet and decorate the card as per your choice.

STEP 4: A Cupcake Paper Circuit Card

Materials for making card:

1. Black colored A4 sheet paper

2. color paper of your choice for making cupcake

3. Glue

4. Scissor

Materials for circuit:

1.Light emitting diode of YELLOW color

2.Copper tape with adhesive of 5mm

3. A clear tape

4. Button or coin cell of 3 Volt

Steps:

1. Take a black A4 size paper and fold in half.

2. Follow the Images to make cupcake and a candle.

3. Insert the LED from flame of candle and bend the legs of LED at 90 degree inside the card.

4. Follow step 1 of instructable to know how to make a basic circuit.

STEP 5: A Lamp or Diwali Paper Circuit Card

Diwali is a festival of my country.

Materials for making card:

1. Any thin colored A4 size paper

2. Glue

3. scissor

Materials for circuit:

1.Light emitting diode of red color

2.Copper tape with adhesive of 5mm

3. A clear tape

4. Button or coin cell of 3 Volt

Steps:

1. Connect the circuit as described in step1 of instructable.

2. Take a thin sheet of colored paper and the draw as shown in the image.

STEP 6:

6 Comments

jjelliott2018 4 years ago

Loved doing this project with my students! The video was so clear and easy for them to follow. We did this as our Mother's Day project and they were so creative. Thank you!

bee-a-maker 4 years ago

All the best for teacher notes contest.

omar nashy 4 years ago

i was looking for something like that for kids, when i'll do it i'll tell you my opinion and any new practical notes.

thamilton617 4 years ago

This is awesome! We will be using the idea of this card to make bookmarks at our back-to-school night. Thanks for the inspiration!

WeTeachThemSTEM 4 years ago

Thanks for sharing this Teacher Note and explaining how you plan to use this activity with your students! After you finish this project at your back-to-school night, we would love to know how it went. :) Feel free to edit your note or leave a new Teacher Note. You can also attach any resources or lesson plans that you used for the project to share with other teachers.