📖📕 DIY Miniature Books - Bookbinding Video Tutorial With Free Printables

Miniature books are simply captivating… they are tiny versions of the real thing and help us escape to a tiny, magical world! They promise secrets and magic as we open their covers and turn their tiny pages. Mini Medieval manuscripts possess an even greater charm, as they hark back to an ancient time 💗📙

My tiny books are completely functional... they have rounded spines, antique covers & end papers, double sided illuminated pages and gilded edges!

In this step-by-step DIY video tutorial below, I show an easy bookbinding / bookmaking method, creating very realistic miniature Medieval books in 1:12 scale. Along with the tutorial, I include a set of FREE mini book printables to help you start the process. The set includes free book covers and end papers to create 18 mini books. The double-sided, illuminated book pages can be purchased from Lady Miniac’s website shop.

Cardstock 65lb/176gsm - https://amzn.to/33j2fc9

Printer A4 Copy Paper - https://amzn.to/3j5A2e9

Aerosol Clear Lacquer (Gloss) - https://amzn.to/3txg8uH

All Purpose Craft Glue - https://amzn.to/3al7Xh0

Brown Acrylic Craft Paint - https://amzn.to/3hdcjIt

Metallic Gold Acrylic Craft Paint - https://amzn.to/3o3DJBT

Metallic Gold Wax – https://amzn.to/3lXNHEN

3.2mm Plastic Half Round Strip - (for UK)

https://arcanesceneryandmodels.co.uk/shop/evergreen-strip-styrene-white-half-round-125-244/

OR (for USA)

https://evergreenscalemodels.com/products/244-125-3-2mm-opaque-white-polystyrene-half-round

Tools ✂️

Paper Trimmer - https://amzn.to/3tyffCf

Metal Ruler - https://amzn.to/33qtSNj

Ball Point / Embossing Stylus - https://amzn.to/3hbQ0mD

Bamboo Skewer - https://amzn.to/3hekiFm

Small Binder Clips (25mm) - https://amzn.to/3uxrQH6

Small Flat Bristle Paint Brush - https://amzn.to/2R4aCCs

Small Round Bristle Paint Brush - https://amzn.to/3ewguNS

Pen / Pencil

Side Wire Cutters - https://amzn.to/3hdho3J

Nail Emery Board - https://amzn.to/2RB77U4

Multipurpose Sewing Clips - https://amzn.to/2R6Xk8f

Straight Fine Tip Tweezer - https://amzn.to/3extKSp

Micro Tipped Scissors - https://amzn.to/3bgZF7I

1-2-3 Blocks (Weights) - https://amzn.to/2R9EVro

Disclosure: This post and video contain affiliate links. If you visit Amazon and make a purchase via one of my links, Lady Miniac will earn a small commission (without affecting the price that you pay for the product).

The printing instructions are at the top of each downloadable printable. Print ONE copy of the book covers on cardboard (or cardstock), and print TWO copies of the mini end papers on standard printer paper. You can use either an Inkjet or Laser printer to print these files. Use standard printer paper for this project.

Print 16 double-sided copies of the Book Pages. Page 1 and 2 are identical and print back-to-back perfectly, creating the book’s double-sided pages. If your printer has the 2 to 1 page print function, you can print both pages. If it doesn’t, then simply print 16 copies of page 1, turn them over inside the printer tray to face the desired way, and print another 16 copies of page 1 (on the back of those pages).

Before cutting, spray the book covers with a single coat of clear aerosol lacquer, to seal and protect them. Adding another coat would only prevent a paper trimmer from making clean and crisp cuts. Once the sealer has dried, you can begin to cut out these tiny squares vertically and horizontally. 

🎬 Follow this easy DIY video tutorial for step-by-step instructions. Enjoy creating these beautiful tiny treasures! 📖📚

(This video is Part 1 of 3, and shows how to first create a basic mini book. Part 2 shows how to add book clasps and chains, and Part 3 shows how to embellish the books with gems and heat embossing)