Making a Cottage Nightlight from Finnpappe/Finnboard

2025-01-09 | By Kitronik Maker

License: See Original Project Laser Cutters

Courtesy of Kitronik

Guide by Kitronik Maker

This night light brings a quaint cottagecore twist to any bedside table, casting ‎unique shadows and shifting gently through colours. Follow Emma's' steps below ‎to make your own - we think it’d be a great classroom project in particular!‎

We have used:‎

• This DXF File

• Finnboard

• ‎3mm Poplar Plywood‎

• Dark Activated Colour Changing Night Light Kit

• Hot Glue Gun & Hot Glue Sticks

• ‎4 x 20mm M3 Spacers‎

• ‎8 x 10mm M3 Pan-head Screws

Additional tools:‎

• Laser Cutter

• PVA Glue

Step 1 - The DXF

Open up the DXF file linked above and cut it out as shown below! Of course you ‎are free to choose your own materials, however we have used Finnboard for the ‎main house base, and then the window and door accessories are cut from 3mm ‎Poplar Plywood.‎

Step 2 - Doors & Windows

Once the pieces have been cut out, use a material-suitable glue (we have used ‎PVA) to attach the window and door accessories as shown in the diagram and ‎image. The diagram shows the first layer in dark pink, and the upper layer in teal.‎

Step 3 - Dormer Windows

Using a material-suitable glue (ours is PVA again) affix the dormers to either side ‎of the roof as shown.‎

Step 4 - Check Fitment

Test out the fit of the pieces before the electronics are added - this leaves you ‎room to amend any incorrect elements before things are fixed in place.‎

Step 5 - Assemble the Kit

Assemble our Dark Activated Colour Changing Night Light Kit as per this set of ‎instructions, making the following three amendments to the process:

A.‎ Before soldering it to the kit, pass the USB wire through the small arch cut ‎next to the back door of the house.‎

B.‎ Stand the LED up as high as you can on its legs before soldering, to make ‎the light source inside the cottage more central.‎

C.‎ Attach the Phototransistor to the board using two lengths of wire instead ‎of directly to the board. This will allow it to function while being mounted ‎on the front of the cottage.‎

Step 6 - Thermal Protection

Protect the Finnboard house from the bare wire around the Phototransistor by using ‎heatshrink or similar (such as electrical tape). If not done, there is a chance of fire, ‎due to Finnboard’s flammability.‎

Step 7 - Light Sensing

The small hole above the door is for the phototransistor to sit in. To secure, we ‎have used hot glue.‎

‎Step 8 - Mount the Kit

Mount the PCB using 4 20mm M3 spacers with a 10mm M3 pan-head screw on ‎either side of each, connecting the base plate of the cottage to the PCB while ‎holding it up off of the Finnboard.‎

Step 9 - Final Assembly Steps

Construct the rest of the house around the project kit! For this it is not necessary to ‎use any glue, though you can if preferred. In this case, it is useful to be able to ‎retain access to the electronics.‎

‎Step 10 - Test & Decorate!‎

Go into a dark room and test it out! At this point, you can make any additions you ‎want to the cottage, such as painting, sculpting, or decorating. This customisation ‎would make for a great stretch task in a classroom or would allow a hobbyist to ‎recreate particular architectural elements that their project may require.‎

‎‎©Kitronik Ltd – You may print this page & link to it but must not copy the page or part thereof ‎without Kitronik's prior written consent.

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