• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Home
  • About
    • Partnerships
  • Contact
  • Printables
  • Recipes
  • DIY
  • Entertaining

Handmade Mood

DIY's, Recipes and Parties

DIY Light Box Letters

I know you’ve seen the Heidi Swapp Light Box — right? If you haven’t, let me introduce you:

lightbox

It’s a darling, illuminated marquee board perfectly sized for a kitchen, studio, craft room, kid’s room – basically anywhere. I’m a total sucker for anything text-art related and as soon as these were in stock, I pounced.

I use it primarily in my studio – but it’s also fun to have at events and parties. The letter, phrase, background and icon options offered as accessories to the lightbox are plentiful but I was curious if I could create some custom inserts. Hark back to my teaching days – overhead projector sheets seemed like they’d be a cool medium to try and lo and behold – it was pretty cool!

DIY Lightbox Inserts

DIY Lightbox Inserts

I’ve got to say – the initial measuring and template building was the hardest part of this whole project – and lucky you, the templates are available at the bottom of the post for you! Here’s how to make your own + some additional ideas:

DIY Lightbox Inserts

Design + Print:

Use an image you love, an icon, graphic, etc and design your inserts. I made two templates – one is narrower but has three sections on one sheet and the other is wider with only two sections. The light-box measures 10×13 and the projector sheets measure a standard 8.5 x 11 in. Be sure to purchase projector sheets that are a) printable and b) compatible with your printer. I have a laser jet printer and the ink jet printer sheets would not work in my printer.

DIY Lightbox Inserts

Cut + Insert:

Trim the design along the lines taking care to cut straight. I tried scissors and a paper cutter and had equal success. Then slide your inserts into the lightbox!

DIY Lightbox Inserts

Totally experimenting, I tried negative word art on an image. In person, it’s faint but legible – but not so much in photographs.

DIY Lightbox Inserts

Onward to more tries – and I’ve got even more up my sleeve to share later!

DIY Lightbox Inserts

I love the slight ‘devil may care’ look on Vivi’s face – and this quote (from Winnie the Pooh, if I remember right) pretty much sums up my relationship with her.

DIY Lightbox Inserts

The contrast-y black and white loos equally beautiful when the light is on and off.

DIY Lightbox Inserts

This was two separate sheets. One with the flamingo (a download found at Style Me Pretty) and the second with one of my favorite Kate Spade idioms.

DIY Lightbox Inserts

A favorite song lyric in one of my favorite fonts – the brushy fonts looked really cool because of the “light leak” that happens.

DIY Lightbox Inserts

And another with a black and white image and text – I love the ability to incorporate personal images into the light box. Honor the birthday kid, a spouse, or guest of honor at a party – or just another way to display a favorite image.

The possibilities are literally limitless – and I’ll be back with a part 2 after I try some other iterations! Is your brain on overdrive thinking of the inserts you’ll make?

2widelightboard 3uplightboard

Click on the (VERY FAINT!) images above to open in a new window and save. We’re working on a direct download link!

Related

Filed Under: Decorating, DIY, Printable, Tutorial

About Amanda Gentis

Amanda is a confetti loving Texan who will monogram anything. She is wife to FMG and mama to #HurricaneVivi.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. queenofthepage says

    at

    Where did you find the projector sheets?

  2. Sarah Roberts says

    at

    You can order them off Amazon or find them at Office Max.

  3. halliwellct says

    at

    Hi! How do I get the images/words on the template that you provided?

  4. Amanda Gentis says

    at

    You’d need to open it in a program where you can put text over an image (i.e. PowerPoint, Word, PhotoShop, Canva, etc.)

  5. Gail says

    at

    I love this and am excited to try but I can’t find the link for the download of the template. Can you help?
    Thank you so much.

  6. Amanda says

    at

    Hi Gail – there isn’t actually a link – you’ll click on the images just above the last bit of text (they are SUPER faint) and save them to your computer. OR right click and save…

Trackbacks

  1. Fooxee » Awesome and vixxy!6 creative lighting ideas to cosy up your home - Fooxee says:
    at

    […] colour-changing one and making slightly different letter inserts (tutorial for those is here). What do you think? Have you got yourself a little light box […]

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Primary Sidebar

Search

Disclaimer

Handmade Mood contains some contextual affiliate links. We only recommend products or services we use personally and feel our readers will enjoy. All opinions are 100% the author's.

Click here and use code 10OFF to get 10% off regular priced items (bundles and promo items not included).

Most Popular Posts

Loving the Ombré Grapefruit Cocktail
Huge, Easy to Make, Inexpensive, DIY Pinboard
Mini Mason Jar Blueberry Pies
At Home Date Night Gift Basket
Back to School Lunch Ideas
DIY Gender Reveal Confetti Popper
DIY Easy Essential Oil Rice Bag
Curious about adding new color.
  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter

Categories

Don’t Miss These!

Lamb with Mint Cherry Sauce

Saw | Loved | Shared: 02/09/18

Saw|Loved|Shared: 06/10/2016

Bajed French Toast for Mothers Day

Saw|Loved|Shared: Week 16

Saw | Loved| Shared: 7/1/16

Lime Sherbet Float

Adorable Animal Pinatas for Valentines Day

DIY Fall Centerpiece with Apples

Pinapple/Pear/Spinach Green Smoothie (with Mint and Lemon, too!)

Stay Updated

Copyright© 2019 · Dear Theme by Shay Bocks