If you only need small pieces there is an iPad app for a lightbox. Works pretty well.

My neighbor uses her sewing machine table made of plexiglas. Then she simply puts a small sewing lamp under the table. That gives lots of room under the glass and she can target the light. Works for her.

Me, I received a gift of wine many years ago that came in a wooden box with a slide out cover. I cut a piece of plexiglass the size of the wood cover. with a string of christmas lights or a flashlight, of a size and style that works, inside. It works for me and reminds me of the gift giver every time I use it too!

I use a small step stool upside down with a piece of glass over the feet and a trouble light laid inside it works just great

Thanks for all the great ideas! I will definitely check out the Crayola box (although I think I want larger than 8 1/2 x 11 size) and the Autograph box.

I plan to use the box to trace applique pattern pieces. Can't use the large living room window anymore (furniture in front of it...I know dumb place to put furniture...it is a deacon's bench), and using the glass in the storm door may work in summer, but brrrrr....too cold at this time of year.

Thanks again for the ideas. Will have DH look at them and if he doesn't "buy" me a box, maybe he'll cobble one together for me!

My brother made mine. At Lowes, I bought that light-weight board (i forgot the name of it), the plexiglass, bright, energy-saving bulbs, screws, and small piano hinge for opening and closing the box. He cut everything to my measurements and specs. It is bright, light-weight and works beautifully and cheap. I store it on the shelf in the closet...

I'm with you Dunster, I have a light I bought from Jenny Byers online store that lays out flat, plexiglass held up by 2 blocks of wood Hubby cut for me- Same piece of plexiglass I use to audition quilting designs on my tops- easy to set up & put away, very little cost.

I have done a lot of applique and never needed a light box to trace the applique patterns. I use the back of a cookie sheet and tape white paper all over the the back surface. A piece of plywood or any hard surface would work. For some reason the white paper behind the pattern makes the black pattern lines show through well for tracing. If you are tracing on a fabric darker than the tone on tone neutrals I have used for applique background or fusibles, a light box would be necessary.

Got one of the old ones years ago from Joannes. I used a 50% or 60% coupon.

You have a light in your shower! How cool is that!

You can get a shadow/keep sake type clear box at Joann's or hobby lobby put a batteries light or drill small hole and use one with light with plug. This will works. You can make box (side and bottom) out of scrap wood and have a piece of acrylic cut at hardware for the top and put any size light you need in it. There are many cheep way to make "light boxes" that will work. I use my window most of time to trace, but some times need to sit down or it is night out. I like to do thing as cheep as possible because I an retired and have little money to spend. The more money I can save on stuff like this, The more money I have to buy fabric.

I purchased my light box from Hobby Lobby. Works great for me.

What are you going to use it for- I took a class from craftsy on whole cloth quilts with Cindy and in her class she used a light box to trace stencil onto fabric and she recommended http://www.mesew.com/

I bought mine from Nancy's Notions, pricy but I love it, it is very bright, I can see through really dark ( even black fabrics for appliqué placement. To me it was worth the investment. Her website & catalog have a couple different sizes , the box style & the flat Panels

I love all the creative suggestions!
Another option instead of tracing on the background fabric is to trace on clear plastic document savers sheets (I cut them apart so there is only one layer). Trace your entire pattern. I am still working on the "My Cats Garden" and the panels are large with hundreds of pieces. It took four document saver sheets for the center panel. With the traced plastic on top of the background, slide the applique piece under the plastic and position. This is especially helpful when the pieces lay over each other instead of on the background fabric. You still have to trace the design on the applique piece, either with a light box or around the cut out template.

Great idea, Fay. My version is to use the heaviest clear plastic table covering (Walmart or Joann's), cut to whatever size is convenient, to draw your design with a permanent marker. Tape the top corners to your design table. Lift it up from the bottom edge and layer your project underneath, beginning with the background fabric. Very portable!!! No need for special lighting. Sorry that I can't remember the name of the teacher in Frederick County, Maryland, who taught us this super easy method more than 20 years ago.

I have had this one for several years.
https://www.google.com/#tbm=shop&q=l...91935442286119

but sure did not pay that for it. It was less then $50 but even at that time most were close to $100.

I do not see why it is so expensive. Even $50 seemed a lot but I was desperate.

The 12x18 size is great.

The slant is not necessarily desirable and I end up having to use some painter's tape to tape pattern sheets down.

Have you considered Craigs List?