Making the Coffee Cup Lamp

Duration: ~1 hour

Materials

• 1 paper coffee cup (12 oz)
• Printer and/or tissue paper
• Colored duct tape, jewels, stickers (optional; for decoration)
• 1 Adafruit Circuit Clayground Express, a battery holder with an on/off switch, and 3 AAA batteries
• Conductive copper tape
• Scissors
• Duct tape

Step 1: Cut the coffee cup

Cut a rectangular opening in the side of the coffee cup.

Step 2: Decorate the coffee cup

Use duct tape, jewels, or stickers to decorate the outside of the coffee cup. Don’t put anything on the inside, leave it blank!

Step 3: Cut out the design

Measure the size of the opening in the coffee cup and cut 5 pieces of paper that are the same size. Plan out your design on each piece of paper and cut them out.

Place pieces of paper on top of each other starting with piece number 1. Put pieces 2, 3, 4, and 5 on top of each previous one other in that order.

Tape the 5 pieces of paper together.

Tape the 5 pieces of paper into the cup to fill the opening.

Alright, we’re done working on the cup design. You can put the cup aside for now.

Step 4: Add the copper tape switches onto the board

Attach strips of copper tape (each about 5 inches long) to pins A1 - A6 to make 6 touch switches. Make sure the sticky side of the tape is facing up! Fold the tape over itself through the pins to secure the connection.

Step 5: Connect the battery pack

Connect the battery pack to the Adafruit Circuit Playground Express through the hole in the coffee cup lid.

Step 6: Attach Adafruit Circuit Playground Express to the cup lid

Use a loop of duct tape on the bottom of the Adafruit Circuit Playground Express to attach it to the inside of the coffee cup lid. Since the board like the lid is round, it fits nicely inside. Leave the copper tape strips outside of the lid.

Step 7: Put the lid on the coffee cup

Place the lid upside down on a surface. Carefully place the lid onto the coffee cup keeping the copper tape strips outside of the cup.

Trim the ends and press down the copper tape switches to the side of the coffee cup.

Complete!

Congratulations! You’ve worked hard and completed the coffee cup lamp make challenge. Turn on the battery pack and press the switches to see your design light up!