In honor of NJ Makers Day, we hosted this fun DIY Gnome Light-Up Paper Circuit Card with the Warren County Library System. Circuits cards are a great way to explore electronics while also being creative with crafts. Learn to make your own with these simple instructions.
No-Sew Light-Up Wrist Cuff Enhance your cosplay with soft circuits! In this simple project, you can make a simple felt cuff that lights up. We’ll also learn the science behind circuits and discover how to design your own. You can get all the supplies for this project in the Make: Circuit Scout kit, Papercraft Circuits…
Origami Circuits Lately I have been really enjoying creating origami circuits. This a fun mash up of the ancient paper folding techniques with electrical circuits. It’s built on the popular paper circuit project which used conductive copper tape to attach items, usually LEDs, to crafts such as cards and artwork. But origami circuits create 3D…
Winter Break Boredom Breakers For the Warren County Library System, I did a short series of STEAM activities for families to do at home over winter break. With easy to find, inexpensive materials, each challenge encourages kids to build, create, and experiment. Try them! Post your results on Facebook or Instagram with the hashtag #warrenlib. Or…
Maker Campus Workshops Make: Magazine, Make: Co, and Maker Camp have recently launched a new learning platform specially designed for Maker Education. Maker Campus is a place to connect, learn, and make together. Find enriching and interactive events including talks by expert makers, project demos, classes, virtual workshop tours, and more. I am very honored…
25 Days of Making For the last several years, “Coffee for the Brain” creator Aaron Maurer, a fantastic educator, blogger, and podcaster, has lead an amazing seasonal project. It’s called the 25 Days of Making and it’s wonderful. Basically, Aaron gets dozens of makers, teachers, writers, and educators to create special projects to celebrate creativity.…
This simple beading project is a great way to upcycle drinking straws into a fun, fashionable bracelet or cuff. What You’ll Need 3-4 drinking straws, paper or plastic 30-40 pony beads 4-5 feet of elastic cord or yarn Ruler Scissors Masking tape (optional) Toothpick or bamboo skewer (optional) Prepare Your Yarn: If you’re using elastic or…
This project was originally published on Make: Projects. Use your origami skills to fold a “paper balloon.” Then add a battery, LED, and binder clip as a switch to transform your creation into a simple lamp. This easy circuit project is a great way to explore switches. Plus, there is considerable room for self-expression as…
This project was originally published on Make: Projects. Use origami to fold a cute ladybug. Then add a small vibrating motor so that is skitters around. This is a really fun, easy variation on a vibrobot. What You’ll Need Origami paper, one sheet, red 3-volt coin battery (CR2032 or CR2025) Maker Tape or ¼-inch copper…
This project was originally shared on Make: Projects. Fold a simple butterfly using origami and then add LEDs to create light-up antenna. This is a fun way to learn about and build circuits while also practicing the precision of origami and being creative. This project is based on the Luna Moth from The Big Book…
