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Firefly Craft: Sewn Circuits

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Have you ever heard of conductive thread?  It’s a pretty fun thing to play around with we made a firefly craft with it and made some sewn circuits!  The little firefly actually lights up!  This is a really fun tie-in to the book The Very Lonely Firefly by Eric Carle. It is also an awesome combination of art and science!!

Sewn circuit firefly craft- STEAM project for kids

To make these little sewn circuits, you will need a few supplies that you will not likely have lying around, so it takes a bit of prep work.

Supplies for Sewn Circuits:

Conductive Thread
LED Pin Lights
Needle
Felt
Sewable Battery Holder
CR2032 Coin Cell Battery

Decide on a design that you want to make. We made a little firefly in a jar, but you could really do ANYTHING!  The important part is making a circuit. You can get creative with the design!

firefly-craft

 

I drew the designs on the felt in pencil for my daughter to cut out.

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I glued the firefly together with fabric glue, but tacky glue would probably work we,ll, too. I did not glue the jar down onto the background until after the circuit was sewn. One you have created your design, decide where you want your light to go.

How to Make a Sewn Circuit

The LED pin lights have a positive side and a negative side. The longer side is the positive side. You roll up the two ends of the pins. The negative (shorter) end I curled up smaller and tighter and the positive (longer) a larger curl so I could distinguish them.  I used a pair of round nose jewelry pliers, but any little tool will work.

sewing-circuits-conductive-thread-project

Sew from one side of the LED to the matching (positive or negative) side of the battery holder. (Positive to positive and negative to negative.) Once you have sewn a line from the light to the battery holder, cut the thread. Then start a new stitch to attach from negative to negative. These are easy basic stitches that my kids could easily do on their own.

firefly-sewn-circuit

Once you pop in the battery, the light should light up!  It is quite simple!  You can add multiple lights or different types of circuits, too! I am planning on framing this for my son’s bedroom with an open frame. Then the battery can just be popped in and out to turn it on and off.

 

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Now read a firefly book and enjoy your little firefly sewn circuit night light!

Find more STEAM Projects for kids in the STEAM Kids book!

steam-kids-book-formats

 

This is part of the Process Art Challenge. This month’s theme was string!
See More Yarn and String Process Art Activities:

14258210_10210277614519769_770423503239669264_o
Yarn Rubbing Art from Views From a Step Stool
Yarn Wrapped Pumpkin Lanterns from Mum in the Mad House
Watercolour Yarn Art from Arty Crafty Kids
Yarn Fine Motor Jewelry from Sugar Aunts
Rainstorm Yarn Painting Preschool Process Art from Preschool Powol Packets
Yarn Air Plant Hangers by Wee Warhols
Homemade Looms: Process Art with Yarn from For This Season

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