DIY Light Table

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I recently discovered that my son is FASCINATED with light.  At our local children’s museum, there is a light table with lots of different colored acrylic shapes to play with.  He stands at that table FOR.EV.ER just moving the shapes around on the table and observing what they look like when illuminated.  We could stay and play at that table for the entire couple hours that we are at the museum. Good thing we have a membership and can go for “free” whenever we want.  Then I don’t feel like we have visit any other areas of the museum if he doesn’t want to. It is so amazing to watch him discover things.  I just love to sit back and watch.

I have been inspired by Play At Home Mom’s awesome playroom and toys.  Have you seen this blog?  You have to check it out.  The playroom is incredible and all the educational toys and storage solutions that are used make me want a designated playroom SO MUCH!  To me, this is the dream playroom.

One of the items from the playroom that I really like is the light table. I put together this one:

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It is really simple to make, all you need to do is put some white Christmas lights into a clear storage box.  I also taped wax paper to the inside of the lid so it would diffuse the light.  I thought that I would have to drill a hole in the plastic for the cord but my cord is thin enough that I don’t need to and my box still latches closed.  Your box may vary so you may need to drill a hole. Then all you need are some colorful opaque items and let your child play! I purchased these vase fillers at the dollar store.  Just be sure to always supervise your little one so the items don’t end up in their mouths!

The possibilities with this table are endless and I like the fact that it is low to the ground and can easily be stored under a bed.  Next, I’m going to purchase some acrylic shapes for him to play with.

What would be your child’s favorite thing to play with on a light table?

17 Comments

  1. This is a great idea — I need to make a light box for making stained glass designs & have been procrastinating because I thought I’d have to build something out of wood. A plastic container like this is easy to find, inexpensive, & a lot easier to make.

    Thanks for posting.
    dawnedesign.net

  2. This is brilliant! My kids would love it and so would I! I found you through Sugar Bee’s linky party. Thanks for sharing! 🙂

  3. Thank you for sharing this fabulous idea! My 11-year old son likes to trace “manga” pictures, and he was just asking me to buy a glass table yesterday. I already have all the supplies to make one of these–needless to say I’ve found my project of the day for this afternoon. He’ll be so happy when he gets home from school today! 😀

  4. I am going to make one of these! I have a son turning 13 in a week who stays home with me. He’s smart but “trapped”inside a body that doesn’t work the way it should. This might catch his eye.

  5. Hi, I don’t know if your images are copyrighted but I wanted to make you aware of a seller on Listia using images and instructions she finds on the web to auction as her own. I have already reported her to Listia but they informed me that the original owners of the photos she is using must contact Listia to have their images removed from her auctions. The listing is here: http://www.listia.com/auction/7656758-diy-light-table

  6. Hi, I don’t know if your images are copyrighted but I wanted to make you aware of a seller on Listia using images and instructions she finds on the web to auction as her own. I have already reported her to Listia but they informed me that the original owners of the photos she is using must contact Listia to have their images removed from her auctions. The listing is here: http://www.listia.com/auction/7656758-diy-light-table

  7. Thank you for sharing this fun idea! I can see this as a luminated small Christmas tree stand or smaller containers as centerpiece or food risers. The possibilities are endless and so simple. Thank you again and Merry Christmas!

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