Keep Smiling

Keep Smiling

Saturday, January 21, 2017

Sewing Machine Light-Box





Look what I found at the 
Senior Center Thrift Store
for $25.


It has 4 small drawers,
two on each side.


I removed the center section.


Painted the top.


Installed a simple clip-on light,

And then topped it with a heavy
frosted white 15 X 20 cutting board
from Walmart $12.97


Voila!  Custom Light Box.


This will come in handy for transferring
quilting and embroidery patterns,
and for dry embossing on paper crafts.

Just another addition to the art barn:)

I made this pretty heart after seeing Diana's tutorial

Check it out here . . .
NANA DIANA TAKES A BREAK
http://thenanadiana.blogspot.com/2017/01/i-heart-you-i-heard-you-heres-tutorial.html 
 
BUT BEFORE YOU GO . . .


Please leave a comment . . .
I am suffering from
Cabin-Fever
and would love all the company I can get.

Looking forward to warm weather.

Keep Smiling!

Your blogging sister,
Connie :)

58 comments:

  1. You are so clever Connie...your lightbox is fantastic.

    Luv CHRISSYxx

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    1. Thank you . . . the old sewing machine adds a little charm :)

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  2. What a great idea! I never would've thought of making a light box with an old sewing machine cabinet. Your heart looks great. It's cold and snowing here too. I haven't been anywhere for almost a week and a half except a 20 minute run to the grocery store. I'm ready for spring!
    Blessings, Betsy

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    1. It is so icy here that I risk falling every time I go over to the barn . . . but our temperatures are in the mid thirties (a heat wave, LOL) so it is slowly melting away . . . but every night that which has thawed out turns to ice. Spring is coming . . . Spring is coming . . . Spring is coming :)

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  3. Clever YOU Connie. Love how you can see a new use in even the humblest of objects.

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    1. That one photo with the fabric sandwiched on top of the design and the light box make me think that I will be able to draw anything and then transfer it to my fabric . . . I'm looking forward to some fun projects.

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  4. That was an impressive makeover Connie, I loved the table such a great find.

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    1. I saw the table a week ago, but didn't buy it. Then when I had the light box idea, I called and it was still there . . . so we made a rush to town. There was a reason that I couldn't get it out of my mind :)

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  5. I have a sewing machine cabinet exactly like that. Someone roughly painted over it but the cabinet is identical. What a clever use for it. I never would have thought of that.
    I like that little heart. I'll have to go check out the tutorial.

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    1. Back when we were photographers (Steve and I ran a studio and did wedding, senior and family photos) we had a light box. You had to have one when processing film, but when film went to digital I got rid of it. Now that I'm doing embroidery so much it will be great for getting my art work onto my fabric :)

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  6. A fantastic found and great use of it! Happy Sunday Connie!

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    1. Thank you . . . for leaving a comment . . . Looking forward to spring :)

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  7. What a smart thing to do with the old cabinet! I love it! And the heart is beautiful. Maybe I'll try to make one today! Hugs, Diane

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    1. She tutorial is wonderful, she put a lot of time into it and her method works so well. I will be making more hearts this way, too :)

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  8. Sorry, no cabin fever here! We've had probably about two inches of snow/ice/sleet/freezing rain so far this year. Quite warm. But not warm enough, so we're heading for Florida later this week for some sun and sand and friends and family! You did a nice job with the light table, and I love your little heart. I'll be heading over to check out the tutorial. I'll be quilting all day today. Hope you have something fun to work on!!

    ReplyDelete
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    1. If it were not for my barn and sewing this cabin fever would be much worse . . . it's a great time of the year for inside projects :) Have fun in Florida and soak in a little sun for all of us chilly snow-bunnies :)

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  9. Hi Connie,
    You definitely know how to think outside the box! Teehee What a great use for that very cool sewing cabinet.

    The weather here has been terrible. About 8 inches of snow and terrible winds which means there's probably drift up to my knees.

    I went thrifting with a friend a few weekends ago and found some nice things for my home. I will have to share them soon.

    Thank you for your offer. I will take you up on it and send you a personal email.

    Hugs
    Kay

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    1. I'm looking forward to seeing your finds. After seeing this, are you going to go looking for a sewing machine table? An older one with the iron legs would be really pretty. Do you think that I should paint the bottom of this one, it is pretty scratched up?

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  10. Oh-- I love the way you re-purposed that old sewing machine!!! AND---you did a great job on the hearts. Aren't they easy (if you sew, that is)? Hope you have a wonderful Sunday. I am not doing much blogging today- we have family here and the big Green Bay Packer game is on soon. Go Pack Go! xo Diana

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    1. Sounds like a fun family day! I'm happy you like my machine makeover :)

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  11. Oh- And thank you for the link to my blog. You are a gem!!!!!

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  12. Ohhhhhhhh ........I'm in shock at you dismantling this old cabinet ! Wait, wait, ...... okay, my heart is beating rightly again ! Sorry,....I just had to tease you because my daughter and I both have this very cabinet with our model 15- Singer sewing machines. I love these cabinets, and the machines that fit them. My husband refinished the one that we bought for my daughter, and he wanted to do mine, but I told him, "no, this is my workhorse, not some show-pony, and I have to be able to set drinks on the side and not worry about rings !"

    But what you've made there is very handy. I have tried different things at different times to come up with a light table......I can remember taping a quilt block to my storm door top window in order to transfer a design that was taped on underneath it ! If you don't have a key for the drawers and you wish to lock them, you can use a really skinny long flat-blade screwdriver.....that's my tip for the day. It's much easier to move the cabinet around when the drawers are full if you lock them !

    Enjoy that wonderful find......and remember, the buttercups have already broken ground......Spring is coming soon !

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    1. This old cabinet already had the machine removed . . . so I was just working with the base. Good to know about locking the drawers I was wondering if I might have an old key that fit. I've used a window before too, but this will be much easier to use. At least gravity will work with me instead of against . . . like slipping down the window, LOL.

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  13. You are so very clever. Great idea. : )

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  14. Love reading your blog. I can understand the cabin fever as I also have it. Your sewing area is so inviting.

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    1. Thank you. Having a great place to sew is my way of escaping the winter blues, I'm so grateful for my barn :)

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  15. Hi Connie... sorry you are feeling cabin feverish today! and sorry you still have ice... darn it anyway... ice can really make a person housebound for sure. We are thankfully having sunshine and it's 43 degrees and we actually have real pavement to walk on now! I could actually go for a walk (if I did that sort of thing).!!!! I really should though as I've been so inactive for the last month because of all the snow (always good to have an excuse, right?). Your light box is ingenious! Wow. My hubby bought me something very similar last year.. he was so proud to bring it home and show me, and all I could think of was "where in the heck am I going to put this?"... we have such a small house and no room for one more piece of furniture! He's a sucker for going to the thrift store and Restore and loves finding old treasures. So it now sits out in our garage, beside the door with a blanket on it, for the cats to sit on when they want to come in the house! It's perfect, really! I'm going to have to put my thinking cap on and think of something different to use the cabinet for. Your idea is great. I have a lightbox that I got a few years ago, and rarely use it, but it comes in handy now and then. I hope you can enjoy today by reading your blog comments and responding. That's always a fun thing to do! Maybe your ice will melt this week, but if where you live is anything like where I live, there is colder weather on the way this week, but supposedly will be mostly sunny, just down in the teens again! Take care and hope your ice melts soon! Marilyn

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    1. Hi Marilyn, I just love reading your comments, I know that if we lived closer we would be great friends. My neighbors have been going to Home Depot and walking the isles for exercise . . . it's a great idea, but you still have to go out in the bad weather to get there. Our snow it melting and we have small lakes all over the lawn . . . they turn into frozen ponds each night and are scary for walking on the next day. I just hope that we make it through this weather without falling. Three cheers for Spring . . . it is coming, I know that it is :)

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  16. Hi Cheryl, If your suffering from cabin fever, please come over for a cup of tea! I saw that heart on Nana Diana's blog and saved it. Just love it! Aren't you the clever one fixing up that light box like that! I posted a couple window treatments on my blog but hoping in another week will be able to post my "craft barn"! LOL Nancy

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    1. Hi Nancy, nice to hear that you are getting your craft room whipped into space. When you get all set up you will have time give Diana's heart a try. Have a great week, Connie:)

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  17. Oh, my heavens, you are so clever! That light box is brilliant (no pun intended). If I had room in my studio for something like that I'd surely do it. Love the heart. Maybe you need to get away from the house for a day. . .can you and Steve do that? xo

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    1. Hi Nancy, we can do that, but some of the roads are terrible and some of the people have no idea how to drive on ice. The road in front of your home is 35 MPH and some people are driving 50 and 60 down that road in this weather. I just don't feel like taking the chance . . . we have gone out shopping a couple of times and that's nice, but nothing beats warm weather and spring . . . I just want to be outside in the fresh air without the fear of falling. Spring in coming . . . Spring is coming . . . :)

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  18. The heart is lovely. In spite of my inability to sew I will go check out that tutorial.
    My daughter made a similar light box when she was into stained glass work.

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    1. Maybe this heart could be your beginning project in starting to sew. It's very easy and makes a pretty little decoration.

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  19. Oh my goodness Connie, genius idea!!! If that's what cabin fever does for you......! It is such a clever transformation and so useful! Thanks for sharing, roll on Spring!
    Gill xx

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    1. Thank you so much, your excitement has made my day :)

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  20. My, My Connie! You are such a thrifty, nifty, creative gal! What a great light table. I love it! The heart is awesome too! Very cute.

    I hope your cabin fever will subside very soon so you can get out and about. Hopefully, the weather will allow it shortly! In the meantime, have light-table fun day!
    D~~~~

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    1. I was thinking about building a light table,so when I saw this cabinet it was perfect :)
      Cheaper than buying building material and more unique . . . I have a love for out of the ordinary.

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  21. What a fabulous "brillant" idea for a light table.

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    1. Thank you so much! It was one of those times when opportunity knocked and I actually opened the door, LOL
      This little sewing table just worked so well for my need.

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  22. Dear Connie, only you would see that cabinet and come up with such a good idea! That's amazing. The heart is pretty. I long for spring too. There is just nothing like a warm summer day, a garden, and flowers...I remember all your pretty zinnias. Love, Henny

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  23. I'm amazed at the ingenuity of turning a sewing machine cabinet into a light box! It turned out wonderful. Hope your cabin fever leaves you soon.

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    1. Thanks so much . . . Today we had to go to the bank, so when we passed the firsteed,store I asked Steve to stop. It was fun just walking around and stopping to pet the kittens and the puppy that they had for sale. Nice to get out for a while:) We even stopped for ice cream.

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  24. great deal on your thrift store find and you made a fantastic light box out of it, so neat that it can be sat up to, perfect for those quilting blocks.
    Your heart is so lovely, like how the cut part is covered up!

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    1. The heart was all Diana's idea and instructions. I hope you check it out. The light box was fun to make and it's going to be useful in the future with quilting and embroidery patterns :) Thanks so much for visiting and for leaving a comment, I love reading them :)

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  25. You are so smart to rig up your lightbox. You are not alone on this Cabin Fever thing. It's the lack of sunlight I am suffering from. I can stay home several days however need sunlight other wise I just cook,eat and take naps

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    1. Oh, this is a very hard time to not over eat. Last night I made a HUGE bowl of popcorn . . . it was that or cookies, LOL.

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  26. Replies
    1. Thank you . . . A one word comment that gives my creative heart wings . . . you get it!

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  27. Genius idea! You are so creative...and your light box is pretty to boot! That old cabinet reminds me of the one my granny had that my sister has now. You will use it a lot I'm sure. The heart is so pretty...I bet you have stitched up several by now. Have a wonderful Wednesday my friend.

    Hugs, Vicky

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    1. Hi Vicky, I have made a couple more of those hearts . . . they're fun to make. Thanks on the light-box . . . I couldn't leave that alone either and have painted the drawers and the legs. I need time outside . . . looking so forward to warmer weather . . . even just warm enough to melt this ice :)

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  28. What a clever light box! Apparently, the weather has not dimmed your creativity.
    Hang in there, spring will be here before you know it.

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    1. Thank you for your visit and for the comment on my light-box. I know that it will come in handy :)
      Standing on ice and dreaming of Spring, LOL.

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  29. Oh, what a sweet heart. Yes, I saw those hearts that Diana made, she's very talented in so many ways. :) Maybe taking a little drive will help your cabin fever. :)

    love, ~Sheri

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    1. We got out yesterday and it was a lot of fun. The roads are good but walking across our property is icy and a mess . . . it would be easy to take a fall. I managed walking out to the greenhouse and had to shovel snow to get the door open. I've order seeds and have started dreaming of spring and starting my plants. For now it's just planning and dreaming, but spring is coming :)

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