After seeing some great instructables on LED use, I decided to try one of my own. I have little electronics experience and have only soldered twice (once 7 years ago and once last night), so I am no expert. This is a fun beginners project that most kids could handle.

Step 1: Equipment Needed

1. Jell-O Box
2. 5mm LED (~3.0v, mine were 2.5v)
3. 3v watch battery - from dollar store, so $0.33 each
4. wire - I used extra wire I had
5 soldering iron with solder
6. simple on/off switch - the most expensive item
7. electrical tape
8. clear tape
9. box knife

Cost: ~$6.00 (would be less, but I purchased in small numbers)

Step 2: Prepping the Box

Open the Jell-O box from one end and remove Jell-O bag. Tape that end with clear packing tape. Using a box knife, cut out a flap as pictured below. Leave about 1/8" overhang so the flap will stay closed.

Step 3: Soldering and Hole Poking

Solder the wires, switch and LED together. First solder the wires to the battery, then test with multimeter to make sure the connection is good. Then solder to the LED.

I have used electrical tape on the battery. I tried to solder directly to the battery, it didn't work and the battery got very hot. I think it's not safe to apply heat directly to a battery. You may have to flip the battery to make sure that you have the battery polarity matched with the LED.

You will then poke holes for the LED and Switch. I used the box knife to make X cuts then used a Phillips screw driver to clean the holed out. On the switch side, you want to be sure not to make the hole too big. The nut on the switch needs something to grab onto.

Step 4: Finished

If you did everything correctly, you now have a working Jell-O Light. This red light would be useful for astronomy chart reading and other night related activities.