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Diy Changeable Calorie-Free Box - Edifice Plans

How to build a woods low-cal box amongst changeable signs  DIY Changeable Light Box - Building Plans

Happy Fri guys! Today's projection kills 2 birds amongst i stone. Well, truly to a greater extent than similar 4 or v birds. 

I've been working on making over my twin boys' bedroom. It started amongst the Shoe Storage Nightstand in addition to a twosome weeks agone I shared the Modern Bunk Beds that I built for them. I wanted to come upwards up amongst a cool nightlight that I could hang on the wall, in addition to every bit everyone knows, the holidays are creeping upwards faster than a starving cheetah. Lately, I appear to combat to respect Holiday decor that matches the modern-ish trend of my occupation solid in addition to I'm also kinda lazy when it comes to vacation decorating.


I've seen DIY low-cal boxes or marque signs before, but never ones where you lot could switch out the maxim easily. I came upwards amongst a pretty unproblematic lighted sign in addition to changeable acrylic slides that you lot tin flame customize anyway you'd like. Don't similar typography? You could acquire fancy in addition to create your ain design. Leave the low-cal box upwards all twelvemonth in addition to switch out the slides for each holiday. 



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Materials List:



Cut List:
  • (2) 1 x 2 @ 15-1/2" (long call for to long point, mitered 45 degrees both ends)
  • (2) 1 x 2 @ 12-1/2" (long call for to long point, mitered 45 degrees both ends)
  • (2) 1 x 4 @ 14"
  • (2) 1 x 4 @ 12-1/2"
  • (2) 3/4" foursquare dowel @ 11"
  • (2) 3/4" foursquare dowel @ 1-1/2"
  • (1) 1/4" plywood @ 15-1/2" x 12-1/2"



1. The outset standard is to cutting all your pieces downwards to length. 

2. Next, you lot tin flame build the confront frame. I drilled 3/4" steal hole screws on each destination of the frame pieces in addition to attached them amongst mucilage in addition to 1-1/4" steal hole screws. If you lot don't convey a steal hole jig, you lot could but clamp the confront frame together acre the mucilage dries.


3. Next, get together the inner frame. Drill three, 3/4" steal holes along i long side of each 1 x 4 x 12-1/2" board. Drill iii steal holes along the long side of one, 1 x 4 x 14" board, every bit good every bit 2 additional steal holes on each end. 

Attach the bottom plate betwixt both side pieces, making certain it sits even out amongst the bottom ends. 


4. Align the edges of the frame amongst the confront in addition to attach amongst mucilage in addition to 1-1/4" screws. 


5. To concur the acrylic sign inward place, you'll involve to attach runners on each side of the frame. Create a 1/4" gap from the backside of the confront frame in addition to identify a long slice of 3/4" dowel vertically. Secure inward identify amongst woods mucilage in addition to destination nails. You may involve to pre-drill if you lot are using paw driven nails. Align a curt slice of dowel horizontally, even out amongst the side runners. Attach amongst mucilage in addition to to a greater extent than nails. 


6. Place the remaining 1 x 4 x 14" board on exceed of the slides, but don't attach it to anything. 


7. Lay the plywood panel on the backside of the frame in addition to align the corners. Pre-drill 4 holes along each border in addition to screw inward identify using 3/4" screws. 

Use a 1" forstner fleck or a modest drill fleck in addition to jigsaw to create an access hole. 



8. With the box built its fourth dimension to brand the slides. I flora my acrylic pre-cut into 11" x 14" sheets at Home Depot. Actually, I was able to respect the non-glare form for the same cost every bit basic 1/8" acrylic (around $4.50 each). 

If you lot convey a cutting machine similar a Cricut or Silhouette, you lot tin flame cutting your lettering stencil out of vinyl. If you're a cheapskate similar me in addition to are cutter-less, no fear. I cutting my lettering from self adhesive transportation labels. 


9. I saved each maxim every bit an jpg in addition to flipped it into a mirror icon using Photoshop. 

*If you lot guys would similar a costless re-create of the reversed images that you lot tin flame impress at home, precisely comment below in addition to I tin flame brand those available to you. 

VERY IMPORTANT! Leave the protective cinema on both sides of the vinyl canvas at this point. Trust me, I learned the difficult way. Center the label in addition to stick it on exceed of the protective film. Use a ruler in addition to X-acto knife to cutting some the lettering. Use plenty pressure level to cutting through both the newspaper label in addition to the film, but non in addition to thus difficult every bit to cutting into the vinyl. 


10. Once each alphabetic quality is completely cut, carefully line dorsum the protective film, taking the remnant of the label amongst it. Leave the protective cinema on the opposite side. 


11. Spray 3 coats of apartment dark pigment over the lettering in addition to allow it to dry out for a few hours. Then, spray iii heavy coats of frosted drinking glass spray.


12. While the slides dry, you lot tin flame add together lights to the box. I dearest to salve coin but yes, the lights convey to hold out LED. The former fashioned form acquire also hot. 

Remove the plywood dorsum in addition to string the Christmas lights through the access hole. I drilled my hole inward the middle. but I wishing I would convey placed it off to the side. 

String the total length of lights dorsum in addition to forth across the plywood. Make certain to avoid a 3/4" strip some the perimeter. 


13. To concur the lights inward place, hammer coax staples over the wires. I flora mine inward the electrical aisle of Home Depot. 


14. Screw the plywood dorsum on the frame. Push upwards on the exceed plate to popular it out. Drop a slide inward place, in addition to plug the cord in. Boom! Soft glowing low-cal box. 


This "Give Thanks" slide is nearly every bit much ornament every bit my occupation solid is going to acquire for Thanksgiving this year. 


When it's fourth dimension to alter upwards the sign, all I convey to work it popular off the exceed identify in addition to switch the plates. 


I intend the "Holly Jolly" sign is my favorite : )


After the holidays are over, I'll add together a twosome sawtooth hangers to the dorsum in addition to mountain the low-cal box on the wall of my boys' room. I intend it volition brand a perfect nightlight. 


This is the form of vacation decorations I tin flame acquire behind. The form you lot exit upwards all year! Ready to build your own? Pin the icon below to salve the see for later! 

How to build a woods low-cal box amongst changeable signs  DIY Changeable Light Box - Building Plans


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