DIY lightbox

Hi friends! Happy Monday!
I am linking up with my sweet friend Tara from 4th Grade Frolics today for her awesome Monday Made it! I wanted to share with you how to make a DIY lightbox!

DIY Lightbox
I have seen lightboxes that are hundreds of dollars. I don't have that kind of money laying around. If I did, I would be buying clothes, not a box. Also, I needed a bigger box. I have binders that I wanted to share and that box was too small to open up inside. I figured there had to be a better way!!!!

This light box cost me $4 for the first one. It will cost you from scratch with needing lamps about $18.
I had most everything already in my house. You likely have a few of these items in your home too. 

For the cheap version:

Most everything can be bought at dollar tree.

4 foam boards from dollar tree.

Parchment paper (some people use tissue paper,but I like parchment because my lamps can touch it and it's not going to catch on fire!

Packing tape

One piece of floppy white poster board.

You will need 4 of these boards!

You will cut a large square on two of the boards. Then, tape on your parchment paper. As you can see, I had to double it up because the hole is so big. 

Then, with your dollar tree packing tape, tape the sides together. I didn't tape it too much because I want to be able to easily accordion file fold it when it is not in use.  Then, I slide in a piece of foam on the bottom.

After that, I slide the poster board in the back. You want to do this so that when you are shooting, you don't see the seam. I use clamps to hold the poster board, (dollar tree)but if you have binder clips - that will work too. Just clamp the poster board to the top. I put a piece on top too, but it isn't needed. Neither is the aluminum foil. I use it to bounce light sometime, but when I edit my picture using the camera app, I don't need it.  Then, add your three lamps! 

You can easily fold it - see?

It lays flat!!!! This one lays right behind my nightstand in case I need to shoot something quickly and my bedroom windows are open for natural light! 

I use three lamps. One on each side of the paper, and then one up front. 

Here is the second version. I use this most often. It holds all of my lamps, clamps, poster boards, tripod etc, so I love it! 

This is what my set-up looks like! 

I can do this with all the other lights turned out - I feel like it actually works better when the only lights on are the ones in front of my object I am shooting. 

Here is what it looks like all sitting inside. I pop the lid on, and tuck it into my son's closet! 

Here are some photos to show you before and after, and also so you can see some pictures that I have taken since making this! 

This photo is just using my kitchen table with the lights on - on top of a posterboard. Looks bright - right?

This is using the lightbox - when I only had one lamp!!!!!

Here is a side by side comparison! (This was using all three lamps- I didn't have the clamp lights yet for the first photo)

Here is a photo with an app marketing with it. 

Here are two friends that also used my lamp tutorial from periscope.

My guided reading cliff notes pack was shot in my diy lightbox!!

Editable Bubble Gift Tag  - Shot with my lightbox

Back to School Forms - Shot with my lightbox

That is my only made it this week. I will try to make something special for next week using my Target dollar spot finds!!!

Happy Summer!

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Made it Monday - The End is Near (Bulletin Boards, Crate Seat Tutorial & Student Gift Tags)

Hey there friends 

I go back to school on Wednesday officially. #sadface   I am going to the pool daily and trying to soak up that sun. I've been spending my mornings busy printing, laminating and cutting said lamination. It's a vicious cycle. I am trying to fit it all in before Wednesday morning at 4:45 yall. Yes, 4:45. #staypositive I am doing a little giveaway, so keep reading to see what it is!!!

I am linking up with one of my favs - Tara from 4th Grade Frolics for her Monday Made It! 

In my room, I love storage. I love seating choices. I LOVE WHEN I CAN PUT THOSE TOGETHER. I jumped on the band wagon with making crate seats four years ago. It started with plain crate seats. These were ok, but my kids got them filthy. What was I thinking using white fabric?!

Then, the following year, I redid them using a vinyl polka dot material and made a bench. 

Click HERE to see the tutorial for the bench.

That purple thing is a bulletin board. If you want to learn how to make one for your class, click here to see that tutorial. 

My students LOVE the crate bench - especially during read to self. They lay across it and read. Adorable.

In the picture above to the left, is where I keep my vinyl crate seats. They were from college so I had to redo them. If you want to see how I organize my back to school night stuff like in the picture, click here to read about it.

The year after that I made another bench because the first bench was so popular. 

This year, I redid the crate seats because the crates that I had since college fell apart. My tops from the previous years were still good but didn't fit in the new crates. Pretty soon I will have enough crate seats to be class seats. #onlyhalfkidding 

There are a million tutorials out there, I'm sure. 

I'm also going to show how I made this new set.

You will need crates(target $3 each plus 15% off), wood(free from Home Depot and cut free too), fabric (3 yards for 6 crates), cushion (walmart craft section 4 pack)  and a staple gun. I know the thought of a staple gun is scary - Do it - it isn't scary at all. In fact, you feel like damn wonder woman using it. Get one! This is the one I have. 
I got my foam cushion at walmart in the craft section. You only need at most 14x14 pads. Mine came in a six pack for $6.97 - I made 6 seats so I had to get two packs. You can also do a twin size eggshell crate.

After you buy your crates, take one to Home Depot (I choose them because they are next to my house)
I tell them I am a teacher right away and I need room pieces for a project. Usually they have a pile of free wood. Today was no exception! I show them that I want them cut to fit on the inside lip of the crate. They cut all six for free and wood was free. I feel like a criminal when I leave the store carrying all this free wood. Then, I feel like Thelma from Thelma and Louise, like I got away with something once I leave the store. Try it. :)

Next, I used about 3/4 of a yard of fabric per TWO crates. Get a full yard if it makes you feel better.
Cut it in half hamburger style.

Next, wrap your board up with the material. I fold it just like a present. Use that staple gun. If you use a regular one, your hand will never forgive you.

It doesn't need to be pretty, I promise, No one will see it. As you work, you will get better! Then, I did the whole thing all over again, this time using the cheapest vinyl I could get a Joanns. It was like $3 to cover them all. You will need about 3 yards. Use your teacher discount. 

Can you find which chair doesn't have vinyl? I didn't have enough because I didn't cut the right way with the first one. Teacher fail. Another trip to Joann is in my future. #mypoorwallet 

I put a ribbon on the inside so I can pop the lid off easily. 

I was looking on Instagram and saw this picture. So cute-right?

Click this picture to follow her on IG.

Well, this sweetheart gave me the idea to create these.  I wasn't sure how it would look or if I could make the template how I wanted it to look. They turned out pretty good.

I didn't think anyone would be interested in my silly letters but WOW, people have been. I guess being able to label your walls is something people like.

Click below to snag these while they are still on sale!

Next, I FINALLY got my class list. I STILL don't have their pictures yet, so my editable hallway Nametags have to wait. I created these FREE editable printables for k - 3rd grade for a back to school kiddo gift.

The colored name labels are from Cathering at The Brown Bag Teacher. You can find her post HERE.

I'm going into my class to hang those banners today and I'm so excited. My classroom reveal should be coming shortly. I'm not sure it can wait until the #2getherwearebetter linky September 2nd. We'll see. 

I'm also working on my writing folders for my bulletin board display.
This is what it looked like two years ago.
These yellow writing folder labels are free in my store. Click the left picture.

Below was last years folder covers. They are all editable. I love that rainbow one! 

I keep my student writing in these all year, date stamped. My kids take it down during Reading Buddies and share what they have been doing. Then, at the end of the year, their reading buddy goes through, makes sure they are all in dated order, puts them back, and then I slap a bow on it and send it home as a sweet end of the year gift for parents. They all cry. It's awesome. Especially since they think I have kept their child's writing hostage all year. (I do send copies of it all throughout the year so they can see grading - it goes with a note that says you will get all color copies back at the end of the year) But, getting it all pretty is awesome. 

 You can see my crate bench in this picture. I keep legos and cardboard building blocks in them for inside recess. My kids LOVE this option when it is super cold outside.

I found this gem at Target at the dollar spot. I wanted a black calendar. I had a yellow one for six years, and the color was killing my black room. I made the numbers myself and they are all attached using velcro dots. I love me some velcro dots! 

If you would like to win a set of the chalkboard bulletin board letters, leave a comment about how you would use them in your classroom, along with your email. I will pick a winner on Tuesday August 18th at 8pm EST.

Enjoy your week if you are still off or lots of luck and wine if you are back to school this week like me. 

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