how to make a lightbox.

To make a lightbox you first need to buy, steal or find yourself some wood. Wood 1 inch thick will make a super sturdy lighbox that could take a punch no problem. You also need a rectangular piece of glass or thick transparent plastic that doesn't bend.

Cut the walls of the box to fit the size of the glass or plastic.

Drill a hole in one of the end pieces of wood to put your light bulb through.

Now screw together all four sides and cut out a thinner piece of wood for your base.

Once you have a 5 sided box it's time to paint the inside white (to help make it as bright as possible).

Any bulb will do as long as it's bright enough for you. You need to take the plug off the cord and thread it through the hole you've made in the end wall. Once you've reattached the plug you need to push the light fixture in to the hole so it's tight enough to not move or fall out again.

Cut some small pieces of wood to act almost as legs for your glass, you have to calculate the measurements of these pieces of wood so that your glass will lye flush with the top of your box. Screw these in all 4 corners and lye your glass on top.

Now simply apply some thick duck tape around the top edges to hold the glass in place and to hide any sharp edges you may have. I found a piece of double glazed glass at a reclamation yard so it has no sharp edges.

Plug it in and away you go!

A lightbox is a handy tool for all you creative types, and it gives your cat a nice warm place to sit on those cold winter days.

Why not give it a try...