Sparkle is a seahorse-shaped circuit board with a string of LEDs that sequence through a set of patterns.

This is a surface-mount kit which makes it harder than one using through-hole components. It is at the easier end of surface-mount soldering though, using 1206 passives & LEDs and a SOIC-8 chip. It still needs a fine-tipped iron and magnification to build.

The PCB is finished with yellow solder resist covering a copper flood on the front side which gives it a rich orange colour, trimmed in ENIG gold. This side of the board is kept free of traces and with the minimum of vias (vias for the LEDs are within their pads) to give it a clean look.

There are 20 bright red LEDs on the front of the board multiplexed (Charlieplexed) by a PIC12F1840 microcontroller on the reverse side. Even though the duty cycle is only 5% they are pretty bright. The LEDs cycle through a sequence of animated patterns of light.

The eye is a touch pad which toggles the animations on and off.

Sparkle the Seahorse can be attached to clothing with the supplied clip and pin.

The kit requires a 3V CR2032 coin cell (not included).