This Vintage Lightbox Will Look Great In Your Home

This Vintage Lightbox Will Look Great In Your Home

Have you ever walked by an old theatre and admired the marquee displaying the list of movies that are playing? Maybe it's just me, but I think they make going to the movies seem extra special because they keep a small piece of old Hollywood glam alive. 

Even if you haven't really noticed how awesome they are, these old signs have inspired a popular decor trend that has been making its way into more and more homes over the last few years. Marquee letters are now used by a number of homeowners who want to add something fun and unique to their space without too much fuss or commitment. They can be displayed pretty much anywhere, they come in a variety of colors, sizes, and styles, and, for the most part, can easily be moved from room to room. However, there is one downfall to many of the marquee letters you see online and in your local craft stores: their price points. 

If you're like me and love the idea of vintage marquee signs but aren't able to fork over the cash many retailers are asking for, you may want to consider making your own (it's a lot easier than you may think). The video above demonstrates how you can create your very own, interchangeable lightbox that takes inspiration from the warm, bright glow of old marquees. Watch how it's done and then use the written instructions below to guide you through the DIY process.        

What You Need

• Shadowbox
• Painter's tape
• White spray paint (matte)
• Clear card sleeves
• Scissors
• X-Acto knife
• Ruler/straightedge
• Vinyl numbers and letters
• Plastic tile cap strip
• Dry-erase markers
• E6000 glue
• Aluminum foil
• LED light sticks
• Small saw

How To Do It

1. Start by removing the back board from your shadowbox and either taking out the glass (if possible) or covering the frame with painter's tape.
2. Apply a light coat of white, matte spray paint to one side of the glass and allow it to dry completely before applying the second one.
3. As the spray paint dries, cut away the sides from your clear card sleeves. You can make as many of these as you want, but each sleeve should leave you with two plastic sheets to work with. If necessary, use a ruler/straightedge and an X-Acto knife to clean them up and make sure they are all the same size.
4. Apply one vinyl letter or number onto each plastic sheet. The easiest way to ensure you are placing each character in the same place is to layer your plastic sheets on top of each other, lining up the bottom of the current letter or number with the one underneath it.
5. Next, measure the width of your shadowbox, mark the plastic tile cap strip, and cut it down to size. The number of pieces you need will depend on the size of your shadowbox.
6. Place one of the plastic strips along the bottom edge of your shadowbox and then insert one of your vinyl characters. Mark the top edge of it all the way across the glass with a dry erase marker. Repeat this process until you have marked a line for each plastic strip for your box.
7. Attach the plastic strips to the glass, using the marks you just made as a guide. The best product to use for this step is E6000 glue!
8. Insert your characters into the plastic strips to form the message you desire and then cover both it and the backboard of the shadowbox with aluminum foil.
9. Attach LED lights to the aluminum foil, covering the backboard. If you want, you can use a small saw to remove a corner from the backboard to make a small opening for the cords to go through.
10. Finally, set the backboard in the frame and then find the perfect place to display your amazing, new lightbox.

This lightbox can be used anywhere in your home and would be great for special occasions like birthdays and holidays. Messages can be changed whenever you want and you can even make multiple boxes to group together! 

Main Image via YouTube / Ann Le {Anneorshine}