In this beginner-friendly DIY tutorial, we’ll show you how to make a stunning lotus flower lantern using iridescent vinyl petals and a Circuit Playground Express board. The flower glows beautifully from the inside, and you’ll learn how to program your lights with Microsoft MakeCode—perfect for kids, classrooms, or anyone starting with coding and electronics.

This easy first project only requires scissors, tape, and creativity—no soldering or special tools needed. It’s a great way to explore STEM, coding for kids, and creative electronics while building something magical.

🌸 You’ll Learn:

• How to cut and assemble lotus petals from iridescent vinyl

• How to use the Circuit Playground Express to light up your project

• Simple coding with Microsoft MakeCode for glowing animations

This is a fun, hands-on way to introduce kids (and beginners of all ages) to electronics, coding, and maker projects. It's perfect for STEM education, art-tech mashups, DIY crafts, and coding clubs.

This project is a bit delicate when it's done, so it's perfect to use a table decoration centerpiece or a pretty decoration in a bowl or jar for your room. This build may not hold up as a wearable costume piece. If you want to wear a glowing hair flower, check out the Glowing Hair Flower with n00ds guide here. 

Parts

Additional Materials

This flower is made from Iridescent Vinyl Fabric that's 0.4 mm thick. There are lots of colors to choose from but be sure to get the transparent fabric and steer clear of the opaque colors, so your lights will shine through. 

You'll also need some clear tape to hold the petals together, and some construction paper to make the center of the flower.

Tools

You'll need a computer with internet access to program the board. For cutting the flower, you'll need some sharp scissors and a marker, or you can use a Cricut Vinyl Cutter if you're in a hurry (or you like perfection!).