Home #Makerspace: How to Make a Light Box for Art and Play

This week, art class happened at night.  Using some leftover holiday string lights and acrylic sheeting, I made a light box for my two young boys to draw, play and design on.

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Light boxes lend themselves to lots of different explorations.  Bits of colored paper become kalidescope-like confetti, simple photographs become complex tracings, colors combine unexpectedly and learn the physics of light.  Plant life and structures light up to the biologist.  Plus, with a little red and yellow construction paper, you can light a fire for ghost stories!

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This tutorial utilizes a table saw to create the necessary rabbets and miter joints.  These are great intermediate table saw skills to learn, practice and utilize in your work flow.  Strong, clean joinery really sets your project apart from the pack.  While kid-focused, this project isn’t really designed to be made with young maker help.

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Picture Frames

I’ve built a few picture frames over the last two years.  I’ve enjoyed the process and the opportunity work some hard wood.  With all walnut, maple, white oak and red oak scraps  I’ve been making I should have raw materials for an entire house!  It takes about an hour to make the frame, but years of hard work to get the family right. In other news, my home workshop has entered into a serious slowdown mode until May.  I will not be showing any big projects out of the home shop, although work will be cool.  I’m buying my own … Continue reading Picture Frames