Tubes of Terror!

Halloween is almost upon us and the need for light up craft projects is never higher! These fun little paper circuits projects are simple to cut out, fun to color, and are just spooky enough for your average child to enjoy during Halloween. It's the perfect STEM activity for a rainy October Day.

Paper Circuits projects are simple and inexpensive ways to get kids of all ages excited about electronics. The circuitry in these projects is extremely quick and easy but added a fun bit of lighting to this craft project. If you wanted to be extra silly you could swap the LEDs for a small vibrating motor to make them rattle around!

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Full disclosure: Brown Dog Gadgets sells paper circuits kits and supplies. You don't need to use any of our materials to make this project, just grab your favorite roll of conductive tape, a battery, and an LED to easily light things up. However, supporting us does allow us to continue to make and post awesome projects like this one!

Tools you will need:

• 1x Scissors
• 1x Xacto Knife
• Markers, Crayons, or Colored Pencils
• Hot Glue Gun/Glue (optional)

Materials you will need:

• Paper Circuits Kit (If you need everything)
• 1x Jumbo 10mm LED (any color; we used white)
• 1x CR2032 Battery
• 1/4" Conductive Tape (Like our awesome Maker Tape!)
• Transparent Tape
• Printable Templates (Found below or you can always find updated ones at this link.)

Note: You want to use heavier paper if at all possible. Our favorite paper is 30 pound card stock. Strong enough to work with, yet not so thick that it jams your average printer.

BEFORE YOU BEGIN: If you want to create a version of this project that does NOT require use of an Xacto knife, simply print the template on standard copy paper. The light will still show through the facial features as long as everything around them is colored and those features are left white.

Print cut and color your spooky project/parts on heavy card stock.

Using an Xacto knife, carefully cut out and remove the white facial features indicated on the template (as if you were carving a Jack-o-Lantern).

Using a pencil as shown, pull the project against this round shape from straight edge to straight edge. This will give the project a curl and make it easier to turn into a tube.

Bring the two matching edges together to form the tube shape and use a single piece of transparent tape to hold the seam together.

Prepare the LED by bending the legs so that the LED bulb can lay flat. Then bend them outward in opposite directions so there's enough space between them for a battery to sit without touching.

Take care to flatten the legs so that the long and short leg are oriented in the way shown on the back of the circular lid.

Use the circuit diagram on the back of the project's circular lid to assemble the circuit.

First, use two Maker Tape sections to secure LED legs in place. Make sure to note the length of the legs and orient the LED/legs to match the diagram. Then, add the next Maker Tape section shown so that it connects to the tape path leading from the SHORT LED leg.

Make a tape loop out of your conductive tape. (Not all conductive tape will work this way. It needs to be conductive on the adhesive side. Our nylon conductive Maker Tape works GREAT for this.)

Stick the tape loop onto the end of the tape section that you last placed as shown.

Stick the battery onto the tape loop so that the positive side faces UP.

Add the final piece of Maker Tape and fold the lid down to seal the deal!

Note: Connecting this final piece of Maker Tape to the top of the battery turns the light on while peeling it back will turn it off. There are heaps of ways to make conductive tape switches out of paper. We have some basic guides for how to do this documented at this link.

Add embellishments afterward to decorate!

One LED powered off a single CR2032 battery should last a few days before getting dim. These projects will obviously look best at night or in low light conditions.

For extra fun, attach a piece of string and hang them up!