This year for Christmas I really wanted to make something special that lights up. Last year I made the Simple Christmas Tree (https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:1962328), but I wanted to make something nice looking for the house but also a little more exciting. I think the end result is very nice and jolly. Note that you can totally just print the noel portion and it looks very nice as well!

The basics are 4xAA 2550mah Eneloop Pro NiMH batteries (1.2 X 4 = 4.8V), powering a 10 piece strand of Adafruit Neopixels. I used an arduino micro for the micro controller but just about any arduino would work. The program has been built so it runs for 4 hours after you add the batteries and then turns of for 20, then it turns on for 4, off for 20... so on and so forth. This saves on batteries and prevents you from having to constantly turn things on and off. Plus it looks really nice because all the batteries and micro controller are hidden in the base with no switches or buttons poking out.There are 4 different sequences that the lights go through...1:Red, 2:Rainbow Cycle, 3:Rainbow, 4:Green, but you can re-program it however you want using the included arduino sketch.

Steps to complete:

1. Print base
2. Print noel
3. Print diffused wall
4. Upload arduino sketch into arduino (Note you will need neopixel libraries: https://learn.adafruit.com/adafruit-neopixel-uberguide/the-magic-of-neopixels)
5. Wire circuit diagram in bottom of base and glue 10 piece neopixel strip to base
6. Press fit diffused wall into base
7. Add AA batteries. ONLY use rechargeable batteries or you will burn out the neopixels! Neopixels are 5V devices or slightly lower.
   NiMH rechargeable batteries are 1.2V each and regular alkalines are 1.5V each. Using batteries in series adds the voltages. Therefore 4x1.2=4.8V vs 4x1.5=6V (Too much!) You could always use a 5V power supply as well or a regulator for your alkaline batteries.
8. Enjoy!

I also included the Fusion 360 file so you guys and gals can modify the base to fit your own style of micro controller or for any changes that you would like to see fit. Please link to this page if you end up making something awesome!

Links to neat stuff and information
arduino: https://www.arduino.cc/
neopixels: https://learn.adafruit.com/adafruit-neopixel-uberguide/the-magic-of-neopixels
4xAA holder: http://www.taydaelectronics.com/aa-battery-holder-4.html