The Smallest Light-Up Ornament

Hi Folks! I've got a super cute project to share today ... the smallest light-up paper craft I've ever made!

The Chibitronics team is excited to collaborate with Waffle Flower. Nina Yang, who runs Waffle Flower, is one of the nicest women in our industry. Somehow we missed getting a picture together at the last Creativation, but we'll fix that this January! Thanks so much Nina for this collaboration : )

Let's take a closer look at our tiny Gingerbread House from Waffle Flower ...
 

The die set cuts all the pieces you see above. You get a house base and the house icing, and then you have a few different layers in case you want to change the colors up ... chimney, foundation, and doors. I cut two extra house bases for this project, as well as a strip of red vellum which will be adhered behind the holes in the top layer of the house.

 

After assembling the house and all the detail layers, it's time to make the circuit. The battery is taped down on the lower left corner. Just to the right of the battery you see the switch in the horizontal track I cut in the house base. I've never made a switch this narrow before, where it's about the width of the copper tape. I really couldn't wait to see if it worked! The three white LEDs are adhered in between the circle window openings. That's personal preference for me. I tend to prefer the lower diffused light which illuminates the vellum you put on top, vs. a brighter more intense light when the LED is positioned underneath the hole. You can also see the pull tab here, with a "pull me" from the Heffy Doodle Interactively Yours stamp set.

Here's a look at the back of the circuitry, where the copper tape has wrapped through the slit-opening in the circuit by the switch. You can also see the pull tab adhered to the back of the switch.

 

As a reminder here's what our gingerbread house looks like before the magic happens. Also note the quarter next to it ... so tiny!

 

Ta-da! Our gingerbread house has Christmas lights on the roof!

The thickness of the battery, switch and foam tape inside make a natural stand for the house, although this house would also look cute with a loop of gold thread so you could hang it on a tree.

Here's a better view of the gingerbread house, as well as just how tiny it is. I used watercolors to paint all the layers. 

 One final look at our house with its lights on. So cozy looking!

Thanks so much for stopping by!
-Kelly

Supplies: 

Waffle Flower Gingerbread House

Heffy Doodle's Interactively Yours

White LEDs

Copper Tape