When I was trying to put a picture on a piece of fabric, I got an old empty drawer, a piece of flexiglass and a flashlight and went to work. My "new" lightbox did the trick.It worked like a charm. Has any of you ever done the same thing?

I built myself a lightbox table out of a piece of glass from an old coffee table and some clamp lamps from Target. Works great!

we have an old coffee table (frame)....the top was removed, so my hubby bought a piece of plexiglass to fit and a florescent light bar for underneith it. it works great and gives me about 24"x40" of work space.
Ricky Timms one time put out there that he uses his dining room table...where the leaves go... pulls the table apart, put glass, lamp under the table perfect height to work at light box.
the ones some sites have for sale are so ridiculously priced when you can make your own so easily :thumbup:

I had one I used for years, made out of an old drawer, with glass on the top, and a bathroom light inside. I found it got hot and drilled holes in the side of the drawer to help let that out, but in the end I gave in and bought a commercial one.
My new one has a slope, is comfortable to use on my lap all evening if needs be, and has a cool, daylight bulb in it.
Of course, I don't use it every day, but when I do, it beats standing at a window, waiting for a sunny day (in short supply sometimes in Ireland).

I am going to make an Affairs of the Heart quilt this year, in tandem with several other members after they finish their Dear Jane quilts - there will be a BOM thread on here for any others that want to join in. The original has a black background (though you could choose something different) and I just discovered that my light box will work with the black to make easy tracing.

I made one a couple of years ago with an old tuperware container, under the counter light, and plexi. All of which I already had. Worked great.

I've used the translucent storage tubs with a light underneath, and most of the above along with a window and my computer screen but a year or so ago I was able to pick up a nice "real" light box on an auction for $2. I was thrilled. Love the convenience and wieght(almost nil) of it.

At a garage sale, I found one that looks like the light boxes that the doctor hangs x-rays on - it's pretty big. For $5 I couldn't pass it up!

Yes, I love my light box. Sometimes I don't use it for an entire year or so, but when you need it, it is a most wonderful tool.

In the early days I used the window/sunlight method, then graduated to homemade box, then a larger homemade box, etc. Now have a nice, slanted commercial one (half price sale once). I love it and use it every week.

dh made me one years ago when i was into stained glass, it is very nice, but so far i have not used it for quilting.