Geri Beam from the design team with another stitch file project. Today I am using the stitch file in a unique way to create a light box. Add some glow in the dark thread with some tiny lights and you have a comforting night light.
Supplies needed:
These are the supplies I used but you can use any brand you have in your craft stash. You can even build your own box out of heavy card stock or chipboard.
Black card stock
Black masking tape 1” wide
Embroidery needle
Glow in the dark thread – green
Decorative paper for the outside of the box
Tim Holtz Tiny Lights – one strand white light
Tim Holtz Vignette Boxes -one box measuring 5.5 x 5.5 inches
Liquid glue
Favorite ink to “age” the edges of decorative paper – I used Tim Holtz Distress Ink color Vintage Paper
Small wood drill
Double-sided tape
Clear cellophane tape
Colored cellophane sheets
Colors – blue, red, green and yellow
You can make the color brown by layering red, yellow and green
Step-by-Step Instructions:
Place a piece of black card stock on your cutting machine. Resize the cut file to be 5 x 5 inches. Cut out the holes on the card stock.
Measure one inch from the border and cut around the edge of the design.
Cut the blue colored cellophane to fit over the birds. Use clear cellophane tape to attach it to the black card stock.
Cut the red, yellow and green cellophane to fit over the branch. Use clear cellophane tape to attach the black card stock.
Hold the paper up to the light to check how it looks.
Use glow in the dark thread, a needle and a running stitch to place thread around the outside border. Tip – use several strands of thread to make it glow well.
Drill a hole in the back of the vignette box to fit the wire of the tiny lights. Thread the lights through the hole. The battery pack will be attached with double-sided tape later once you glue decorative paper to the back. Be sure to place the side with the screws facing you so that you can replace the batteries in the future. Also be sure the switch to turn off and on is pointed towards the top of the box.
Place the tiny lights in a spiral inside the box and tape it in place. Remove the small piece of packing plastic which allows you to turn on the lights and test them to make sure they work.
Add black masking tape around the edges of the paper. Place the tape so that half is on the paper - the other half will attach to the box.
Place some wet-glue on top of the tape to help keep the tape in place.
Cut the corners of the tape so that there are no wrinkles.
Attach the paper to the vignette box. Use your fingers to smooth the tape on the box. Let glue dry before going to the next step.
Cut four strips of decorative paper at 1” x 6”. Use wet glue to place the decorative paper over the tape. Line up the paper at the back edge of the box and over the bottom edge of the tape. You will see approximately ¼” of black tape wrapped from the font of the box to the sides. Wrap the extra length of decorative paper around the corners and glue in place.
Lay the box on a piece of decorative paper. Use a pencil to mark the outside edge of the box. Cut on the inside of the pencil line to get the piece to fit perfectly on the back of the box. Attach with wet glue. You may have to do some special piecing to fit around the wire of the lights.
Use double-sided tape to attach the battery pack to the back of the box.
After the glue dries use your favorite ink to age the edges of the paper.
Turn on the switch and test the lights.
For the best part of all – take your box into a dark room and see your lovely new light box.
You have completed another Geri Beam design team project for Twilight Crafts. Download even more stitch files and see what you can create.
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