Step 4 - Using The Circuit - Jameco 4017IC Instructions

-Check that your voltage regulator is not backwards. The voltage regulator should have the flat side facing away from you.
-Make sure your LEDs are the correct orientation, longer lead is usually positive or the large metal piece how inside the led casing is
negative or the flat spot on the casing is negative
-Check orientation of capacitor
-Check for broken wires, connections, and corrector power connections
-Finally check for dead components, if you saw any smoke, "popping," or blackened led insides, then you have more than likely burnt
out a component

Step 4 - Using the circuit

Point your IR remote at the IR receiver and press a button once to change the on/off state of the circuit, holding the button down will
cause the circuit to turn on then off, repeat every second or so as it activates the mono-stable 555 timer circuit.
If the remote does not trigger, then try a different remote, varying IR frequencies between remotes. I find camera flash trigger remotes
go well with this project.