No Brainer Light Table

Since I cannot stop organizing, I found that I have an extra side table 

after relocating the printer.

I created a 'spaceship'  in the new found space for my little nerd. 

Promise to blog about that later :) 

I stared at that side table and it just screamed light table!

The pink stain on the leg came from the old CISS printer.

The printer we're using now is Canon E510, the ink-saving model.

For this project, I used things I already had:

• the above side table or you can use any transparent container
• Fairy/LED lights
• Insulation sheets

That's all.

Our side table from IKEA is made from transparent corrugated cardboard on a wooden frame.

I do not know it's IKEA name but if you know, please do tell.

To make the sides opaque, I used some insulation sheets from Daiso.

Matte on one side, reflective on the other.

Just perfect!

The lights:

I just bought another strand of white LED lights from F&C the other day.
so that the reading area is better lit.
While I was there, I also grabbed these little paper lanterns for only rm 1.60 each.
Shopaholic problems, I know...
 

 For the light table, I used the second strand of lights and tadaa!!!

That's Dragon girl stacking away!

I know you are going to ask about the blocks.

I bought them from a shopaholic Facebook group.

These are wooden blocks with different inserts: acrylic, sand, beads and coloured water.

I cannot tell you how much they cost because I conveniently told hubs I forgot :p 

But the important thing is Dragon loves them.

Considered early Christmas present la.

For some weird reason, Dragon girl aka princess do not like to play on the floor.

Therefore, she didn't really like the homemade Antonius LightBox.

You can read about the Antonius box version here.

 Sigh....I love upcycling useless things :)

Homemade Light Box for Kids

I've always wanted one but it would be cray cray to spend RM 500 on a box with light.

The story that inspired our cheapo box:

The other day, the kids were very disappointed when their fav Cloud B turtle wouldn't light up.

"Mama, turtle died?" asked the firstborn.

Err, yeah. It happens when you are too lazy to remove old batteries from toys.

Autopsy: The battery compartment was slightly rusty looking.
Cause of death: Battery leakage

I was going to chuck him into the soft toys bin when I recalled how much Turtle cost.

Exactly RM 150..... OMG, I have to save him!

So, I cleaned the compartment using a couple of cotton buds dipped in apple cider vinegar (undiluted)
and voila! Good as new.

You can call me Doc Mcstuffin now, I told Tiger.

I know, I know, I felt like such a genius. I was walking around the whole day, feeling smug, until hubs reminded me about some drum I threw away for the same reason. Jealous!

Anyways, the kids were thrilled to have him back and a cue for mama to extend their love for light play.


The BOX:

I got some white fairy lights from Fun&Cheer for RM 19.80. Hubs paid for them since I conveniently forgot my wallet (as usual). 

For the box, I reused my trusty IKEA Antonius (If there is one thing you must have, it is a good large container). The box itself is opaque in general and the lid is slightly frosted.

 

 Just dump all the fairy lights inside, plug in and play! 

I taped 2 pieces of A4 sheets to the lid to diffuse the light.

 

It was late when we started, so I just grabbed the Magformers box.

Magformers are these open-ended shapes with magnets.

You can create all kinds of cool stuff with 'em

He could differentiate pentagon from hexagon.

So, I asked him hexagon has how many sides?

Eight

=.="

So, I showed him that six triangle can form a hexagon.
How many sides again?
Six.
Yay! Math lesson in disguise

Playing with a free gift.

Teaching mama something I cannot recall now

cause I was too busy staring at his face.

NOTES ON LIGHT BOX:

1. DO NOT play if you know you have an impending migraine. My bad. I actually puked before bed.
Urgghh....

2. Always diffuse the light from the LED. Some people used tracing paper. Our light was very bright and it didn't have a dimmer, so I used A4 papers. Just add more paper if you find it is still too bright.

3. The ideas for play are endless: Just following pinterest ideas will suffice.
Have fun!