Sparkle Labs founders Ariel and Amy have been using electronics to create fun and useful weekend projects for themselves since they were kids. When they finally grew up (not that long ago) and started making more “serious” work they began to wonder how many kids (and adults) out there would like to make their own electronics projects but didn’t know the basics.

“There are lots of books out there on the subject, even ones for kids, but it is difficult to learn without working with real electricity. We wanted to take the sometimes daunting and inaccessible process of learning electronics to a new level that would make it fun and easy for everyone!”

Ariel and Amy’s backgrounds in design allowed them to do this instinctually. They knew they wanted to make an electronics kit that was easy to use but with the standard components that electronics engineers use. They also knew that providing real electronics and easy to understand graphical instructions would make it easy to learn the basics and give people the parts and knowledge to create their own fun DIY projects.

The first two thousand kits were assembled by hand. With the help of family and friends, Ariel and Amy folded the boxes, printed the envelopes, divided hundreds of parts, stuck the labels, cut and scored the inserts. They were released at Maker Faire California in 2008 and since then have sold at Make Magazine’s online store (makershed.com)

Today Ariel and Amy are working on their next kit, a basic electronics book as well as an exhibition for a science museum. Keep your eyes out for their next project and in the meantime have FUN with electronics!