Part i – Basic Book Making
Miniature books are simply captivating… they are tiny versions of the real thing, but equally full of secrets and magic!
Medieval relics have so much allure… they are beautiful, interesting, forgotten objects that (more often than not) required incredible skill and artistry to create. In Medieval times, books were treasured works of art. Many of them survive from the Middle Age period because of the nature of their medium. Manuscripts were hand painted (illuminated) with rare paints and costly gold leaf and were hand written on prepared parchment (animal skin), not paper, which is the reason that they have survived so well. All books were written by hand, usually by monks, and most books were housed in monastery libraries. Most Medieval manuscripts provided space in the book margins for readers’ notes. Each book required painstaking labour to produce, making them highly prized and expensive.
My mini Medieval manuscripts may not be expensive, but they are just as highly prized and loved by me. Creating these tiny treasures marks the start of my long awaited creative journey…!
Along with this post (DIY video tutorial), I’ve included a set of FREE miniature book printables to help you start the process. Each set includes the book covers and end papers to create 18 mini books. The double-sided, illuminated book pages printable can be purchased in Lady Miniac’s shop. This video is Part 1 of 3, showing you how to first create a basic mini book.
These mini Medieval manuscripts are such fun to make… you’ll be able to open and close the little clasps, page endlessly through the gilded double-sided pages, and secure the books on shelves with real chains… wow… who has more fun than that?? These gems are simply enchanting and delightfully magical to create!
Scroll down for the DIY Tutorial Video
So… let’s create some Mini Manuscripts!
Using an Inkjet or Laser printer, print the 3 files:
FREE MINI BOOK COVERS
(Print 1 copy on card stock / cardboard – makes 18 mini books)
FREE MINI BOOK END PAPERS
(Print 2 copies on printer paper – makes 18 pairs)
Get your MINI BOOK PAGES here
(Print 16 copies (double-sided) on printer paper)
(This post contains affiliate links which means that if you make a purchase after clicking my links, I will make a small commission at no extra cost to you)
SUPPLIES
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
The video tutorial will take you step-by-step through each stage!
From cutting out the printables…
… turning them into page blocks…
… attaching book spines…
… gilding the page edges…
… to finally having them look like little masterpieces!!
There are A LOT of tiny pieces to cut out, but stay strong and ‘stick to your plan’ … it will be worth it!
Follow the steps in the DIY Tutorial Video (below)
Web Story
48 Comments
I was looking through Pinterest trying to find some ideas for decorations for a tea party that my mother-in-law is hosting for a group of 10-12 year old girls when I came across your post. And I just fell in love. I watched you video on how you made this mini books and my mother-in-law said you have such a lovely accent. I will be making these for her tea party.
And since my husband collects 1/12” scale dwarf figurines, I will be making some for him for his birthday so his dwarfs can have their own library.
Hello Janelle!😊
What lovely comments… thank you! I’m so glad you found something you liked. I laughed at the bit about the accent… ha ha💗🥰🥰. How wonderful that you will be making tiny books for both your mom-in-law and husband… how fortunate they are!!📖📕💗
Thank you for your support and for reaching out xxx Irene 😘
Dear Irene, left yesterday a long comment for you and your wonderful homepage/website – too left my name and e-mail. But my comment is nowhere to see! What happend? Any problems? Love and respect – Gertrude/Austria
I have found you, dear Gertrude 😊… I will communicate via email xxx
Dear Irene, just found your side with pinterest – what a wonderful homepage and such an interesting story and history. I just saw the you tube video – it impressed me so much. I just started making my own miniatures (very simple ones – you can see some fotos under https://www.KatNook.de “Bauanleitungen” – “Inspiration” @Gertrude), but I’m working since a couple of years on christmas cribs/Nativity scenes and I built more than 25 differt pieces.
I’m alwys looking for old books, old librarys and love them so much. I live in Austria and here we have nearby in an old monastary the largest monastary library of the world – it’s called “Stift Admont” – https://www.stiftadmont.at/bibliothek – unbelievable beautiful.
I want to thank you by my heart for your wonderful work, your downloads and I for sure will try to make a few of these medieval treasures soon. Have a wonderful and good time and keep on going with your fantastic work and your sharing it with us!
Sorry for my bad English – hope you can read and understand everything I’ve been writing! Love and respect – Gertrude
Hello beautiful Gertrude! 💗💗😊
Thank you for your lovely and interesting comments… there is absolutely nothing wrong with your English! It is very humbling when people choose to reach out and communicate their love of miniatures and creativity! It makes me feel very inadequate, actually.
I will reply to you personally, and we can analyze and digest the info together!
Thank you for your infectious joy and kindness 💗💗
Irene xxx
Your books are awesome. I have made quite a few myself but nothing on this gorgeous scale. I am also from South Africa but am living in UK at the moment. I am visiting SA either November this year or end March next year. I would love to meet you if you dont mind of course. You have my email address if youre happy to meet with me. Lots of love.
Thank you for reaching out, Barbara! It will be delightful to meet up at the end of the year… will communicate! 💗😊🍰☕
Hi Irene,
I have been looking for something like this for ages and to not only find what I’m searching for its being taught by someone who comes across as such a genuinely wonderful and obviously kind person. Thank you for sharing this, I literally can not wait to start. Lots of magic and gratitude from Liverpool.
Victoria ❤
Victoria, you are so lovely and gracious… thank you for those very kind and gentle words. I honestly don’t take anyone’s comments for granted 💕.
I am so excited that YOU are excited! These little books were my first project, and I remember LOVING every minute of creating them… I couldn’t stop holding them and opening/closing them… so I know what you mean!
And I also love the magic and gratitude from beautiful UK!! 😊🥰
Enjoy creating xxx Irene
I have been searching for something like this for awhile, I have also tried to figure things out by researching and stuffs but nothing was working right and I finally found this!!
your simply amazing and all the details of your steps by step! I can’t appreciate enough. thank you so much for this!!!! im forever grateful
Dear Michelle, people like you make everything worthwhile 💗💗😘… thank you for your encouragement and kind comments!
I know exactly what you mean… when one is trying to find something online, the searching is endless and frustrating! If one eventually finds help online (or exactly what they want) it’s SOOO rewarding and heartwarming… right? Success!!👏🏻 I truly hope that my tutorials offer real help and enable you to create your own amazing little treasures!
Thank you so much for this wonderful tutorial. Your mini books truly have a magical quality that I love. I can’t wait to try them myself. I make full size junk journals and I wondered if I may place one of these (using your images) in my journals that I will sell? Thank you again, Terri
Hi Terri! You are most welcome, and thank you for the warm, kind words 💗. I also adore my little manuscripts! 📚
As for the image you’d like to use, do you mean one of my printables or one of my completed books?
I appreciate that you’re asking me 💗, and I’m sure you’ll know if you need to mention Lady Miniac. If enquiries are made on the actual photograph or minis, please refer them to Lady Miniac. I wish you the best, thank you
Hi, thank you for getting back to me. I was hoping to make complete mini books to add to the journals. I will be sure to add a tag giving credit to you, and encouragement to visit ladyminiac web site. Thank you again!
All the best Terri, and thank you once more ❤💗📚
Im half way through my mini books and loving them so far. Mine are definitely not as perfectly neat as yours, the pages are slightly different sizes but they are perfect for my haunted house
So glad to hear that you’re conquering, and loving it, Debi! Yeah, haunted houses can accommodate a few discrepancies 😄😄
These are utterly stunning and the way you move through each step is so perfectly clear and gentle. You have encouraged me to try making mini books which I’ve wanted to try for a long time.
I was wondering what weight/type of cardstock you’d recommend?
Thank you so much for your generosity!!!
Hello Cat! Thank you very much for your lovely descriptions, you are very kind indeed! When I slice my videos, I often wonder if people can understand the processes I’m trying to explain in such short clips! Thanks for that!
I am DELIGHTED that you want to try the tiny books… there is just something about book magic, isn’t there? ♥💗❤
As for the cardstock, the one I used (for the book covers) falls between 160gsm (heavyweight paper) and 170gsm (thin board). It handled perfectly fine through all the embellishing, painting, glueing and heating! All the best for your project 💗💗 xxx
Thank you so much for this lovely tutorial! I have a thousand other things started, but all I can think of are these tiny antique books. the tutorial is so well done and your voice is very soothing.
Jody💗!! You are not the first to mention my ‘soothing voice’ but I simply find it quite unbelievable!! Compared to the smooth rolling of the Americans (lol) I cannot imagine that my voice rolls easily off many ears! But I will gladly take the compliment… THANK YOU for your very kind words!💗💓
And as for these tiny books… I’m telling you, they are addictive! There’s just ‘something’ about a teeny, functional book… isn’t there? xxx
These are amazing!! Can’t wait to try them!.
Thank you so much Chris… so nice to have more men visiting here!
June 25 2021 I down loaded your books last night I fell in love with them I also subscribed today on You tube I watched your tutorial on how to decorate them I am enthralled by them thank you so much for sharing them Glad I found them.
Thank you so much Bonnie! It’s high praise indeed!
These are stunning and your video is so clear with wonderful visuals. I can’t wait to make them and I look forward to the 2nd video. Thank you for sharing your amazing talent.
How kind of you Nancy, thank you! The crafts are so much easier to make than the videos… lol! Part 2 should be out before the weekend xx
Thank you so much for sharing this beautiful project! I have printed everything out and am in the process of following your tutorial. Has the second video been made available yet? I can’t seem to find it.
PS: The graphics are gorgeous!
All the best to you on your crafting journey,
Amy
Thanks a million for the lovely words, Amy!! As we speak, I’m sitting with Lancelot (the cat) and editing! I hope to have Part 2 out next week… making DIY craft tutorials is a craft in itself!!
I just completed a set of these books and am thrilled with the results. Although I hand cut them all with scissors so they were not as even as I would have liked – but they were good for a first go. I have printed off a second set and bought a paper cutter which should make the cutting much neater! I am so looking forward and excited to see the embellishments tutorial and hope it will be soon. Jacqui
Oh WOW Jacqui… how nice this is to hear!! It’s good to know that your scissors worked ‘well enough’, and you can still get the job done! And mostly, I’m EXCITED that you have a set of books for yourself! I know for sure that the second lot will go better with the cutter 🙂 I am editing the embellishment video now… that part just takes forever!! I am so grateful for your support xxx
Thank you so much for sharing ! I’ve made two this afternoon in 1/24 scale ( ouch !! ). Have to perfect them but I like what I did !
Sorry if they are mistakes, I’m French 😉
Oh my goodness, Delphine… 1:24 scale!! That’s simply mind-blowing! Good for you… I won’t even try that! I’m so glad it worked for you xxx
What a beautiful French name, by the way!! xxx
Brilliant, beautiful and precise work! Well done!!
Thank you, precious friend! Thank you for your encouragement xxx
Thank you for sharing your printable. I can’t wait to make these beautiful and makical books! Can’t wait to learn how to embellish them!
Thanks Barb! I promise, you won’t be disappointed xxx
Thank you so much for sharing your wonderful book tutorial. I love making books and can’t wait to attempt these. Looking forward to your embellishment tutorial.
You are too kind… thank you for your support Elysa!
I admire your passion to just jump right in with both feet! I can relate to being overwhelmed with the Cricut Maker, learning svg files and so much information to absorb lol. I have had mine for over a year and feel like I am finally mastering minis on it! Thank you fir the wonderful tutorial.
Oh my goodness, Joanne… you are SO right! I’m so happy to hear that you’ve managed the “Cricut Maker thing”! That is still coming for me… I can’t wait to get my teeth into that, and create some Medieval delights!
Love the books
Thank you, Dian!
Irene, son hermosos los libros que realizaste, super prolijos y llenos de detalles en la confección , muchas gracias por las laminas y la explicación tan detallada. Espero poder realizar algunos libros y ojalá me queden tan bonitos como los tuyos.
Saludos desde Argentina , Buenos Aires , Patricia .
Oh how wonderful, Patricia! Ha ha, I had to use Google to translate your lovely message… it was worth it! I am quite sure that you will manage just fine to make some too! Muchas gracias for taking the trouble to comment xxx
Most Thank You for the history and downloads, so glad to receive such a Beautiful gift. Your books are beyond Beautiful, I am a book Lover of old style books and rare information and of course Renaissance times. Benny (the woman)
Thank you Benny / Benedita! I love most things ‘old’… nothing comes close to ancient treasures. I hope to post Part 2 (embellishment) a little quicker than Part 1!