Add Some Light to your #Cre8time with Chibitronics and Designers Craft Connection

Hello friends! I have watching the night skies for my Man in Blue Box to arrive and meanwhile getting in a little Cre8time. This month the Designer Crafts Connection was challenged to work with Chibitronics... only one word can describe these – AMAZING!!! CLICK HERE to hop on over to the Designer Crafts Connection blog to see all the creations that with illuminate your crafting!

Today I'm using the Chibitronics Chibi Lights LED Circuit Stickers STEM Starter Kit – which has everything you need in one super cute kit to add electronics to any sticker-friendly surface: paper, fabric, plastic, the sky's the limit! 

Chibitronics Chibi Lights Circuit Stickers are a creative and fun way to learn electronics. Circuit stickers are LED circuits on peel-and-stick stickers. Build circuits without soldering, plugging wires, or clips. Instead, use the stickers with conductive tapes to draw circuits on paper and other crafts. Learn to build circuits while make interactive artworks. It's easy, fun, safe and creative.

Included in the kit is everything you need to add light to virtually anything you can imagine. The Circuit Sticker Sketchbook gives you step-by-step instructions, with pictures to build upon, for several variations of circuits. Chibitronics would be great for kids projects - as everything needed to make circuits is sticker based... no mess and no tools necessary.

On the Chibitronics website, there are videos of each process and more advanced circuit ideas. I decided to go with the parallel circuit as I wanted to line up a few lights to illuminate the windows of my resin cast Blue Police Box {made from my VLVS stamp design, Amazing Mold Rubber, Alumidust and Amazing Clear Cast Resin}.

The first thing I did was read the instructions and trace my pendant shape onto a piece of paper so that I could make a test run of planning the circuit trail. After a first try, I made another, using the full width of copper tape.

I initially planned on running 3 white lights at the windows and a yellow light at the top - but these little babies are really BRIGHT! 

So I decided to go with only two lights which gives just the right amount of pop.

Now that my circuit is prepared, I removed the excess copper tape for the circuits not being used and trimmed my paper to fit behind my resin pendant. I added double layer of black 3D foam adhesive squares around border and in empty areas which will adhere this to backside.

Before sticking down, I lightly brushed my paper front and back with blue spray mist - quickly drying off any excess that puddled around my circuits. My battery can slip in and out of a pocket I left open to insert it when I want to wear and illuminate. Almost a perfect match and the mottled texture was an interesting surprise.

Quick and easy! Lights off...

Lights ON!!!

I drilled a hole in the top and wire-wrapped a hanger on to attach to a rustic necklace which has a solder stamped charm and a the key that will open my "T.A.R.D.I.S.". My pendant now has a proper home ready to wear at the next Timelord Fest.

The Chibitronics lights bring a whole new dimension to crafting and it was fun as I learned about electronics too!! I can't wait to use these in my papercrafts and handmade cards... watch out Hallmark... I have special effects too!

Follow Your Whovian Heart!

Thanks for stopping by and have a great day! CLICK HERE to hop on over to the Designer Crafts Connection blog for more fun projects using Chibitronics... and find out how some blog candy to be won too! :) Sb

#Cre8time Lights up the Night... Offray Ribbon Challenge with Designer Crafts Connection

Welcome to another special Designer Crafts Connection Challenge - using ribbon products from Offray® - the World's Most Beautiful Ribbon. We have been challenged to make something handmade utilizing a generous assortment of sheer and satin Offray ribbons. My ribbon colors are light cremes, pale blue and a white wired satin... perfect colors to make an upcylced night light for my new little nephew!

In today's project I have used Simply Sheer Asiana Creme 1 1/2"; 2203 Dainty DFS Light Blue 1/8"; 1016SFS Cream 1H 3/8" satin; 1015SFS Light Blue 1 1/2" - all from Offray®. Other supplies used: Recycled liquor box; white acrylic paint; double-sided adhesive tape; Beacon Fabri-Tac; scissors; flat back glass beads for feet; LED tap light.

I am in Ribbon Heaven... sheer and satin, wide and thin...

perfect ribbonry contrasts to create with!

So much ribbon - so little time! I have so many ideas and have more than enough ribbon to work on a large project. I have a recycled liquor box awaiting transformation before hubs chucks it into the Tuesday recycling pickup that will make a lovely nightlight.

To begin, I whitewashed all black surfaces on the box and lid using white acrylic paint applied in a dry-brush fashion. This recycled box is a paper base, so I don't want to make it too wet. I left the beautiful copper metallic paper exposed on the inside which will give a nice contrast and glow when lit.

Using double-sided adhesive tape, I wrapped the edges to accept rows of sheer ribbon, slightly overlapped. Then I created vertical stripes by overlapping the satin ribbons and tacked them down using Beacon Fabri-Tac. For added contrast, I exposed the matte backside of the 3/8" creme satin ribbon. I wrapped edges around top and bottoms which are tucked inside where lid fits into.

The lid has been whitewashed also, and I cut sections of the large blue satin ribbon to create a woven pattern - layered with the creme 3/8" ribbon. All tacked down with double-sided adhesive with edges are wrapped around and tucked inside. 

The final touch is adding the magic! A battery powered LED taplight. It makes a custom light project so quick and easy. I pick them up at the grocery store - they come in a two-pack for about $5-6. I splurge on the lights because the quality of light is brighter than those I've purchased previously at the dollar store {in this case you get what you pay for}.

  

All lit up the copper metallic gives a warm glow and compliments the colors of the ribbon. I've left the solid sides white washed and uncovered as it has a nice texture and bluish tint from streaks of the black background peeking through. This new lamp is cordless and is perfect for my new nephew's nursery... just lift the lid and give the light a tap!

My recylced Lamp is ready
to light up the night!

Be sure to visit Offray.com to sign up for email newsletters to receive information about new products, project ideas, and special savings. Plus, receive 15% OFF your first order at Offray.com when you sign up for email!

+ + + + + + + + + + + +

Thanks so much for visiting! For more ideas and inspiration follow the Designer Crafts Connection "Offray Ribbon Challenge" by selecting hop back/forward on the logo below to enjoy all of the wonderful creations. Sb :)

Designer Craft Connection

[ Hop back ] [ Hop forward ]

#Cre8time goes on Safari for the Designer Crafts Connection Home Décor Challenge

Welcome to another special Designer Crafts Connection Bloghop - this time it's a Home Décor Challenge. Upon receipt of my challenge materials provided by Kunin Felt, Beacon Adhesives and Buttons Galore and More, it was a bit of a challenge to decide what I wanted to create. I had a "lightbulb" moment and decided upon a greencrafting project - one that goes along with the decor in my bedroom and take my muse to the serengeti.

Join us today September 7th through 14th for this special Home Décor Challenge by the Designers Craft Connection where we are challenged to create an amazing home decor project utilizing Kunin Felt, Beacon Adhesives and Buttons from Buttons Galore and More! For this event there is a fabulous giveaway too {please scroll down for Rafflecopter entry info}.

I was sent an assortment of gorgeous felt, buttons and Beacon Felt Glue and Fabri-Tac Adhesives. I've planned on altering a recycled tequila box into a fashionable lamp, so these adhesives and the pre-cut felt squares will make my work "NO SEW". I will alter some of the buttons to make them a uniform color that will coordinate with the felt and painted wooden shapes to be used for feet.

An extra added bonus to this "GREEN" project... all of the Kunin Felt I received is ECO-FI Polyester made from post-consumer plastic bottles. I totally dig that! I'm all for utilizing GREEN products.

My husband likes a certain brand of tequila which to my delight comes with a gorgeous sturdy linen paper box that I get to use for my Cre8time purposes. I removed the lid and gently disassembled to gain access to the interior where I will mount one of two puck lights. There is a handy hole already cut here that just happens to be the same size as the LED portion of the light. I will mount the other in the bottom where there is a larger circle from securing the bottle.

The paper of the box is black, but my felt are in a variety of browns so I took the extra step to paint the edges of the box that will be exposed with an Expresso Adirondack acrylic paint dauber by Ranger. These dauber tops make painting quick and easy!

A little discovery that also made my project easier is that I was able to cut the felt on my 12" X-ACTO guillotine cutter. I'm still doing a happy dance about this! Since I was cutting rectangles and squares to cover parts of my recycled box, precision cutting was going to be important. I couldn't have cut them better by hand, unless I measured and marked each piece first.

 

I started out with the Cheetah print and made this the lining of the light, so I could utilize the contrasting beautiful brocade textured felt on the outside.

The Beacon Felt Glue tacks up quickly, and dries clear. I did find out that it's not so great for felt-to-felt adhesion - so for that I used the Fabri-Tac. I continued around adding felt panels around the entire box, and on the lid. For the edging at top and bottom, I doubled up the layer of brown felt to give more dimension and a nice curved finished edge {this is where I needed to adhere felt to felt}. I added a decorative ribbon trim around the edging using tiny dabs of Fabric-Tac in a few places on each side.

The bottom of the box I brushed with a combination of gold, bronze and the espresso acrylic paint to match some wooden pieces I had painted already leftover from another project. I finished off the feet with altered buttons painted first overall with black, then a combination of metallic Ranger Alcohol inks.

I repeated the alcohol ink process to create a layered button accent for the top of my lamp. I recolor my buttons often when I don't have one or enough in the color that I need {this certainly helps in using all the buttons in my stash}.

The feature of the lamp is the two battery powered LED tap lights installed. The light is not too bright, gives a nice glow, and makes for a great accent nightlight. I picked these up at my grocery store - they come in a 2 pack for about $6 {the dollar store version aren't quite powerful enough}.

So from what began as this assortment of supplies... 

Has been transformed into a stunning LED touch lamp that matches perfectly with the Asian/Safari decor in my bedroom {the one room that we have really actually decorated}. The cheetah print felt lining glows nicely in the light and fits in with my wooden carved safari accent pieces and the embossed felt blends in beautifully with the light and dark wood furniture, wicker pieces and the handmade banana paper wall in the backdrop. This is simply beautiful!

+ + + + + + + + + + + +

Don't forget to enter to win the fabulous prize package of $100 in product from Kunin Felt, Beacon Adhesives and Buttons Galore and More!

Kunin
http://kuningroup.com
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Kunin-Felt-Products/259966984033282
https://twitter.com/KuninFeltFC
http://www.pinterest.com/kuningroupgeorg/

Beacon
http://www.beaconadhesives.com/chaven.html
https://www.facebook.com/beaconadhesives
https://twitter.com/BeaconAdhesives
http://www.pinterest.com/beaconadhesives/

Buttons Galore and More
http://buttonsgaloreandmore.net
https://www.facebook.com/buttonsgalore
https://twitter.com/ButtonsGalore
http://www.pinterest.com/buttonsgalore

a Rafflecopter giveaway

+ + + + + + + + + + + +

Thanks so much for visiting! Continue on the Designer Crafts Connection "Home Décor Challenge" Bloghop by selecting hop back/forward on the logo below to enjoy all of the wonderful Home Décor inspiration. Sb :)

Designer Craft Connection

[ Hop back ] [ Hop forward ]