Master class “Light box for sand painting with your own hands. Making a glowing table with your own hands: the advantages of creating it How to make a sand table
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Drawing with sand on special light tables has become very popular recently. This activity has a lot of positive effects, even psychotherapeutic ones. But it turns out that you don’t have to look for a special studio to try this type of creativity: you can draw on a light table at home. We tell you how to make this miracle of technology in 5 minutes - and what children can do with the help of a light table.
My husband and I still remember with pleasure our own light tables, which we assembled in middle school: mine was made from a piece of glass that lay on thick volumes of the encyclopedia, and with its help I copied old documents. And my husband built himself a light table to make a cartoon. Today you can easily buy a light table in a store, but it is expensive and takes up a lot of space. Well, then, it’s interesting to assemble your own light table for literally pennies.
I made a light table for my daughters from a clear box we used for sensory play. We also sprinkled salt on our light table. Why salt? Because when we draw on a layer of salt, where it is thinner, light shines through from under it, and the drawing looks simply magical. And when we don't need the light table, we quickly disassemble it and turn it back into a sensory bin for playing with beans and a funnel.
You will need
- Two large transparent drawers with transparent lids (such drawers are usually used to store things under the bed)
- A string of flashlights, a light cable, flashing or cold bulbs
- White tissue paper
- Paper tape 5 cm wide
- Clear tape
- Extension
Flat light table
These light tables are great for studying dry and flat objects. To make a flat table, remove the lid from the drawer and line the inside with white tissue paper. Use clear tape to secure the ends of the paper to the lid.
Place a New Year's garland of white, not colored, light bulbs in the box. Bring the end of the wire out and close the cover. If the lid does not fit tightly, it’s okay. Plug the garland into a power outlet, using an extension cord if necessary.
You can put bright plastic cups, sea-rolled glass, transparent mosaic pieces, transparent construction kit parts and other objects that let in light on the box.
Light table with high sides
This type of light table is perfect for examining wet and unstable materials. You will need two boxes without lids.
Turn one box upside down. Cut a sheet of white paper to the appropriate size and cover the bottom of the box. Secure the paper with clear or paper tape, and place the second box on top, this time as it should be, without turning it over. Secure the boxes with clear tape. Place a string of light bulbs under the bottom drawer.
Light table games
Fleeting collage. Give your child a variety of small things: a scattering of glass beads, pebbles, acorns, mosaic pieces, colored plastic cups or shells. Let the child lay out a pattern on a flat light table. By rearranging and combining small objects, the child will explore the relationship between color, shape and texture and create unique patterns and compositions.
Games with salt. Pour salt into a high-sided light box and invite your child to paint on it with their fingers. Once your child understands how salt and light interact, you can offer him brushes and stamps. Children quickly master this game and can independently select objects for further research.
Please note that salt tends to spread throughout the room, overcoming even the highest walls, so keep a broom or vacuum cleaner ready.
Hydrogel balls. Fill a light table with high sides with soaked hydrogel balls - and the child will get a lot of fun and interesting sensations (this is one of our favorite activities with the children). Initially, the hydrogel is sold as a filler for vases, so you can buy it in a craft store, in the “Plants” department.
If the gel is already soaked, pour it into the light table and start playing. Dry hydrogel beads are the size of a barley grain; soak them according to the manufacturer's instructions, and then pour them into a box standing on the backlight. If your child likes to put small objects in his mouth, keep a close eye on him while he plays.
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Hello, friends!
Today I want to tell you about how to make a table for sand yourself, sand animation.
To be honest, I had the idea of making such a stationary table for a long time, but I didn’t get around to it (we).
And finally, a miracle happened and even settled in our home :) The children are happy, and so are the parents :) Not to mention the joy of the family budget, which did not have to “lose weight” by a fairly significant amount - ready-made tables for sand painting, as for me, are real they cost a lot.
What you need to make a sand painting table
- Plywood box (can be bought at a hardware store. Please note that the sides are high enough);
- A piece of plexiglass;
- Whatman;
- Double sided tape;
- Two pieces of plastic plinth (for the interior decoration of the box, you can, in principle, do without it);
- Four bars for the legs, special glue, screws to attach the legs to the box;
- LED lamp or lamp;
How to make a sand painting table
If you buy everything in advance, then you can easily assemble such a table in one or two evenings, plus drying time so that everything sticks together well. So, what and how to buy for the table.
What to buy to make a table
First I'll tell you about box, since it is the main component of the drawing table. In principle, any plywood box deep and wide enough will do. We bought at a hardware store the most ordinary plywood box with high sides and handles-holes on the sides (by the way, it turned out to be very convenient for transporting the table). There, in the store, by the way, they immediately cut a hole in the bottom, since we didn’t have the necessary tools for such an operation at home.
Regarding the hole in the bottom of the box - this is actually tablet for drawing, the hole through which the light will pass and the place where we will place the plexiglass. Don't forget to leave a 3-5 cm plywood frame around the perimeter so that there is something to glue the glass to.
Why plexiglass? Because, firstly, it is lighter - which means it will put less pressure on the plywood and the structure will be more reliable, and secondly, it is safer, it will not crack or break - the child will be safer.
We bought plexiglass there, in the same hardware store, and cut it to fit the size of the box.
We already have all the main components of the table. Now you need to buy bars for the legs and boards for fastenings (optional), after which you can safely leave the hardware store and go home to assemble the table.
Assembling a sand painting table
First thing - we measure everything carefully(the length and width of the drawer, the dimensions of the opening and the plexiglass tablet, etc.) so that there are no surprises later.
Cut out a piece of whatman paper the required sizes (the same as plexiglass) and glue it to the plexiglass using double-sided tape. Whatman paper is needed so that the light is evenly scattered over the area of the entire tablet and the lamp itself is not visible.
We put plexiglass in the box and glue it to the frame of the box with double-sided tape. You can place a frame of plastic plinth over the glass so that fine sand does not get between the glass and the box and get stuck there, but, in principle, if you measure and cut everything well, the plexiglass will fit snugly to the box.
That's it, our sand drawing tablet is ready.
Sanding, painting, varnishing. You can paint the legs in different colors, you can make the whole table, for example, white or blue - whatever you want. That's all, actually - our sand painting table is ready 🙂
Where to get light
At first I thought of buying LED lamp and permanently attach it to the table, but then I realized that this was extra weight for the table, and then there was no way to use this lamp.
And the distance from the light source to the glass is also important. The larger it is, the more scattered the light will be, covering a larger area, and the lamp itself will not be visible as a spot of bright light on the tablet. Therefore, we simply place the lamp under the table, on the floor. Convenient and safe :)
What to draw, where to get sand
Sand can be bought at the store. Sand is suitable for children's creativity, decoration or for sand ceremonies, as an option.
You can “make” sand yourself. Ordinary river sand, previously sifted and calcined in the oven, may be suitable for this.
Sand can be replaced with another material. For example, for me, an unexpectedly cool option was semolina baked in the oven. I really really liked this material - to be honest, I didn’t expect my experiment to be so successful. Just pierce the semolina in the oven and make sure it doesn’t burn. The semolina will acquire a golden hue and will be very reminiscent of sand: both in appearance and in tactile sensations.
What to draw and how to use a sand table
You can draw anything you want- any plots, characters from your favorite fairy tales and cartoons, plots of role-playing games, bring a fairy tale to life, do exercises to develop hand-eye coordination, etc.
You can write letters and words or just move your hands at will, getting an unforgettable sensory experience and even relaxing.
We still have a table often. It’s very convenient: the material doesn’t spill out, the grains and sand are securely hidden, everything is neat and clean :) In a word, a sand painting table is a must-have item :) for both children and parents.
I hope you liked our table 😉 Happy creativity and sand painting!
With love,
Marina Kruchinskaya
We suggest making your own light table (tablet) for sand painting and other creative activities with your child.
Classes on a light table develop:
- fantasy;
- sensory abilities;
- fingers and hands (fine motor skills);
- artistic and aesthetic taste;
- compositional skills when depicting objects and plots;
This book talks about sand (loose) animation, techniques and techniques for drawing with sand from the simplest to the most complex. After reading this book, you will be able to make drawings with sifted sand on a light table. You will also learn how to save a painted picture. A large number of detailed photographic illustrations in the book will help adults and children master drawing techniques, experience the richness of the possibilities of bulk material, immerse themselves in a world of fantasy and develop creative abilities.
Necessary materials:
- large plastic frosted or transparent container with a lid (in, in);
- white wrapping paper/tracing paper/parchment paper;
- aluminum foil (optional);
- Christmas tree garland / LED plastic round hanging lantern (in, in);
- scotch.
How to do
Line the inside of the container with foil, shiny side up, and secure with tape. Foil is needed to reflect and enhance light (you can do without it).
Source: danyabanya.com
Place tracing paper on the inside of the lid. It will scatter the light. Place the Christmas tree garland or lantern in a plastic box and close the lid. If the wire from the garland does not allow you to close the lid, make a hole in the wall of the container and pull the cord through it.
Connect the garland to a source of electricity. If you use a multi-colored one, then the table surface will shimmer with all the colors of the rainbow. Children's tablet for sand therapy is ready!
To paint on a light table, you can use salt or semolina instead of quartz sand. Semolina and bright lighting will create a unique play of light and shadow, and amazingly beautiful images will appear.
WE RECOMMEND
**********************************************************************Tablet for drawing with sand "Kidstation" (c)
The light table is a convenient and modern device for sand animation.
The Kidstation light tablet for sand painting is made of natural wood. Low sides at the edges prevent sand from spilling out. Size: 40*30*11 cm.
**********************************************************************
To draw sand pictures, you need a special accessory. If you wish, you can design a table for sand painting with your own hands. To do this, just carefully study the instructions and strictly follow its instructions. Then you will be able to make the perfect accessory that will be a faithful assistant when creating drawings.
This activity is great for developing fine motor skills.
To create a table for sand animation with your own hands, you need to choose a suitable base for the work.
Please note that an acrylic plate can have a fairly high price, in addition, there is a high probability that you will have difficulty finding a sheet thicker than 5 mm. Therefore, it will be easier to order the material of the required size, rather than looking for a ready-made copy. To work, you will need 2 square sheets 8 mm thick (transparent), and the second - 3 mm (matte). Make sure that the transparent sheet is slightly smaller than the matte one.
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How to make a sand painting table?
After the material has been selected and purchased, it’s time to start working. It consists of several stages:
- Place marks on the front of the table, and then check their accuracy by applying a thicker acrylic plate. It is recommended to do this in order to understand whether the finished copy will fit the cutout made in the surface. Please note that the sheet does not always have ideal parameters, and therefore you need to pay attention when making a choice or accepting an order.
- Make a cut using a mounting knife with new blades inserted for this purpose. A sharpened tool will make the job much easier. Use a ruler to make the cut straight and neat. In this case, this simple device will act as a guide. Hold the tool so that it does not slip, try not to rush. There is a high probability that in a hurry the knife will jump off the line where the cut should be.
- Remove the cut part of the plate to reveal the honeycomb-shaped filling, which must be completely removed. Make sure the cutout lines up completely with the acrylic sheet and continue working.
- Each of the corners should be strengthened by substituting bars cut from chipboard. However, the installed supports are placed in a thick acrylic plate, and therefore they must be carefully trimmed. Make sure that the thickness of the cut is equal to the thickness of the acrylic. To make your task much easier, it is recommended to use a knife for installation work. Be careful not to get injured. If by chance you cut off a little more than you need, don't despair. The situation can be easily corrected by increasing the height to a certain level. To do this, specialists use adhesive and pieces left over after work.
- Make sure that the thicker acrylic plate fits into the prepared space. Paint the inside of the table, which is a mandatory step in creating furniture. The white tint used during work will allow the light to disperse evenly, in addition, it will help to increase the brightness of the finished product, therefore, making it more convenient to work with.
- Providing table lighting. To do this, you will need several meters of LED strip with an adhesive backing. It is powered from a 12 W network, so you will need to purchase a power supply as an addition. This device will allow you to connect furniture to an outlet. Please note that the tape is offered in different color formats, however, you should prefer white light, which is considered brighter. Make a hole in the bottom and pass the electrical connector through it. Attach clamps to its opposite side (this simple measure will prevent it from falling into the hole). Place the LED strip on the workpiece, check the correct location and carefully fix it. To make the attachment even more secure, you can use double-sided adhesive tape. Connect the tape to the network, check if it works well.
- Place the acrylic plate on the touch table for sand animation. First you need to make holes in a transparent sheet of acrylic. Use the blank as a template to drill holes in the matte layer. Make sure that the diameter of the holes created is larger than the diameter of the screws. Otherwise, there is a high risk that the material will crack when tightening the fasteners. If desired, round the corners of the acrylic plate.
Children's games with sand contribute to the development of visual and tactile perception, fine motor skills, imagination and artistic and aesthetic taste. For such activities, you can make a sand painting table with lighting yourself.
What will you need to make a sand painting table?
The materials and tools needed to make a glowing table with your own hands are inexpensive.
Necessary materials
- Boards.
- A sheet of plywood 10 mm thick or furniture board.
- Glazing bead.
- Plexiglas.
- Ribbon with light bulbs.
- Fork
- Switch.
- Nails.
- Self-tapping screws.
- Water based varnish.
Required Tools
- Thicknessing machine for processing boards.
- Hacksaw for cutting boards and plywood.
- A hex key for driving screws or a hammer when using nails.
How to make a sand painting table?
A table for practicing with sand is made in stages. Since the presence of light is the main advantage of such a table, great attention should be paid to installing light bulbs. Other stages of manufacturing the structure are also important.
Stage 1: choosing acrylic, glass
The format of acrylic or glass should be selected according to the parameters of the inside of the table.
For the safety of children, it is better to use acrylic. To ensure that the light diffuses evenly, it is better to use white or beige material with a thickness of 5 mm or more. You can purchase thicker transparent acrylic, but in this case the interior of the table will be visible and the light will be too bright. The disadvantage of acrylic coating is its high cost.
A cheaper option is glass. It should be thick enough, preferably white. Suitable glass can be found in advertising workshops. If the material is transparent, you can stick a white protective film on top. It will help create the desired light intensity and protect children if the glass breaks.
Stage 2: measure seven times - cut once
If a sheet of glass or acrylic is of irregular shape, it is recommended to cut off the excess with a mounting knife using a ruler. You should not rush when performing this operation, as the knife may jump off the cut line.
You can buy acrylic in any size, and then cut the boards and plywood with a hacksaw to suit the size of that covering. You must first process the boards on a surface planer to make their surface smooth.
The plywood base of the table must be cut, taking into account the format of the acrylic and the thickness of the side boards. To perform the operation more accurately, you can use a paper blank. The plywood should cover the sides of the table, but not extend beyond them.
Boards can also be trimmed if necessary. Their height and width are selected so that there are no protruding or uneven edges of the table. The length of the boards should not be less than the parameters of the bottom sheet of plywood so that sand does not spill out. It is also recommended to make them the same height.
Stage 3: trimming corners and fitting acrylic
All surfaces must be smooth to prevent children from getting hurt. There should also be no sharp corners for safety reasons.
After determining the parameters of all components, you can begin assembling the table. Boards can be connected with screws or nails. The result should be a structure resembling a box.
To install acrylic or glass, glazing beads must be attached to the top of the resulting box. Their size is selected based on the internal parameters of the table. It is also better to nail the bars with small nails.
After this, you need to check whether the acrylic coating fits in the frame prepared for it. If not, it can be trimmed. The coating should not be installed before installing the backlight.
Stage 4: electrical
To make a backlit table, the best option is self-adhesive LED strip, which can be of different colors, sizes and configurations. It is charged from a 12 volt power supply. You can independently attach a switch and plug to the tape for mains power.
The brightest light will come from white bulbs. Due to this, the contours of the image created with sand will be clearly visible. The darker the light, the worse the drawing will be.
Stage 5: lighting installation
It is necessary to drill a hole in the bottom of the table through which the wire is passed. Several knots are tied at the end of the plug that remains inside the box so that it does not fall through.
Before fixing the LED strip inside the box, you need to lay it out inside to make sure that its length matches the dimensions of the sides of the box. Otherwise, it can be cut off. It is better to glue the tape from the end that is closer to the connection cable, so as not to make a new hole in the table body. For reliability, you can additionally secure the LEDs with double-sided tape on the bends and corners.
To check, the tape should be connected to a power source before installing the glass.
After this, the acrylic must be glued to the glazing beads. You can secure it with self-tapping screws, carefully calculating the size of the holes for them, since if they are not larger than the fasteners, the acrylic coating may crack.
If you can’t buy LEDs, you can use a New Year’s garland with small bulbs, after cutting it to fit the size of the table. You can secure it with small pieces of adhesive tape.
Such lighting will be more interesting for children, as the color of the light bulbs will change. It is better that this change occurs slowly, which will promote relaxation and stimulate the creative activity of children. Flashing bright colors will bore them.
Finally
A table made in this way will not take up much space. It will be useful not only for sand drawing, but also for copying images or drawings. It is important to keep the acrylic coating clean and follow safety precautions when working with it to make painting a joy.