LED Light Boxes for Tracing Applique Shapes
 

I am in the market for a light box. I have been using my bay window to trace applique patterns, but we recently moved our furniture and now I can't walk up to the window.

Anyone suggest best size? Best place to buy? I have checked E-Bay and Etsy and they literally have hundreds to choose from. I want the super thin, LED box, not the old style box. I notice that almost all the EBay sellers for these boxes have less than 100% sales satisfaction...I wonder why?

Thanks!

Good afternoon,
I bought my light box from walmart the cost was under 25 dollars. The size is 12x16. I have been very happy with it. So you might want to check it out. Hope this helps you in your search. Christi

I bought the Crayola Tracing Pad. It holds a 8 1/2x11 piece of paper. It's portable, super light, and very bright. No cords. I think it was $20 at Walmart.

Me too - and they'll probably have these reduced in the post Christmas sales :)

Amazon also has many in various price range.

I was told I needed a light box for a class. I purchased a Crayola toy light box. When in class (at the Houston festival no less) the lighting was not sufficient to show through some of the fabric. I wasn't too happy.

I used a 13 by 9 casserole dish flipped upside down over a small battery powered work light. That'll work if you're not doing anything too big and don't want to spend the money.

I have one of those flip-open Ott lights. I also have a good sized piece of plexiglass and some plastic shoe boxes. I put two shoe boxes upside down on my cutting table, balance the plexiglass on top of the shoe boxes and put the Ott light in its open format underneath the plexiglass, between the shoe boxes. I like it in that it is larger than most light boxes I could buy, I can move the Ott light around under the shoe boxes to get optimal light, it doesn't take up additional room in my studio, and I didn't have to buy anything.

I have a big light pad with bright, LED lights that can be dimmed. DH bought it on Amazon for my birthday. It is wonderful for the work I do. It's not portable because of the size, but it's very lightweight.

Janet

I've picked up several at thrift stores. With names like Holly Hobby, they were sold for children. My brother is a carpenter and made one for me to my specs, 2' X 2' X 6" deep at the shallow end and 8" at the deepest. The slant from 8" to 6" makes it more comfortable to lean over. Instead of glass, I had a piece of plexiglass cut to fit inside on a small lip. The only problem is that my husband put a light in it for me and it will roast you. I don't use it nearly as much as I thought I would, partly because of the heat from the light. Lowering the light and changing to something like leds will be the next Honey-do I take to him.

If you were satisfied with tracing on a window, you might be happy with using some of the make-dos used before we had so many toys.
1. A dining table pulled apart, table lamp placed underneath on the floor, and a piece of glass placed over the gap where a leaf would have been.
2. Two stacks of books on a table or counter, enough space between stacks to place a small lamp or light source, and a pane of glass above the light and resting on the books. The hardware store will usually cut the glass or plexiglas to any size you want.

ohh great idea!

I haven't done any in a long time but I had a tube light and put it under the glass outdoor table.

"En-light-en" me please. What do you use a light box for?

And don't forget that you can use a sliding glass door too. Or, if it's not too uncomfortable, sit inside your car and use the side window.

Tate

For anything you want to trace, even a photo, partial lines, all lines. Trace the design like a collage, use cartoons, etc.

I orderd mine from Joann's when they were on sale several years ago.

Since most of the things I want to trace start off digital, I just use my computer monitor. It makes resizing really easy! I get the design to the size I want, then tape my fabric right over it and trace away.

This is what I did for years. I used a sheet of plexiglass sold at frame shops instead of glass, it worked great.

I use one of those plastic storage boxes for scrapbook paper and a tap light. works great

I bought a battery operated light, a clear tote and put the light in it and you have an instant light box without spending too much money. You can easily do this for under 10

Lots of great ideas here!

I've been using my window, I have the tip out type so I'd pull the top down and rotate it all the way, so that I had a nice slanted area to use. However that stopped being a good idea when the days got short (no natural light) and the weather turned cold.

I've been doing this mostly for my labels. I will set them up using the computer and then print them out. I put the printed paper on the glass and put the fabric over the top so the light will show the printing through the fabric. Then I use my permanent markers (pigma) to follow the letters to get them uniform in height and spacing. I'm not good enough to do it free hand.

I have a clear scrapbook box ( my project boxes). They are also called craft boxes. Often on sale 3/$10 at Michaels. I use one of those. The box is 14x14. I have a small Led light I toss in. I keep tracing paper and the led in the box and it's ready to go. Even at $9.99 and the $3.00 led still cheaper. If something happens to it, I can use another one. I have a 12 total. I can set it on my lap while watching tv and trace all I want. I canstore my tracing supplies in the box also. Also I can tape the paper in place so it doesn't move. All I have to do is tap the led and the light comes on.

I haven't found that problem with mine yet. I used it not long ago to trace on dark brown fabric. If I used it a lot or needed a bigger surface area I'd buy a nice light box designed for applique.
The problem I've found with using the plastic inverted tub is the bottom is not flat. Glass dishes have a logo pressed in the glass right in the middle of the bottom.

This is what I do. I have a plastic storage box with my embroidery threads inside, and I put the image on the lid, put the fabric over, and trace. I used to use the window but my arms would get tired. Then I bought a fancy light box on Craigslist, but actually…I've never used it, the plastic storage box is too convenient!

I made my own light box by using a piece of plexiglass, fairly thick so it won't bend, sit it on top of 4 cans of vegetables and put a string of while Christmas Lights under it and for me it works perfectly.

Mine came from Hobby Lobby with a 40percent discount. It is pretty large about 20 or 24 inches wide. I love it and so do my grandchildren. They have used it for projects from time to time.

can't you use your front door like I do?

i use a clear plastic picture frame, lined with parchment to diffuse the light, and toss in a string of led x=mas lights, put the cardboard in upside down and run the cord out the hang-up hole. fast, cheap, easy to store and works great!

Another option is to use an enclosed shower door with the light in the shower turned on.

Such wonderful ideas here. We can find something that will work without going to a store to buy something.

I like the dining table open with glass over the opening and a light underneath. But where would you find a piece of glass to do that. How about a picture frame. Take the picture out, but leave the glass in the frame. That's because that glass is probably not too strong and might break easily under pressure if not supported. Find your largest picture to get more area. Hope it works for you.

I have an aftermarket plexiglass bed extender for my DSM. I stick a small flashlight underneath it for small projects. It is very useful when I am trying to line up fabric for paper piecing since it is right next to the machine.
I have also used large windows for tracing.

I also use a clear plastic craft box with lights from Harbor Freight that are brighter and always ready vs the tap light I originally tried. My box is not deep but plenty wide - a big square like 14" maybe, probably for storing craft papers. I watched for one for awhile to find one without an imprinted spot where it wasn't flat. Since I figured this out I'm always set and a big bonus is it can hold pretty large blocks when not in use as a light box. Inexpensive (I think the lights were even free with a coupon). I'm sure you'll figure out something that will work if you look around.

When I need one I use the long shallow plastic storage box flipped upside down with a short fluorescent light fixture ( with a plug on the end )inside. Works great!

I have "LightTracer" by autograph #225-365. It's electric and light weight. I'd buy it again if necessary.

My favorite always go to book is "1001 full-size patterns,projects & ideas" from Better Homes & Gardens,
copyright 2003 - nice, big pieces of everything you can imagine just right for appliqué.

Autograph is one of the best. I have two sizes....

so many great ideas here!

That's the one I got, with the coupon. I find, now that I have one, I use it a lot for many different projects and crafts.

My daughter also bought my light box at Walmart but also check kids department for a light box that operates on batteries it is a crayola product I believe.

i use the extended table for my machine and place one of those lights you just tap. I like the idea of the ott light...thanks. I also have an old X-ray view box that my husband bought that I use if I have a lot to do.