Paper Micro-Worlds: Create miniature pop-up scenes
A course by Silvia Hijano Coullaut (Libracos)Editorial Designer
A course by Silvia Hijano Coullaut (Libracos), Editorial Designer
Create a miniature pop-up book, discover mechanisms, design unique scenes, and learn hardcover binding.
Pop-up books are true paper marvels that combine art and technique. You'll learn to create a mini pop-up book from scratch, designing three unique scenes that unfold when you open the pages, all bound in a hardcover. You'll discover how to work with real mechanisms and create a house-shaped bookcase, understanding the limitations of the miniature format and developing scenes with their own narrative.
By the end, you'll have a book that unfolds a small universe brimming with detail, inviting you to explore it again and again. You'll also acquire the technical vocabulary and confidence needed to design your own pop-up projects, at any scale. Prepare to immerse yourself in a world where paper comes to life and stories are told in a surprising, three-dimensional way.
What will you learn in this online course?
7 lessons & 6 downloads
Bookstore facade
5 minutes, 20 seconds
Interior of the bookstore
9 minutes, 59 seconds
The tree
8 minutes, 56 seconds
Hardcover binding
11 minutes, 9 seconds
Miniatures in large books
1 minute, 53 seconds
What's included in this course?
Discover the fascinating world of pop-up books and learn to create your own mini-book from scratch. In this course, you'll immerse yourself in the art of designing three-dimensional scenes that come to life when you open their pages. You'll learn the mechanisms needed to build a miniature bookstore that unfolds into three distinct scenes, all carefully bound in a hardcover. You'll learn to work with precision in small formats, understanding paper tolerances and movement.
By the end of this course, you'll not only have a pop-up book in your hands, but you'll also have gained the technical knowledge and confidence to design your own projects. You'll develop skills in using essential materials and tools, ensuring professional results. Furthermore, you'll explore the creative process behind every scene, from conceptualization to execution, allowing you to express your unique narrative through the art of pop-ups. With this training, you'll be ready to bring your own ideas to life on paper, regardless of scale.
What is this course's project?
You will create a mini pop-up book in the shape of a house that unfolds into three scenes when opened, including a Japanese facade, a library with a mezzanine and a hidden garden, all bound in a hard cover with an open/closed sign as a special detail.
Who is this online course for?
Passionate about paper design, artists and craftspeople who want to explore the pop-up technique, creative people interested in bookbinding and creating miniature universes with their own narratives, as well as those who enjoy detailed and precise manual work.
Requirements and materials
You don't need extensive prior knowledge, just a passion for paper. Gather a craft knife, a chisel, double-sided tape, tweezers, cardstock, and paper of varying weights. Precision and patience are key to enjoying the process and creating your pop-up book.
Reviews
- 1 month ago
Curso excelente, maravilloso!!!
- 1 month ago
merci pour ce cours. je regrette juste que le livre "final" soit aussi minuscule et je me demande comment procéder pour réaliser le même travail en un peu plus grand.
- 2 months ago
Me encantó este curso, es una magnifica maestra y tengo todos sus talleres en domestika, mil gracias!!!
Content
Paper Micro-Worlds: Create miniature pop-up scenes
- Introduction
- Materials
- Bookstore facade
- Interior of the bookstore
- The tree
- Hardcover binding
- Miniatures in large books
- Final project
What to expect from a Domestika course
Learn at your own pace
Enjoy learning from home without a set schedule and with an easy-to-follow method. You set your own pace.
Learn from the best professionals
Learn valuable methods and techniques explained by top experts in the creative sector.
Meet expert teachers
Each expert teaches what they do best, with clear guidelines, true passion, and professional insight in every lesson.
Certificates
PLUSIf you're a Plus member, get a custom certificate signed by your teacher for every course. Share it on your portfolio, social media, or wherever you like.
Get front-row seats
Videos of the highest quality, so you don't miss a single detail. With unlimited access, you can watch them as many times as you need to perfect your technique.
Share knowledge and ideas
Ask questions, request feedback, or offer solutions. Share your learning experience with other students in the community who are as passionate about creativity as you are.
Connect with a global creative community
The community is home to millions of people from around the world who are curious and passionate about exploring and expressing their creativity.
Watch professionally produced courses
Domestika curates its teacher roster and produces every course in-house to ensure a high-quality online learning experience.
FAQs
You’ll learn how to choose materials, cut and fold paper, assemble functional pop-up mechanisms, and bind mini books with professional finishes—crafting tiny paper worlds with three-dimensional details.
No prior experience is needed, but basic manual skills and familiarity with simple papercraft tools are recommended.
You’ll need paper of various weights, cardstock, thin cardboard, double-sided tape, adhesive fabric, a bone folder, scissors, a craft knife, a ruler, glue, string, and a home printer.
Yes, the course includes techniques and tips for printing pop-up mini book designs on a home printer, optimizing both quality and functionality.
Yes, although it’s intermediate level, step-by-step instructions are provided for beginners in pop-up and mini book making.
You’ll learn hardcover binding, using adhesive fabric, creating spines, ribbon closures, and decorative stitching for pop-up mini book covers.
The course teaches scoring, precise cutting and folding, plus assembling tabs and 90-degree mechanisms to create properly functioning mini pop-ups.