How to Make a Light-Up Father’s Day Card

Father’s Day is just around the corner and we created this project with pop’s day in mind, but we think it’s perfect for any occasion where a dash of DIY is just the right ingredient. So check it out — the Light-Up, Pop-Up Greeting Card! All you’ll need is a few craft supplies like paper, glue and a pair of scissors as well as the following electronics supplies to make your pops feel all warm and fuzzy :)

Creative Technologist Nick made this project by building a classic pop-up card and adding just a touch of geekery — some copper tape and a handful of LilyPad components.

Any solder and soldering iron will work and if you want a different color of LilyPad LED then feel free to substitute it in! Okay, now that we’ve gathered some materials, let’s get started.

If you’re not totally comfortable with soldering or simple circuits, that’s cool. Check out these beginner guides:

Pop-Up Basics

Pop-up cards are great for making paper circuits because they give you places to hide batteries and switches and things like that. They also create depth, which plays nicely with the LED lighting.

There are a ton of ways to create this depth. If you’re interested in designing your own card using advanced pop-up kung-fu, check out Robert Sabuda’s site. The card that we’re making today relies on this very simple method:

To get a pop-up layer all you have to do is fold the card, make two cuts on the folded edge, and open it back up reversing the fold on the pop-up part. If that didn’t make sense then check this out. Everything after that is just cutting little layers of scenery and gluing it into place.

We’re lazy and spoiled, so we used a laser cutter. This wouldn’t be hard to cut out using a hobby knife, though, so don’t worry if you don’t have access to lasers. Just print out this template and get to cutting! The red lines in the template are where we printed on the card and the black lines are where we cut.

You’ll notice that the card has two layers so that there won’t be a big hole in the front of the card where we cut out the pop-up layer. Also, the car, dad and child cutouts are attached to the front of the garage with strips of paper folded accordion style. Once the paper portion of the card is put together, it’s time to light it up! Let’s get started on the paper circuit…

Paper Circuits

To make the card light up, we’re going to put together the simple circuit below. Instead of using conductive thread to connect the LilyPad components, we’ll be using copper tape.

As long as all of your “+” signs are connected and all of your “-” are connected, you can lay out the tape in any pattern you want. Think about the layout of the card. We hid most of our components under the pop-up layer with the LEDs at the top so they shine out through the front. At the places where the copper tape meets, you’ll need to form an electrical connection by adding a little dab of solder to the overlap.

In order to secure each of the LilyPad components, simply place them and then add solder to the center of the connector. Don’t be afraid to hold the soldering iron in place for a few seconds while the hot solder flows through the connector and attaches to the copper tape below.

Once all of your components are soldered in place, insert a coin cell battery and push the switch into the “on” position. Your LEDs should light up!

If your card works and looks the way you want it to then it’s time to slap that thing into an envelope and give it to dad. Also, don’t limit yourself to Father’s Day, you can make light-up cards for any occasion.

What other electronics or circuitry projects would you like to see on Brit + Co? Tell us in the comments below.

When it comes to New Year rituals, the naysayers might scoff, but we know there's something utterly transformational about kickstarting the year with a fresh calendar in hand. Admittedly, it might end up buried in your tote by March, or you'll find it snuggled among the books you've been planning to read. So, why not switch things up this time? Skip the planner that may play hide-and-seek and go for a wall or desk calendar instead. The best part? These stationary stunners are immune to getting lost during transit or making you feel guilty for missing that daily itinerary. We've rounded up a flock of unique options that'll keep your ducks in a row, no matter what life throws at you.

Wall Calendars

Opalhouse 2024 Wall Calendar

Add a touch of boho chic to your decor with this visually stunning wall calendar from Opalhouse. It's not just a calendar; it's a piece of decor for your space.

The Everygirl x Day Designer 2024 Wall Calendar

Collaborating with The Everygirl, Day Designer brings you an elegant wall calendar that marries functionality and style. Stay organized in the most fashionable way possible.

Houseplants Foil Poster 2024 Wall Calendar

Embrace the plant mom life with this foil poster wall calendar. Each month showcases a unique houseplant, making it an excellent choice for green thumbs and wannabe plant parents.

Rifle Paper Co. 2024 Greetings from Around the World Wall Calendar

Transport yourself to far-off places with this Around the World Wall Calendar by Rifle Paper Co. Each month features greetings from a different country, perfect for travel enthusiasts.

Blue Sky Meadows 2024 Wall Calendar (Kelly Ventura For Blue Sky)

Let this navy blue and floral design help you tackle your important projects in style.

Phoebe and June Shops & Markets 2024 Wall Calendar

This adorable wall calendar makes us want to live our best soft girl lives.

Wild House Paper Intentional Calendar 2024

Wild House Paper's Intentional Calendar is all about setting goals and crushing them. Stay motivated and track your progress with this inspirational gem.

Papier The Month Of Calendar

Papier's Month Of Calendar is a wonderful way to celebrate life's little moments. Customize it with your favorite photos and memories to make each day special.

Aesthetic Minimalistic 2024 Wall Calendar

Keep it simple and stylish with an Aesthetic Minimalistic Wall Calendar. It's a great choice for those who appreciate clean lines and a clutter-free look.

Live Oak Print Mountain 2024 Wall Calendar

Want to spend more time in nature next year? Let this 2024 calendar help you map out your vacation days.

SofestoreShop 2024 Groovy Pink Calendar

2024 calendars should be fun and aesthetically pleasing, so add this groovy pink design to your cart today!

Papier Multi Photo Personalized 2024 Wall Calendar

Bring a slice of home to your office with this personalized wall calendar.

Desk Calendars

Day Designer Wild Blooms 2024 Desk Pad Calendar

For those who prefer their planning right in front of them, the Wild Blooms desk pad calendar from Day Designer is an absolute must-have. It's like having a stylish bouquet on your desk every day.

2024 Good Boys Easel Calendar

Prepare for your heart to melt with this adorable dog-themed easel calendar. Every month features different good boys to keep you smiling all year long.

Rifle Paper Co. Blossom Appointment Calendar

Rifle Paper Co. is back with their signature whimsical style in the Blossom Appointment Calendar. Plan your days with a touch of floral elegance.

Hadley Designs Doodle Large 2024-2025 Desk Calendar

This desk calendar is for the girlies who finds themselves doodling during their zoom meetings — we see you.

Pen+pillar For Cambridge 2024 Desk Calendar

We can't get enough of floral 2024 calendars.

Trends International Inc. Harry Potter 2024 Desk Calendar

Immortalize scenes from the Harry Potter franchise on your desk — at least for 12 months.

For more organization inspiration, be sure to sign up for our email newsletter!

Brit + Co may at times use affiliate links to promote products sold by others, but always offers genuine editorial recommendations.

This post has been updated with additional reporting by Jasmine Williams.

Header image via Anthropologie

Challengers is honestly just one giant tennis match. While we watch Zendaya's Tashi, Mike Faist's Art, and Josh O'Connor's Patrick play the game in a literal sense, we also see their personal relationship spiral, ricocheting back and forth as each character plays a different role every couple of years. And the crazy Challengers ending is a culmination of this intense emotional journey because it solidifies Patrick, Tashi, and Art's relationship — both to one another, but also to tennis itself.

What did the ending of The Challengers mean?

Image via Niko Tavernise/Amazon MGM Studios

There is a lot of tension between Tashi, Art, and Patrick throughout the movie, and it all builds to the titular Challenger match. It's Art vs. Patrick, and they're playing for way more than just the title and the money (though of course, they're definitely playing for the title and the money) — this is one final chance to prove themselves to Tashi, who's sitting court-side looking very unimpressed.

Both men lose their cool during different sets, but it's in the third and final set that everything comes to a head. At the end of the match, Patrick confesses to sleeping with Tashi using a tennis ball and racket signal only Art recognizes. For a split second Art is is complete shock, and I expected him to completely lose it. And, technically, he does, but in a totally unexpected way. Rather than jump the net and punch Patrick in the face, Art channels his emotions into his tennis, and the fury he feels actually allows him break through whatever slump he's been stuck in.

Unable to have a conversation about Patrick's secret, Art and Patrick talk with their serves and returns. And because Tashi doesn't catch the signal, for the first time in the whole movie, she's cut out of the conversation.

Did Tashi love Art and Patrick?

Image via Niko Tavernise/Amazon MGM Studios

Tashi's been pulling the strings ever since she met Art and Patrick, and she's never not been in control. After Patrick sends the signal, she knows something is going on between them, she just doesn't know what — and it unnerves her. Thanks to Zendaya's expert subtlety, the twitch of her eyebrow or the particularly anxious way she grips her hands are the only things that give her away. But her confusion, and the men's anger, quickly turn to pure joy in the final moments of the movie.

Patrick and Art end up playing so intensely that they meet at the net and embrace, prompting Tashi's iconic tennis yell before she gives one of her first genuine laughs of the film and the screen cuts to black. The first time I saw the movie, I thought "What?!" but the more I think about it, the clearer the Challengers ending is.

Patrick and Art (whose relationship begins six or seven years before the movie opens) haven't spoken since the big fight surrounding Tashi's injury, and their hug proves they're just happy to be playing together again. It's what they've always loved, and their fight over Tashi almost ended it forever. Tashi's pure elation shows she's happy to watch some good tennis, especially after she failed to help Art break out of his rut.

We've only seen Tashi scream like that once before, when she admits to a perfect tennis match. While Tashi does care for Patrick and Art, the end of Challengers proves the characters' true love was never really each other — it was always the game.

What did you think of the Challengers ending? After you rewatch the movie (and then rewatch it again), check out the other Most-Anticipated Spring Movies For 2024.

Lead image via Niko Tavernise/Amazon MGM Studios

Are you in a rut trying to figure out a cute Valentine's Day card for your little one to DIY? Well, we've got 11 perfect solutions for you! We scoured the web for the cutest handmade cards for your kids to hand out (or snail mail) this Valentine's Day. Happy making!

Donut You Know Bags

These bags are adorable! Littles can help fill them in with treats and older kids can DIY with their own personal message! (via LittlebeaneBoutique)

Easy and Funny DIY Card

This Valentine's Day card is a winner. Have your little one pose for a photo and combine it with silly mustaches from your local party store. (via Modern Magpie)

Printable Maze Valentine

We love this printable (and interactive) Valentine's Day card! It holds a pencil between the slots and your little can add one for her fave people. (via MadiLovesKiwi)

A Tasty DIY

This is the perfect Valentine's Day card for your little Minion. So adorable! (via Crafty Morning)

A Stylish Card

This barrette card is sweet and easy to make! (via Spoonful)

A Cute And Useful Card

What a cute idea! Don't worry about buying Valentine's Day-themed socks; just purchase white socks and dye them a pink! (via Saltwater-kids)

A Colorful Valentine's DIY

Do you have tons of old broken crayons laying around in various drawers? Well, turn them into new multi-colored crayons by melting them down into heart-shaped molds. (via Whipper Berry)

A Snack-able Gift

Mix things up and try little fishes instead of hearts! Check out the free printable download. (via Bliss Bloom Blog)

Glowing Valentines

These glow-stick cards get the message across brightly! We're loving the Milton Glaser-inspired design. You can download these beauties. (via Kommunicated)

An Interactive Card

We're sure your little ones know all the words to every One Direction song, but this card will teach your children about one of the greatest boy bands of all time. (via Made Everyday)

A Sparkly DIY

Are you and your little one pro DIY-ers? This is the project for you! We love how they added a bit of glitter to the dough. (via Red Ted Art)


Follow us on Pinterest from more DIY ideas

This article has been updated from a previous post.

While it's always nice to see something realistic represented in our favorite TV shows, there are few things more painful than watching a TV breakup. Even when we don't actually know fictional characters IRL, it's absolutely devastating to see them break each other's hearts. (Although, it's equally as bad as never seeing your favorite prospective couple get together — I will never forgive The 100 for what they did to Clarke and Bellamy!!).

Keep reading to see some of our most heartbreaking splits — and then check outWhat Being Team Conrad Or Jeremiah Says About Your Dream TV Boyfriendto put a smile back on your face.

Image via NBC

Ross and Rachel from Friends

Friends is one of the most iconic sitcoms of all times, and Ross and Rachel is definitely one of the most devastating TV breakups. In season 3, this iconic couple decides to take a break in and in "The One with the Morning After," Ross wakes up with another woman named Chloe at the exact moment Rachel shows up at his door. Rachel finds out about the affair, and after a fight in Monica's living room, the couple calls it quits.

Regardless of how you feel about Ross claiming they "were on a break" when he slept with Chloe, seeing Rachel's reaction (and knowing the trust between them was broken) is one of the worst moments in the whole show. Just thinking about it makes my stomach bottom out!

Image via The CW/WB

Rory and Jess from Gilmore Girls

This is one of my personal most-devastating TV breakups because it seems like, out of all of Rory's boyfriends, Rory and Jess are just perfect for each other when they start dating. Not only does their love of books bring them closer together, but their personalities are so compatible. But when Jess leaves for California at the end of season 3 — without saying anything to Rory, I might add — is unacceptable! It breaks my heart, and based on the final look he gives Rory during A Year in the Life, he also regrets it BIG TIME.

Image via The CW/WB

Damon and Elena from The Vampire Diaries

This Vampire Diaries couple was truly endgame, and the will-they-won't-they of it all was one of my favorite things about the show. So when they broke up (to my horror), I was devastated.

Damon and Elena admit they're bad for each other in the season 5 episode "While You Were Sleeping" (then Damon tells her he doesn't even want to be friends. Ouch!!), but it's the season finale, "Home," that makes me extra emotional. When Damon gets stuck with Bonnie on the Other Side, he says goodbye to Elena, who's begging him not to leave but can neither see nor hear him. Say it with me: gut! wrenching!

Image via Erika Doss/Prime Video

Conrad and Belly from The Summer I Turned Pretty

The Summer I Turned Pretty fans are PASSIONATE about whether they're team Conrad or team Jeremiah (trick question, my OTP is Taylor and Stephen), and even the most dedicated Conrad stan hates the prom scene. You know, when he breaks up with Belly at her prom, in the rain. I know he just thinks Belly deserves better, but it's still very painful to watch.

Image via FOX

Schmidt and Cece from New Girl

When I hear "devastating TV breakup" I IMMEDIATELY think of Schmidt and Cece from New Girl. Schmidt gets away with a lot of ridiculous things throughout this show, but dating two girls at one time is not one of them. After Nick has a hard time keeping Schmidt's love life a secret, Schmidt finally comes clean to Cece in "Double Date," leaving both her and me in tears. No matter how many times you rewatch the show, it truly feels like their relationship (and maybe even the friend group) will never recover.

Image via BBC/Prime Video

Fleabag and The Priest on Fleabag

In the history of TV, I don't think I've ever heard anything as heartbreaking as "I love you," "It'll pass." Like, who approved that line?! The viral moment comes at the end of the Fleabag series finale, when Fleabag is sitting with The Priest at the bus stop. Over the course of the series, we not only see how much these two care about each other, but how well they know each other (like how The Priest recognizes when Fleabag zones out). To be loved is to be known, and that's what makes this devastating TV breakup even more devastating.

Image via HBO

Carrie and Aidan on Sex and the City

After so much back and forth, it's hard to accept Carrie and Aidan's final breakup on SATC. But in season 4's "Change of a Dress," Carrie realizes she's not ready for marriage and Aidan realizes he doesn't trust her after her affair with Big. The combo of broken trust and being at two different life stages makes this extra painful to watch, and I don't think any amount of rewatches (or And Just Like That binges) is going to change that.

What's YOUR most devastating TV breakup? Let us know on Facebook!

Lead image via The CW/The WB

Sophia Bush and Ashlyn Harris caused quite a stir at Elton John's Oscars afterparty, but for good reason! After dodging dating rumors for quite awhile, they dressed to impress and made their first public debut as a couple! Sophia even wore her best accessory — a mega-watt smile — that further confirms this blissful pair.

While some people love to know whencelebrity couples fell in love, the details about Sophia Bush and Ashlyn Harris' relationship have people wondering when this couple actually got together. Well, our wait is over because Sophia decided to open about what led to her romance with Ashlyn Harris and why certain rumors hold no merit!

Since we're clearly tuned in to this love story, here's everything you need to know about Sophia Bush and Ashlyn Harris's relationship!

Who is Sophia Bush?

Image via Robin L Marshall/Getty Images

Sophia Bush has had a lengthy career as an actress, and she's most recognized for her portrayal of Brooke Davis in the hit TV series One Tree Hill. She's also appeared in Nip/Tuck, Chicago Fire, Incredibles 2, and John Tucker Must Die. When she's not showing off her acting chops, she hosts the Drama Queens podcast alongside former One Tree Hill castmates Hilarie Burton and Bethany Joy Lenz!

Who is Ashlyn Harris?

Image via Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images for W Magazine

Ashlyn Harris is a former U.S. soccer player who had a successful run — no pun intended — as a goalkeeper during the career. She also won the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup in Canada and continued making an impressionable mark. However, she announced her retirementin 2022 and — per her Instagrampage — has gone on to become the Global Creative Advisor for Gotham FC and Adidas Football.

When did the dating rumors about Sophia Bush and Ashlyn Harris start?

Image via Frazer Harrison/Getty Images and Frazer Harrison/Getty Images

June 2023

Rumors about a possible connection between Sophia Bush and Ashlyn Harris swirled last summer when Cosmopolitanreported they were on a panel at Cannes Lion International Festival of Creativity. Sophia shared a pic of the two at the festival on Instagramand wrote, "Love you @ashlynharris24 and @sophieannkelly" towards the end of her caption.

A source told Page Six, "It’s very new...They are definitely a couple.” But, Sophia Bush and Ashlyn Harris didn't confirm or deny anything at that time.

When did Sophia Bush file for divorce from Grant Hughes?

Image via Leigh Vogel/Getty Images

August 2023

A couple of months after Sophia Bush and Ashlyn Harris were seen getting cozy together, Sophia filed for divorce from her former husband Grant Hughes. Peopleshared that they were only married for a little over a year — 13 months — but didn't end on a bad terms. A source then told Entertainment Tonight, "Grant and Sophia are better off as friends and they weren’t getting enough time with each other before their breakup."

When did Ashlyn Harris and Ali Krieger file for divorce?

Image via Roy Rochlin/Getty Images

October 2023

While things seemed to quiet down, Ashlyn Harris soon filed for divorce from Ali Krieger after getting married towards the end of 2019. What's interesting is that a source told Peoplethis decision wasn't surprising. "Although it’s new information to the public, Ashlyn and Ali’s divorce began months ago and they have been living apart since the summer,” the source said.

This is also around the time it was speculated Sophia Bush and Ashlyn Harris had their first official date. A rep told People, "Grant will always want the best for Sophia, and is supportive of all that makes her happy and fulfilled." We guess it helps he and Sophia had a solid friendship before getting married!

As for Ali Krieger, she basically let the world know things were business as usual with an Instagrampost. She captioned a pic of her playing soccer with, "Preparing for playoffs while in my Beyoncé lemonade era." A comment from user @lgbtlfg said, "the fact that a lot of players in these comment’s usually mind their business and stay out of drama but are supporting ali should tell everyone all they need to know."

The only thing Ashlyn said about it on Instagramis that she never intended for her and Ali's divorce to be made a public matter. A portion of her note says, "This process is never easy, but we were making our way through."

Have Sophia Bush and Ashlyn Harris publicly talked about their relationship?

Image via Vivien Killilea/Getty Images for Tequila Don Julio

March 2024

Besides showing up to Elton John's Oscars afterparty together, Sophia Bush and Ashlyn Harris were previously tight-lipped about their relationship. The only hint Sophia offered was much more of a reflective post about 2023 on Instagramat the beginning of January. She said, "This year taught me to listen to myself and no one else. To let go of expectation that wounds and grasp possibility that frees. To not care about optics and instead invest in honesty."

But, she's since chosen to own where she is in life.

Image via Lauren Dukoff/Glamour Magazine

Sophia Bush on the cover of Glamour Magazine

April 2024

Sophia Bush has now reached a point where she's publicly ready to stand in her truth regarding her life and her relationship status so much that she penned her own cover story for Glamour. The first thing she did was open up about how she really felt about her marriage and fertility struggles.

She wrote, "But after the wedding I found myself in the depths and heartbreak of the fertility process, which was the most clarifying experience of my life. It feels like society is finally making space for brutally honest conversations about how hard and painful any fertility journey is, but I kept mine private. I was trying to get through months of endless ultrasounds, hormone shots, so many blood draws that I have scar tissue in my veins, and retrieval after retrieval, while simultaneously realizing the person I had chosen to be my partner didn’t necessarily speak the same emotional language I did.”

Image via Lauren Dukoff/Glamour Magazine

As far as her relationship with Ashlyn Harris is concerned, the star is enjoying the love that exists between them. Contrary to alleged rumors, their initial relationship was a platonic one that stemmed from a place of understanding and support.

She told Glamour,I didn’t expect to find love in this support system. I don’t know how else to say it other than: I didn’t see it until I saw it. And I think it’s very easy not to see something that’s been in front of your face for a long time when you’d never looked at it as an option and you had never been looked at as an option. What I saw was a friend with her big, happy life. And now I know she thought the same thing about me.”

She also added, "A lot of effort was made to be graceful with other people’s processing, their time and obligations, and their feelings. What felt like seconds after I started to see what was in front of me, the online rumor mill began to spit in the ugliest ways. There were blatant lies. Violent threats. There were the accusations of being a home-wrecker. The ones who said I’d left my ex because I suddenly realized I wanted to be with women—my partners have known what I’m into for as long as I have (so that’s not it, y’all, sorry!).”

Image via Lauren Dukoff/Glamour Magazine

It's safe to say that Sophia Bush is thoroughly comfortable with her love life and identity as a queer woman. She said, "I’ve experienced so much safety, respect, and love in the queer community, as an ally all of my life, that, as I came into myself, I already felt it was my home. I think I’ve always known that my sexuality exists on a spectrum. Right now I think the word that best defines it is queer. I can’t say it without smiling, actually. And that feels pretty great.”

And this is what it looks like to reclaim your narrative when so many people are looking at a brief glimpse of the lives of celebrities. We love that Sophia Bush and Ashlyn Harris are loving each other on their terms without feeling pressured to share anything before they were ready to. Our hope is that their love story continues to unfold beautifully.

Be sure to watch Sophia Bush's interview with Glamour's Editor-in-Chief Samantha Barry here!

Full Credits From Glamour Magazine:

Writer: Sophia Bush

Photographer: Lauren Dukoff

Stylist: Deborah Afshani

Hair: Matthew Collins

Makeup: Afton Williams

Manicure: Brittney Boyce

Have Sophia Bush and Ashlyn Harris made their official red carpet debut?

Image via Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images for Kimball Stroud & Associates

April 27, 2024

Per Glamour, Sophia Bush and Ashlyn made their official red carpet debut as a couple on Friday. They attended the White House Correspondent's dinner where they were dressed to impress in complementing black ensembles.

It's easy to see the glowing couple couldn't stop laughing and smiling as they posed for pictures that seemed to capture every good angle of their faces and style.

Image via Paul Morigi/Getty Images

After the dinner, Sophia Bush and Ashlyn Harris posed for more pictures on the red carpet leading to the Correspondent's after-party. Now that we're able to see their full faces, we have to talk about how well their hair and makeup complements their outfits. It's clear that Ashlyn's contour and bronzer were expertly applied to her face while Sophia's blush gave her a natural flush.

*Sigh* Their smiles are the only confirmation we need that they're enjoying the bliss of being a couple.

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This article has been updated.

Lead image via Paul Morigi/Getty Images