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What’s the Best Craft Light – 6 Top Picks

If you’re looking for a craft light, it’s easy to get overwhelmed by the number of choices available. Plus, figuring out which of the options is the best craft light for your needs isn’t simple. Each light has a unique height, range of positions, and feature set. If you don’t choose the right one for your projects, your crafting time might not be as enjoyable.

Luckily, by taking a look at some of the higher quality options, you can figure out the best craft light for you. If you don’t know where to begin, here are some tips along with a top picks list.

What to Look for to Find the Best Craft Light

Before you buy a craft light, you need to take a moment to reflect on your needs and preferences. To help you figure it out, here are some questions to consider:

  • Would you rather have bulbs that mimic daylight, or ones that have a warmer hue?
  • Do you have space to place the light on your craft table, or do you need a floor lamp?
  • Would you be better off with a craft light that’s highly adjustable, or is a single position enough?

Each of those questions can narrow down the best craft light for you, ensuring you focus your search on models that can really meet your needs. But if you’d like an idea of where to start, here’s a look at six of the best craft light options around.

6 Best Craft Light Top Picks

1. Brightech Litespan LED 2nd Edition Reading Floor Lamp

If you want to find a craft light with a ton of features, this Brightech Litespan LED 2nd Edition Reading Floor Lamp is an exceptional choice. Along with an adjustable top that can pivot in every direction, this option also has a dimmer built-in.

Plus, the LEDs offer a range of lighting, including cool, soft, and warm white hues. This helps eliminate yellow or blue tones that other lights can create, allowing you to see your crafts properly. As an added bonus, LED lights also run cooler than many alternative kinds of bulbs and are highly energy efficient.

2. TaoTronics LED Desk Lamp

For those who’d rather have a desk lamp, the TaoTronics LED Desk Lamp is hard to beat. Not only is the lamp itself incredibly attractive, but it’s also very functional. You get access to five color modes as well as seven brightness settings, giving you more control of your lighting. For added convenience, there’s a USB port built-in, so you can even charge your phone or tablet through the lamp.

The design is also adjustable. The head tilts and swivels, and the base does the same. Plus, the LED bulbs are energy-efficient, so it ensures you can run your lamp without having to stress over your power bill.

3. Vekkia Rechargeable 4 LED Book Light

Sometimes, portability is essential when crafting. With the Vekkia Rechargeable 4 LED Book Light, you have a bright light source that you can easily carry around. It simply rests on your neck, giving you the ability to focus light right where you need it. Each arm adjusts independently, ensuring you can position them with ease.

Plus, this book light is rechargeable. You won’t have to worry about batteries for the life of the device, which is ideal for frugal crafters who’d rather spend money on supplies instead of batteries for their craft light.

4. Ottlite Natural Daylight LED Flex Floor Lamp

Featuring a massive shade – making it ideal for large workspaces – the Ottlite Natural Daylight LED Flex Floor Lamp is a solid choice for any crafter. The fixture itself has a sleek, minimalist design, allowing it to blend into nearly any décor. Plus, it’s incredibly functional, providing a maximum brightness of 700 lumens across three brightness settings, an adjustable neck, and energy-efficient LEDs.

The light itself is designed to mimic daylight. This ensures that colors show accurately and that details remain clear. If that isn’t ideal for crafting, what is?

5. Zeny 2-in-1 LED Magnifying Glass Floor Lamp

Sometimes, you need more than a lamp. With the Zeny 2-in-1 LED Magnifying Glass Floor Lamp, you get more than high-quality LED light; you also get a 6.5-inch by 4-inch magnifying glass attached. This is ideal for keeping an eye on small pieces or details, ensuring you don’t have to strain while crafting.

The gooseneck swivels in any direction, allowing you to get the perfect angle on your project. Plus, the twist and lock design guarantees that the gooseneck will stay right where you set it, even when you let go.

6. TOMOL Super Bright COB LED Portable Desk Lamp

If you like crafting on the go, the TOMOL Super Bright COB LED Portable Desk Lamp might be your perfect solution. Along with an output of 220 lumens, this lamp has easy touch controls for adjusting the brightness. It’s lightweight and foldable, making it easy to tote around in any craft bag. Plus, it can be powered with four AA batteries or via USB cord, giving you options for keeping your light on as you work.

10 Great Chickpea Recipes

Chickpeas (or garbanzo beans) are a beloved staple for many kinds of cuisines. As a result, chickpea recipes have a wide variety of flavor profiles, ensuring there is an option that suits nearly every palate.

Plus, they are very nutritious and incredibly affordable. By incorporating chickpeas recipes into your meal plans, you can achieve your nutritional goals and keep your food budget on target.

Here’s a look at what chickpeas have to offer, as well as some amazing recipes.

Beyond Hummus – What You Need to Know About Chickpeas

When most people think of chickpea recipes, hummus is the first thing that comes to mind. But that barely scratches the surface of what you can do with garbanzo beans.

These versatile legumes have an amazing, buttery taste that works well in a range of scenarios. Plus, they’re brimming with fiber, protein, and vitamins and minerals, making them worthy of being the main focus of any meal. If you are considering veganism or want to reduce your meat consumption, chickpeas are an invaluable source of protein.

vegan recipes

10 Great Chickpea Recipes

1. Vegetarian, Soy-Honey Glazed Meatballs

With hints of sweetness and spice, these vegetarian meatballs are a great main course. Chickpeas and shitake mushrooms bring a buttery earthiness while the honey-soy glaze also features a bit of heat. As the meatballs cook, the glaze caramelizes, making it incredibly decadent.

2. Classic Homemade Falafel

If you want to try your hand at a Middle Eastern staple that is also Israel’s national dish, this classic homemade falafel is a great place to start. As with many chickpea recipes, this one is vegetarian, but that doesn’t mean omnivores won’t adore it, too.

Plus, it’s pretty simple to make. Along with chickpeas, you simply need an onion, flour, oil, and a few spices. Falafel is also incredibly versatile when it comes to how it is served. It can be an appetizer when served with a dip or, if you want to make it part of an entrée, include some pita bread, a small salad, and sauce.

3. Spicy Roasted Chickpeas

Chickpeas can make a great snack, especially when nicely spiced and roasted. Plus, like many chickpea recipes, it’s reasonably easy to make. You just need to combine cooked chickpeas, olive oil, and seasoning, and then bake them.

However, do keep in mind that chickpeas can “pop” when baking, though usually only a few will do so in every batch (if any). If you want to make sure that exploding chickpeas don’t make a mess in your oven, consider covering the pan lightly with some foil or baking in a loose foil pocket instead of on an open ban.

garbanzo bean recipes

4. Vegan Quinoa and Chickpea Lettuce Wraps

Chocked full of trendy healthy ingredients like quinoa and kale, this is one of the chickpea recipes that’s also vegan. Plus, it’s incredibly simple. Beyond cooking the chickpeas and quinoa, the rest really only requires combining ingredients.

A range of vegetables provide crunch, and the seasoning makes these wraps very flavorful. Plus, you could make a big batch of the wrap filling in advance and use it for wraps over more than one day. Just keep it in the refrigerator.

5. Zucchini Pasta with Broccolini, Chickpeas, and Gremolata Breadcrumbs

If you love turning veggies into makeshift pasta, this chickpea recipe is for you. Not only is it incredibly flavorful, but it’s also very hearty and satisfying. It also isn’t complicated or overly time-consuming to make but looks impressive when served.

6. Chickpea Coconut Red Curry

For anyone who wants to try their hand at Indian food but worries that it’s too complicated, this recipe is a great place to start. Along with being simple and kick, the end result is a sweet and savory delight featuring subtle spices. Plus, it’s a vegan recipe that many non-vegans would also enjoy, making it ideal for a variety of situations.

7. Smashed Chickpea and Avocado Sandwich

If you’re looking for a lunch sandwich worthy of taking to work, this is a great choice. It’s incredibly filling and remarkably flavorful. This sandwich also features a ton of healthy ingredients, including spinach, cucumber, and celery. It’s a meal you can feel good about eating that will also leave you feeling satisfied until it’s time for dinner.

vegetarian recipes

8. Chickpea Protein Bars

Protein bars have been all the rage for years now, but store-bought options can be spendy, and they aren’t always the healthiest. This chickpea protein bar recipe is a great alternative to those products. Not only is the recipe flavorful, but it’s also affordable.

Plus, these chickpea protein bars and incredibly simple to make. It only takes eight ingredients and, if you store the bars in the fridge, you can keep a few stashed away for up to 2 weeks.

9. Chickpea Flourless Chocolate Chip Blondies

One of many dessert chickpea recipes, these chocolate chip blondies are mainly made of chickpeas, nut butter, and maple syrup. It’s a great way to squeeze more protein into what is essentially a cookie. Plus, they are gluten-free and vegan.

10. Dark Chocolate Chickpea Brownies

If the blondie recipe above doesn’t give you enough chocolate, this brownie chickpea recipe might be right up your alley. The brownies are incredibly decadent and packed with protein. Plus, if you use vegan egg replacements, they can be vegan, too.

The Best Under Kitchen Cabinet Lighting for Your Home

For many homeowners, the idea of adding some under kitchen cabinet lighting is enticing. Often, the space directly below the upper cabinets is a bit shaded as the cabinets prevent some overhead light from reaching the wall underneath as well as the counter. But, with under-cabinet lighting, you can overcome this issue. Here’s what you need to know about under kitchen cabinet lighting.

Why Install Under-Cabinet Lighting in Your Kitchen

Most kitchens rely heavily on overhead lighting. Since the upper cabinets extend over counters, the light might not cover all of your counter space. That can make a kitchen feel darker than it is, which isn’t ideal.

Plus, activities like preparing food on the counter can be more challenging since the upper cabinets block some of the light. It can make it harder to see what you’re doing. Not only is that problematic when you are doing something highly detailed, but it can also be a bit dangerous.

By installing under kitchen cabinet lighting, you make sure these shaded areas have an alternate source of light. Your kitchen will be brighter overall. Plus, you won’t have to worry that you don’t have enough light when you handle nearly any task.

under kitchen cabinet lighting

Choosing Under Kitchen Cabinet Lighting

When you select under-cabinet lighting, you need to take a few things into account. For example, the types of bulbs and fixtures impact the overall look. While fluorescent tubes were a popular option, many homeowners didn’t care for the color, intensity, and glare created by these lights. Plus, the fixtures could be incredibly bulky.

Before you buy under kitchen cabinet lights, you need to decide what light quality and fixture size you want. You might prefer halogen, xenon, or LED bulbs, and might think that a hockey puck design is better than a strip for your needs. Some of these decisions are personal, while others are functional, so you need to envision your ideal space to narrow down your options.

Additionally, you need to be aware of the amount of heat a lighting solution produces, as hot lights could damage your cabinets and anything you store in them. Xenon bulbs tend to run hotter than some other options, so you’ll want to take that into consideration as you shop.

Finally, you have to respect your budget. Different fixtures and bulb types come with different price tags, so your choice may be limited if you need to keep the cost down.

under-cabinet lighting

The Best Under Kitchen Cabinet Lighting for Your Home

If you are struggling to figure out what the best under kitchen cabinet lighting for your home is, here are some options worth considering.

78 LED Rechargeable, Dimmable, Motion Sensing Under-Cabinet Light

With this 78 LED Under-Cabinet Light, you get a surprising amount of control. You can adjust the brightness and set it to only come on when it detects motion, which is great for saving energy. Installation is also a breeze. The fixture is magnetic, so you can attach it to a magnetic surface or add some magnetic strips to your cabinets, eliminating the need to screw it in.

Brilliant Evolution LED Puck Light 6 Pack with Remote

The Brilliant Evolution LED Puck Lights are very compact and give you the ability to spotlight only areas that need extra lighting. They stick on, so they can be installed on nearly any cabinet. Plus, you can control them with the included remote, allowing you to turn them on or off, or adjust the brightness, without touching the lights directly. There’s also an auto-off timer for added convenience. They are battery-operated, and typically offer at least 100 hours of runtime before the batteries need to be changed.

American Lighting Xenon Under Cabinet Hardwire Light

If you prefer the light produced by xenon bulbs and want to hardwire your lighting, the American Lighting Xenon Under Cabinet Hardwire Light is a solid choice. The casing is fairly slim, so it isn’t incredibly obvious once installed. Plus, you can choose either white, dark bronze, or brushed steel for the housing, so you can pick a look that works best in your kitchen. For added convenience, you can link several fixtures together, allowing you to operate a set of lights from one switch.

4. GE Fluorescent Under Cabinet Light Fixture

For those who prefer the warm light produced by fluorescent bulbs, the GE Fluorescent Under Cabinet Light Fixtureis a cost-effective choice from a brand that is largely trusted by the masses. The housing is white, so it’s fairly unobtrusive. Plus, you get a five-foot cord, so you don’t need an outlet right nearby to plug it in. It’s a pretty basic option, but it could work well if you have a small budget.

5. Wobane Under Cabinet Lighting LED Strips

Possibly the most discrete option available, LED strips can be installed under cabinets pretty easily. The Wobane Under Cabinet Lighting kit includes six-and-a-half feet of LED lights, allowing you to cover a lot of space. Plus, it doesn’t require much power to run and is very low heat, making it a solid choice for kitchens.