Introduction: Illuminated Pulsating Hangable Heart Sculpture

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Hello!

This instructable will guide you to create a hangable illuminated heart that pulsates with red glowing light using the Circuit Playground Express and adafruit !

This hangable sculpture makes a great night light, ornament for a tree, or glowing decoration for any room!

Supplies

You will need:

CPX

Battery Pack

Tape

Yarn

Cotton Pads/Rounds

Paper Towels

Glue

Red Markers

Blue Markers

Scissors

Adafruit Website

Step 1: Step 1: Code CPX Using Adafruit and Connect CPX to Battery Pack

In order to get the CPX to glow and pulsate, connect the CPX to your computer and go to https://makecode.adafruit.com/#editor. From there, code CPX to glow red using the tutorials from the website. Time the pulsating to go as fast or as slow as desired. Above is the code I used.

After coding, connect CPX to battery pack. Turn on CPX to make sure it works, then tape it to the battery back.

Step 2: Step 2: Tape Yarn to Battery Pack

In order to create a hangable structure, Tape yarn around the battery pack leaving extra yarn at the top to tie and hang. Make sure the yarn is secure.

Step 3: Step 3: Create Heart Structure Out of Paper Towel

Gather your supplies. After wrapping paper towel around CPX, measure and trim until the paper towel fits nicely around the battery pack, creating a round shape. After trimming, tie paper towel into place loosely using yarn. This will protect CPX from cotton, glue, and ink. This will also create a platform for the texture of the heart.

Step 4: Step 4: Color and Wrap Cotton Around Heart

Gently rip and tear cotton pads apart to create a fluffy texture. After doing so, color onto the cotton using markers to create a red base for the heart. After coloring about 8 cotton pads, glue them to paper towel structure, fully wrapping them around the CPX. This will create a fluffy raw texture all over the heart. Make sure to leave room on the side to reach the on/off switch on battery pack.

Step 5: Step 5: Glue on Cotton Veins and Valves, Add Finishing Colors

Almost done!

Roll loose cotton together to create vein like strands, then gently glue to heart structure. For accuracy, look at pictures of hearts online. After gluing on veins and 3 valves at the top of the heart, add finishing colors. Add blue and dark red accents onto the heart, leaving some white. Color top of valves to create a 3D illusion.

Step 6: Step 6: Hang and Enjoy!

There you have it! Turn on switch on battery pack to watch your cotton heart pulsate!

I hung mine above my desk. This glowing heart represents love, and adds to any room. This handmade sculpture taught me so much about the CPX and the versatility of light up sculpture art.

Tip: Hang on a Christmas tree to add a gory accent :) Or hang in bedroom for a sweet warm nightlight.

Thank you!

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