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...

Read more... →

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 the light, and find a small surprise. This postcard-sized optical peep show is one of my favourite pocket-scale projects:...

Read more... →

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 delicious about a flat envelope that unfolds into a little surprise at the other end. But post is brutal: bends, slams,...

Read more... →

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 image on a postcard feels like magic you can hold. In this post I’ll show you how to design a one-sheet lenticular...

Read more... →

How to build a pocket-sized parallax viewer that makes a single drawing feel like a layered diorama

I’ve been obsessed with small mechanical tricks for as long as I can remember — the kind of thing that fits in your hand and transforms a simple sketch into a tiny world. This pocket-sized...

Read more... →

Turn discarded matchboxes into a three‑scene flipbook theater with secret hinges and stamped backgrounds

I love giving small, ordinary objects a second life, and matchboxes are one of my favourite starting points. They’re the perfect scale for tiny stagecraft: deep enough to create a little set, wide...

Read more... →

How to build a coin‑hidden pop‑up that reveals a tiny illustration when spun

I love small mechanical surprises — the ones that make you tilt your head and grin. This coin‑hidden pop‑up is one of my favourite tiny tricks: a simple paper mechanism that hides a coin (or...

Read more... →

How to make a pocket-sized kaleidoscope using thrifted mirror tiles and a 3D‑printed tube

I’ve always loved tiny moments of surprise: a pattern that shifts when you tilt it, a little mechanism that hides a trick in plain sight. Recently I wanted a pocket-sized kaleidoscope that felt...

Read more... →

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...

Read more... →

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...

Read more... →