DIY Projects

How do I design a fold-flat pop-up theater that survives Royal Mail stamping and rough handling?

I love the idea of sending a tiny theater through the post — a little stage that opens flat in a recipient’s hands and pops up into a miniature scene. But if you’ve ever mailed a delicate folded object you know the post has other plans: stamping, crushing, damp edges, and the occasional gash...

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How do I design a fold-flat pop-up theater that survives Royal Mail stamping and rough handling?

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How to rig a postcard-sized optical peep show using acetate, leds and a phone flashlight DIY Projects

How to rig a postcard-sized optical peep show using acetate, leds and a phone flashlight

I love making tiny theatrical objects — things that ask you to lean in, tip...

Aug 28 Read more...
How to make a hidden magnetic hinge for a fold‑flat pop-up that survives the post DIY Projects

How to make a hidden magnetic hinge for a fold‑flat pop-up that survives the post

I love sending small paper sculptures through the post — there's something...

Aug 26 Read more...
Which cheap 3d printer filaments hold fine detail for pocket sculptures and how to finish them Tutorials

Which cheap 3d printer filaments hold fine detail for pocket sculptures and how to finish them

I love making tiny sculptures you can tuck in a pocket — little characters,...

Aug 10 Read more...
How to design a one-sheet lenticular illusion for a postcard using household inks DIY Projects

How to design a one-sheet lenticular illusion for a postcard using household inks

I love tiny optical tricks that make people do a double-take — a simple flip...

Aug 07 Read more...

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Tutorials May 29, 2026

Teach a 30-minute paper automaton workshop for kids 8–12 using three reusable templates

Running a quick, joyful paper automaton workshop for kids aged 8–12 is one of my favourite ways to introduce mechanical thinking, storytelling and a bit of theatre to a classroom or birthday party. I designed this session to fit into a 30-minute...

DIY Projects May 22, 2026

How to design an instant pop-up postcard that conceals a surprise illustration and fits a standard uk stamp

I love a small, secret moment in the mail — something that looks ordinary from the outside but opens to reveal a little bit of mischief. In this piece I’ll walk you through how I design an instant pop-up postcard that conceals a surprise...

DIY Projects May 17, 2026

Create a convincing miniature fog effect for tabletop scenes using glycerin, cotton and a cheap aquarium pump

I love adding little moments of surprise to my tabletop scenes, and one of my favourite tricks is a convincing miniature fog that hugs buildings, creeps through alleyways or pools in low spots. After a lot of tinkering I've settled on a simple,...

Tutorials May 05, 2026

Photo recipe: capture silky reflections on resin water without a light tent using household diffusers

I love the little surprises that happen when a flat surface suddenly looks like liquid—when paint, paper or a tiny vignette becomes a glossy pool of reflected light. Lately I’ve been photographing small “resin water” scenes for...

Tutorials Apr 13, 2026

How to rig a pocket automaton with invisible thread so a character performs a clean loop without tangle

I love the quiet little shock of a tiny figure suddenly flipping through the air as if pushed by some secret breeze. Getting that flip to read as a single clean loop — with the thread invisible, the movement smooth and the mechanics entirely...

DIY Projects Apr 07, 2026

How to design a fold‑flat pop‑up theater that mails in an envelope and unfolds into a staged scene

I love tiny theatrical moments — the quiet drama of a stage, the surprise of a scene that appears when you open a card. Designing a fold-flat pop-up theater that fits in an envelope and blossoms into a staged scene is one of my favourite...

Tutorials Apr 04, 2026

How to photograph a tabletop diorama with a smartphone to capture cinematic depth and creamy bokeh

I love photographing small worlds. A tabletop diorama is a stage where light, scale and story meet, and with a smartphone you can make images that feel cinematic and tactile — rich depth, soft creamy bokeh and a sense of place that pulls the...

DIY Projects Apr 03, 2026

How to fake sun‑bleached cyanotype textures on paper props using tea, sunlamps and subtle salt washes

I love the soft, dreamy look of sun‑bleached cyanotypes — those faded indigo prints that feel like memories captured on paper. But sometimes you want that same weathered, botanical, salty texture on a prop or in a collage without dealing with...

Tutorials Mar 16, 2026

How to design a 10-minute cardboard automaton lesson for mixed-age groups using three fail-safe steps

I teach a lot of short, pop-up workshops where people of wildly different ages and abilities come together around one tiny, brilliant problem: how to make a little cardboard automaton that moves. Ten minutes sounds impossibly brief, but with a...

DIY Projects Mar 15, 2026

How to make convincing miniature water with poured epoxy and a rippling varnish finish

I love making miniature water because it’s one of those deceptively simple effects that can transform a small scene into something believable and alive. Over the years I’ve settled on a workflow that pairs clear poured epoxy for depth and...