In our previous instructable we’ve already covered how to make physical macro buttons that can be used to control devices around your house using Raspberry Pi and Prota OS. Now let’s get more creative an draw smart buttons on paper!

Yes, you can draw buttons just like that.

With custom drawn smart buttons you can _______________.

                                                                             turn on lights

                                                                             send email

                                                                             play music

                                                                             find your phone

                                                                             save track on Spotify

                                                                             ..& of course more!

Here’s what you will need to get started:

• 1 tube of Bare Conductive electric paint
• 1 Raspberry Pi
• 2 jumper wires
• 1 sheet of paper

BONUS: in this instructable we will learn how to integrate your Raspberry Pi with widely popular IFTTT (if this than that) application.

Step 1: Draw your circuit.

For inspiration you can check out Bare Conductive’s website. They have quite a few examples.

Step 2: Connect jumper wires to the circuit you’ve just drawn.

Step 3: Connect the other end of jumper wires to Raspberry Pi.

Step 4: Use a small piece of paper to make a button like this.

Step 5: Go to http://myprota.me and install the GPIO app.

You can install from the App Repository.

Step 6: Go to the GPIO app and click on the active pin.

Step 7: Select INTERRUPT mode.

Optionally you can set pull up/ pull down modes. Pull up mode is that when a sensor is triggered whenever a rising interrupt is detected, and Pull down mode means that a sensor is triggered whenever a falling interrupt is detected.

Step 8: Test your button.

When you press the button down, the edge should be rising and when you release, the edge should be falling.

Step 9: Almost done! Now lets make an automation rule.

 

Step 10: Go to the Ambiency app and press on the + sign to add a new story.

 

Step 11: Select GPIO as a sensor and email app as an actuator. We will connect to IFTTT service using the Webhook app.

Step 12: Once you confirm the Webhook app as an actuator, you will have to enter a web request URL from the IFTTT Maker channel.

Step 13: To get your unique URL go to IFTTT.com and type Maker in the search bar. Then click on the Maker icon.

Step 14: Then click on Receive a web request.

Step 15: Click Create new recipe.

Step 16: Name your even and click Create Trigger.