Use a string of diffused pixels and a push button to create a new take on a jack-o-lantern sure to entertain trick-or-treaters and guests at your next Halloween party. 

This is a great beginner project if you're new to soldering or microcontrollers. You can use a real pumpkin (aka "cucurbita pepo") or a fake foam pumpkin (aka a "funkin") to create a reusable and unique piece of decor. 

I used an Adafruit Feather 32u4 Bluefruit LE board to drive the 3-pin pixels on my Jack-o'-LED·trix this year. The example code will compile on a number of different boards, including the following:

• Adafruit Metro
• Teensy-LC
• Circuit Playground Express
• Itsy Bitsy M0
• Pro Trinket 5V

Adafruit Parts

Additional Parts & Materials

For this project you will need:

• Pumpkin or Funkin
• Multi-Colored Heat Shrink
• Hook-up Wire - 22AWG Solid Core
• Half-size breadboard
• Knife or pumpkin carving tools
• Drill + drill bits (1/8", 1/4", 7/16" & 1/2")
• Pencil
• USB cable - for programming your board & charging your battery
• Soldering station:
  • Soldering iron
  • Soldering iron stand
  • Solder
  • Wire stripper
  • Helping hands
  • Hakko Brass Sponge Solder Tip Cleaner
  • Ventilation, I recommend the USB Rechargeable Mini Solder Fume Extractor guide from Phillip Burgess