I bought mine at micheals using my 40% off coupon.I do a lot of hand embroidery and appliqué. It works great. Plus when I'm done with it I just put it back in the box. Fits neatly on the shelf.

I kept the top of my old coffee table. When I need it, I drag it out and invert 4 flower pots for legs. I use a bit of the sticky stuff used to put posters on walls to keep the legs steady and put a light under it. I love the large size and when I don't need it, I drop it against the wall behind my cutting table. Works great and didn't cost anything!

You can buy a small sheet of plexiglass cut to size and one of the undercabinet fluorescent lights or one of the small touch closet lights. Put the light in the bottom of a drawer and put the plexiglass on top. You have whatever size lightbox you want, depending on the drawer size. In a pinch, you can get one of the touch closet lights, put it in your sewing machine drawer, and use one of your larger rulers (I have a 15" square) for the surface. Using your ruler also gives you a way of measuring the placement of whatever you're copying.

I have done the taped to a window, the Crayola box, battery operated light under tote box, also picked up a overhead projector like they use to use in school for a few bucks at a thrift store but my fav for smaller things. I have pic and drawings on my laptop that folds out flat and I place a clear clipboard over the top of the screen and trace. It protects the screen and also the chipboard helps me hold paper in place

I use my window! just tape pattern and fabric to the glass, the sunlight creates the perfect "light box" effect. Only problem is this doesn't work very well on cloudy days.

I have one that I purchased from Nancy's Notions. There were two sizes when I purchased mine, and I purchased the larger size. I love mine. I have used it for many things.
What I have used it most for is my US Quilt. I marked all of the blocks front and back on my Us state and stars quilt, haven't finished the quilt, but did get the blocks all marked. Both sides quite intricate- because the front had state moto, entrance date, name, flower, and bird, plus the outline of the state and the star for the location of the capital. Each block on the back came from the 50 Fab. Stars book. I outlined with permanent marker everything on each block front and back, and am using crayola crayons to color each block. Very time consuming, but I just put each block on the box, turn the light on and get busy.

Great idea!

good idea here

My hubby took an old scanner and replace the light, put a gridded surface (graft paper) under the glass to cut the glare and help me center my motifs. Great way to 'upcycle' Love it!

That's what I do too! Works like a dream!!!

Depends on how large and how much you want to spend. I saw them on line from $38.50 to $129.
Google Light Tracer, they come in several sizes and the most reasonable pricing.
LED's are a little more expensive.
Diana in TX

Great ideas.

Did something similar to tesspug - although never thought of christmas lights. I use a simple bulb in a socket that we had in the garage. I don't think this is rocket science. Plexiglass at Lowe's or Home Depot is easy, and then some 2 by 4 scraps to support it. Thing is, this is easier to store than a big light box. Do love the Christmas light idea.

Great ideas catmcclure!

I just checked Walmart on line and they have the same light box for $31 plus 97 cents shipping to your local Walmart store. I would double check the size but I think it is the same one as advertised at Sam's club (which we don't have in our area) Good luck! Love my light box!

I use an acrylic box picture frame (ref to attached link) and a light from my Christmas village. The set-up is: (1) start with a cookie sheet with a towel UNDER it (protects table from bulb heat); (2) single light from village lays on cookie sheet; and (3) with picture frame set over it.

acrylic frame:
http://www.jerrysartarama.com/discou...lic-box-frames

light:
available separately in some Christmas displays (check Joann's)

I don't know if it's just my area, but I've been seeing LOTS of working light tables at thrift stores!! I have a glass-top art desk with a lamp underneath that I usually use, but I found a really nice 12x18 light box for $3 at a thrift store outlet and couldn't pass it up. Usually I see them priced around $10-15, depending on the size.

I have an end table with a clear glass center,it is deep enough that I put a small lamp under it and this makes a perfect light box. I use it to trace patterns for my applique etc.

I made my own: used a piece of clear plastic <about 12" square>. Placed it on top of my dining room table, and opened it up <the plastic goes in place of the table leaf>.....put a light under the table....and voila!! Works great.

Silly Me At 1st I couldn't get My mind around THIS Idea! Of Useing a 'Tote' All I could See in my Head was a Black shopping Bag! LOL Its just That I still need My [ ]> "Cup-of-Joe"
Now I've Got IT! Great Idea!! The Hard Plastic! TOTES Dummy ME!:p

Nanamoms, I am of no help. When I told my husband I needed a light box when I was into Caligraphy, he asked what I was thinking so I explained it to him. Within a couple of days, I had a great light box. I now use it for my quilting. I am very lucky beause my dh is very creative and I haven't found any thing that he can't make. Good luck in finding a good box.

i have two big one that i brought on line at amazon and ebay they where on sale at time ,and i have two small ones that i brought at a craft store joana,s or micheal,s for $9.00 each the small ones, but shop online and see if any comes up with a good sale price

An aha moment. I have a old, old sewing table with a set of 3 drawer on each side of the table. There is glass on top of the two top drawers. I could put a batter operated light in the drawer and use the glass table top. The table/desk was my Grandma Chula's sewing table. Thank you Sewnoma for sparking my thinking!

I use a "trouble" light from the garage with a clamp or hanger on it and hang or clamp to a rung of my drying rack. With a piece of plexiglass on top I can set it up easily and quickly and it has a nice large surface.

You might want to call around to hospitals and clinics and see if they have a view box for x-rays that they want to get rid of. Most medical sites are going to digital x-rays that are read on a computer. I snagged a double one when we switched over to digital here in the clinic and didn't know where to go with the old light boxes. Just a thought. Good luck!

I have a plexiglass computer holder that had the keyboard under it with the computer on top. Got a laptop, didn't need it. Re-purposed it. Just put a light under it and walah!!! A light box!!!

I got so lucky! I was at a garage sale and found an x-ray viewing light, the kind on the wall in the doctor's office, for $10. It's big and works great. i also got a smaller one, looks like it might be homemade, at another garage sale a long time before I came across the big one. before that, I was using sunlight through the window - lol.

So many great ideas!! Love the x-ray box suggestion...will check it out with my son (doctor). I want to get one as big as I can since I do pageant sashes and have to mark a lot of wording centered down a long strip!! I do have an old printer with a scanner top that I might could convert. I just purchased some great Ott LED lights from Tues. Morning that would work great. Regular light bulbs cause glare with my eyes and I have to squint!! (although time for an eye checkup, too!))

I'm going to keep an eye out for the right size of box/plexiglass!