Making Pop-up Glowing Halloween Cards with Bare Paint Pens!
In this tutorial we'll show you how to make a ghoulish glowing mummy, a blinking cat and a flickering jack-o-lantern greeting card using Bare Paint Pens - perfect for sending to friends or displaying in your window this Halloween!
To help you complete this project we've made the card templates, batteries and flashing LEDs and Bare Paint Pen available to buy in the Halloween Pop-up Card Kit. Alternatively you can source them yourself via the links below.
To make a set of pop-up glowing halloween cards you will need…
Materials / Equipment
Bare Paint Pen (or jar if you are using a brush)
A4 or US letter coloured card
Cutting mat
Metal ruler
Craft knife *
Glue stick
Sticky tape
Hope punch (optional)
* This kit involves using a craft knife to cut out the templates and is not suitable for younger children without adult supervision and help. Please be careful when using cutting knives - it is easy to slip and cut your finger if you lose concentration or are tired!
Components
4 x Flashing LEDs in various colours, UK: Kitronik / US: Digi-Key (we use 2 yellow for the cats eyes, 1 green for the mummy and 1 red for the pumpkin)
3 x 3V Coin Cell Battery with pins, UK: Kitronik / US: Digi-Key
3 x paper clips
1 x long thin rubber band
Templates
Download PDFs of the cat, mummy and jack-o-lantern templates here:
Cat template (1.9 MB)
Mummy template (123 KB)
Jack-O-Lantern template (119 KB)
Each template file is printed on one piece of A4 card, back to back. It can also be printed on US Letter - make sure you select 'fit to printable area' when printing on US Letter. We use coloured cards to make the cards look even smarter.
Let's Get Started
Take a look at the component key and circuit diagram on each template. The numbers in the key refer to the numbers in the tutorial to help you work through the project step by step.
CAT:
1 Cut - using the craft knife and ruler carefully cut all the dashed lines (see key) - cut out the cat, the cut lines either side of the 'switch' and the dotted lines around his eyes, as shown. Be careful not to cut the dotted fold lines.
 
2 Fold - turn the knife over and gently score all the dotted fold lines using the ruler - the vertical and horizontal fold lines that bisect the sheet (these have already been done if you have bought the kit) and the fold lines either side of the switch.
3 LED - turn your cat over to show the circuit diagram and select two flashing yellow LEDs (or other colours you choose). Notice that the LEDs have one long leg and one short leg - the long leg is positive and the short leg is negative. LEDs are polarised which means that electricity will only flow through them in one direction so it is important that you put them into the circuit in the right direction.
Place the LEDs on the LED circuit symbols, making sure that the longer leg is on the side of the '+' symbol and the short leg is on the side of the '-' symbol, as shown. The LED lamps should be just below the cat's eyes.
Put a bit of sticky tape across the LEDs to hold them in place, leaving the bottom of the legs exposed. Using a Bare Paint Pen put a nice blob of Bare Paint at the bottom of the legs to stick them to the card.
4 Battery - batteries are also polarised. The batteries we are using have a longer leg (starting on the top) and a short leg (underneath). Splay out the legs so the battery will sit flat on the paper and place it on battery circuit symbol as shown, ensuring the longer leg is on the side of the '+' symbol and the shorted leg is on the side of the '-' symbol. Put a nice blob of Bare Paint on both legs to stick them to the card
5 Paint circuit and switch - draw in the circuit, see key, making sure there are no breaks or thin bits. Don't forget to fill in the grey square at the switch. Leave in a warm spot to thoroughly dry, approximately 10 minutes.
 
After the paint has dried, take the sheet in your hands, as shown and fold the left flap behind. Carefully pop out the 'step' with the switch in front and fold the whole card closed to reinforce the fold lines.
 
6 Paper clip switch - take your cat and place it in front of and against the step - you will notice the switch makes contact with and closes the gap in the circuit - your LEDs should start to twinkle behind! Slide in a paperclip at the paperclip symbol to secure the cat to the step. If the LEDs don't come on don't fret - try our troubleshooter at the bottom.
Now the fun bit! Gentle push back the cats eyes until they start blinking in the glow of the LEDs! They are especially visible in low light.
Prop up your cat in a window or post to a friend. If you post make sure you unclip the cat and flip it over so the switch doesn't make contact while he's in transit!
If you've enjoyed this tutorial or have any bright ideas or comments let us know and send your pictures to info@bareconductive.com !
MUMMY:
1 Fold - fold your mummy card in half, back on itself as shown. If you have printed templates then you can use the back of the craft knife and metal ruler to score the vertical and horizontal dotted fold lines that bisect the sheet, see key.
2 Cut - using the craft knife and metal ruler carefully cut all the dashed cut lines across the mummy as shown, through both layers. Open out the card and cut off the dashed borders, to create a nice full-bleed image.
 
Fold your mummy in half again and fold back each of the individual strips sharply, as shown. Open the card back out, fold the top behind. Gently begin to close the card as shown, popping out all the strips so that the mummy profile appears. Close completely and smooth to reinforce all the folds.
  
3 LED - reopen the greeting card to show the circuit diagram and select a flashing green LED (or other colour you choose). Notice that the LED has one long leg and one short leg - the long leg is positive and the short leg is negative. LEDs are polarised which means that electricity will only flow through them in one direction so it is important that you put them into the circuit in the right direction.
Splay out the legs of the LED and place on the LED circuit symbol, making sure that the longer leg is on the side of the '+' symbol and the short leg is on the side of the '-' symbol, as shown. Bend the LED so that it points up the card, as shown, in order to illuminate the length of the mummy.
Put a bit of sticky tape across the LED legs to hold them in place, leaving the circuit exposed. Using a Bare Paint Pen put a nice blob of Bare Paint on the legs to stick them to the card, as shown.
 
4 Battery - batteries are also polarised. The batteries we are using have a longer leg (starting on the top) and a short leg (underneath). Splay out the legs so the battery will sit flat on the paper and place it on battery circuit symbol as shown, ensuring the longer leg is on the side of the '+' symbol and the shorted leg is on the side of the '-' symbol. Put a nice blob of Bare Paint on both legs to stick them to the card
5 Paint circuit and switch - draw in the circuit, see key, making sure there are no breaks or thin bits. Don't forget to fill in the grey square at the switch. Leave in a warm spot to thoroughly dry, approximately 10 minutes.
 
6 Paper clip switch - after the paint has dried, fold the card back up. You will notice the switch makes contact with and closes the gap in the circuit behind the paper clip symbol.
 
Slide a paperclip to close the switch at the paper clip symbol - your LEDs should start to twinkle inside the mummy! It will be especially visible and eerie in low light! If the LED doesn't come on don't fret - try our troubleshooter at the bottom.
Place your mummy in a window or post to a friend. If you post make sure you slide a piece of paper between the layers at the paperclip so the switch doesn't make contact while he's in transit!
If you've enjoyed this tutorial or have any bright ideas or comments let us know and send your pictures to info@bareconductive.com !
PUMPKIN:
1 Cut - using the craft knife and metal ruler carefully cut out the top and bottom of the pumpkin on the dashed cut lines, see key. Don't forget to cut out the face details, the slot at the paperclip symbol and around the stork (which you pop up later). You can use a hole punch to make the 6 small holes around the edge of the bottom template.
  
2 Fold - use the back of the craft knife and ruler to score all the dotted fold lines, see key. Gently bend the folds of the top and bottom of the pumpkin inwards to create the pumpkin shape, as shown.
 
3 LED - open out the bottom of the pumpkin to reveal the circuit diagram and select a flashing red LED (or other colour you choose). Notice that the LED has one long leg and one short leg - the long leg is positive and the short leg is negative. LEDs are polarised which means that electricity will only flow through them in one direction so it is important that you put them into the circuit in the right direction.
Curl round the legs of the LED and place on the LED circuit symbol as shown, making sure that the longer leg is on the side of the '+' symbol and the short leg is on the side of the '-' symbol, as shown. Using a Bare Paint Pen put a nice blob of Bare Paint on the legs to stick them to the card, as shown.
4 Battery - batteries are also polarised. The batteries we are using have a longer leg (starting on the top) and a short leg (underneath). Splay out the legs so the battery will sit flat on the paper and place it on battery circuit symbol as shown, ensuring the longer leg is on the side of the '+' symbol and the shorted leg is on the side of the '-' symbol. Put a nice blob of Bare Paint on both legs to stick them to the card
5 Paint circuit and switch - draw in the circuit, see key, making sure there are no breaks or thin bits. Don't forget to fill in the grey square at the switch. Leave in a warm spot to thoroughly dry, approximately 10 minutes.
 
After it has dried you can check the circuit by closing the little flap with the switch across the circuit as shown - the LED should start to twinkle! If the LED doesn't come on don't fret - try our troubleshooter at the bottom.
6 Glue - take a long, thin rubber band and snip it open. Thread through all the holes in the bottom template and tie in a knot so that all the edges come together firmly.
 
The next bit is slightly tricky so go slowly - using a glue stick, glue a single hatched tab (see key) in the bottom template and press it against the corresponding tab from the top template as shown, until dry. Make sure that your pumpkin face is matched up correctly.
 
Slowly work your way around glueing each bottom and top tab together and pressing until dry. If you are right handed it is easiest work from right to left (shown), if you are left handed then it is easiest to work from left to right.
 
The last tab will be slightly fiddly - slide your finger behind the bottom tab as shown so that after glueing you can press it more easily against the top tab.
Sit back and admire your 3D pumpkin. If he's looking a bit loose then you can carefully tighten the rubber band to make the joints firmer.
7 Paper clip switch - now the fun bit, poke the flap at the bottom in and gently slide a paperclip over it to secure - this will presses the painted square switch across the gap in the circuit to close it. Your pumpkin jack-o-lantern should start to twinkle!
Place your jack-o-lantern in a window or post to a friend. If you post you can gently flatten your pumpkin to slide in an envelope - make sure you remove the paperclip and open the flap so that the switch doesn't make contact while he's in transit!
If you've enjoyed this tutorial or have any bright ideas or comments let us know and send your pictures to info@bareconductive.com !
Troubleshooting
If your LED doesn't turn on don't fret, there's a few things you can try -
1. Is your paint completely dry? If not leave it overnight or put in a warm place.
2. Are any of your components short circuiting - is the paint joined up underneath it? If so take out the component and remove the paint with a knife then re-apply.
3. Are your component in the right way round? Check your component key to make sure you have the polarity correct.
4. Are your lines too thin or broken? Your lines may be too resistant to pass sufficient current - try making them wider or thicker.
5. Are your switch contacts in the right place - are they actually bridging the gap in the circuit when you close the switch? You may need to reposition them.
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