DIY-Lightbox: build your own trendy eye-catcher
- Difficultyeasy
- Cost45-100 €
- Duration1-3 h
Lightboxes are really on trend this Christmas so why not create your own. They are perfect for festive parties or as an eye catching decoration. Just follow our simple step by step guide to create yours.
- meter rule
- ear protectors
- g-clamps
- safety glasses
- protective gloves
- pencil
- Deep picture frame, e.g. 30 cm x 40 cm
- Strong, white drawing paper (same size as the frame)
- White clamping rails from a stationery shop or white plastic rails from a hardware shop
- Lights, e.g. small string of lights or LED strip
- Plastic letters from a craft shop or a decoration shop
Preparing the ligthbox
Open up the picture frame and carefully remove the glass.
Glue in drawing paper
You need: Bosch limpennor och limpistoler, Plastic glue sticks, 2 sheets of drawing paper
Use a hot glue gun to glue the drawing paper to the inside of the back panel and to the inside of the glass. Place the glue dots at selected points around the edge that will be covered by the frame. Then, insert the glass with the paper.
Add the lights
You need: Bosch limpennor och limpistoler, Plastic glue sticks, LED lights
Glue the string of lights or LED strip all around the frame, starting in the middle of the frame using a hot glue gun. Remember to leave a small gap for the power cable.
Create a hole for the cable
You need: NanoBlade saw, work gloves, ear plugs, safety glasses, g-clamps
Using a mini-saw cut a small notch in the bottom of the frame to accommodate the cable for the string of lights or LED strip. Then insert the back panel of the frame and secure it place, using a hot glue gun.
Measure the white clamping rails to size
You need: NanoBlade saw, protective gloves, ear plugs, safety glasses, g-clamps, meter rule, white clamping rails or plastic rails
Measure the length of the frame and use a mini-saw to cut the white clamping rails or plastic rails to size.
Glue the rail to the frame
Use a hot glue gun to glue the rails to the glass. Draw a line with the hot glue gun right along the middle of the rails to create a space at the top and bottom, in which to hold the plastic letters. The distance between the rails depends on the size of the letters.
Adding the finishing touches
You need: Letters
Once the rails are dry: Choose your quote, insert the letters and switch the lightbox on!