Free Virtual Lessons

Learn book arts wherever you are, anytime.

Minnesota Center for Book Arts offers recorded lessons, materials lists, and a video tour of our studios.

We are glad to offer these lessons for free. If these videos are meaningful to you, we welcome donations of any size to support MCBA’s education programs.

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Book Arts 101: Print, Paper, Book

Letterpress Printing: Power of the Press

Learn about the history and power of the printing press as a tool for sharing knowledge—and witness the press printing a poster—all in under fifteen minutes. Designed for all ages (especially grades 3 and up), this lesson is a wonderful supplement to learning about history, printmaking, and/or printing presses!

Note: When first released, this lesson included an opportunity for groups to submit a message that was then printed by MCBA staff and volunteers. That component is not available at this time.

Suminagashi Paper Marbling

Immerse yourself in Suminagashi (“floating ink”) paper marbling! This lesson includes the history of paper marbling across cultures—from its origins in 12th-century Japan to its development in Turkey to the present day—and detailed demonstrations of basic techniques and patterns. Follow along and make unique marbled paper that you can use to make cards, books, or simply enjoy. 

Designed for those in kindergarten and up, but adult supervision is needed for younger students.

    • 15+ pieces of paper (we use 8 ½” x 11” in. colored construction paper)

    • Suminagashi inks (can be purchased at our shop here)

    • 1 tub/tray 9 x 12 in. or larger (we recommend a dish tub, cake pan, or plastic organizing box)

    • 6x small cups for ink

    • 6x small paint brushes (different colors, if possible)

    • 1x toothpick

    • 18+ newspaper strips

    • 1x pea sized amount of lotion

    • 1x pencil

    • Materials to hang dry papers (i.e. clothespins and a wire)

    • Small scrap of paper to fold into a fan (optional)

    • Plastic cutting board or box lid to pull prints onto (optional)

Hardcover Book

Learn the step-by-step process of making a hardcover book! Using both sewn and tape binding techniques, this book can be used as a hardcover journal or sketchbook perfect for notes, stories, and more. This technical workshop is recommended for grades 5 and up and takes around 1 to 1 ½ hours to complete.

    • 2x book boards (5 ¾” x 9” in.)

    • 2x decorative cover papers (7 ¾” x 11” in.)

    • 1x endsheet (5 ½” x 8 ⅝” in.)

    • 1x cover for pamphlet (8 ⅝” x 11 ½” in.)

    • 8x sheets copy paper (8 ½” x 11” in.)

    • 1x piece book tape (2” x 19 ½” in.)

    • 1x 28-inch piece of thread

    • 1x 11/16th-inch template

    • 2x pencils

    • 1x glue stick

    • 4x paper clips

    • 1x thumbtack

    • 1x embroidery needle

    • 1x bone folder or bone folder alternative (a ruler, spoon, popsicle stick, etc.)

    • 5+ waste sheets (magazine pages work great)

    • 1x kitchen sponge or other item to protect work surface from thumbtack (optional)

    • Note: Some materials listed above could be sourced by purchasing a hardcover book kit here, if you prefer not to source and prepare all materials yourself.

Virtual Tour of Minnesota Center for Book Arts

Take a virtual tour of Minnesota Center for Book Arts’ studios and gallery to see where all the magic happens! Learn about the history of MCBA and the range of mediums that book arts encompasses—all in ten minutes. This tour is a helpful addition to our other lessons since it provides context for MCBA and inspiration for what’s possible with book arts.

Book Structures for All Ages

These paper-based projects can be assembled with accessible materials and are perfect for all skill levels! Follow along with Madeline Garcia, MCBA’s former education and community engagement coordinator, as she gives step-by-step instructions for creating 11 unique book structures.

Virtual Fold Along: Hidden Page Book

    • One – 8½ x 11 in. sheet of paper cut in half longwise to 4 1/4x 11

    • Two – 2 11/16 x 4 1/4 in. sheets of paper for hidden page inserts

    • Two – 3 x 4 ½ in. sheets of paper (for covers, optional)
      *preferable if papers are different colors

    • Pencil, scissors, glue stick (for covers, optional), bone folder (or popsicle stick or ruler), additional scrap paper for gluing

Virtual Fold Along: Pop-Up Card

    • Eight – 8 ½ x 11 in. sheets of paper

    • One – 9 x 11 ½ in. sheet of paper

    • One 25 in. piece of thread or string

    • Embroidery needle, pencil, 4 paper clips, awl (or thumbtack), unused sponge (optional), bone folder (or popsicle stick or ruler)

Virtual Fold Along: Sewn Pamphlet Book

    • One – 7 x 10 in. sheet of paper

    • One – 6 x 9 in. sheet of paper (both preferably cardstock)

    • Scissors, glue stick, pencil, bone folder (or ruler or popsicle stick), additional scrap paper for gluing

Virtual Fold Along: Petal Fold Book

    • Five – 8 ½ x 8 ½ in. squares of paper (differently colored)

    • Two – 4 ½ x 4 ½ in. sheets of paper (for covers)

    • Glue stick, pencil, bone folder (or popsicle stick or ruler), additional scrap paper for gluing

Virtual Fold Along: Tunnel Book

    • One – 4 ¼ x 11 in. sheet of paper for front cover

    • One – 4 ¼ x 5 ½ in. sheet of paper for back cover

    • Two – 4 ¼ x 3 in. sheets of paper for spines

    • Glue stick, pencil, ruler, bone folder (or popsicle stick or ruler), additional scrap paper for gluing

Virtual Fold Along: Flag Book

    • Two – 8 ½ x 5 ½ in. paper covers

    • One – 8 ½ x 8 ½ in. paper spine

    • Nine – 2 ⅝ x 5 ¼ in. paper rectangles for flags (variety of colors preferable)

    • Glue stick, pencil, bone folder (or popsicle stick or ruler), additional scrap paper for gluing

Virtual Fold Along: Portrait Pop-Out Card

    • One – 7 x 10 in. sheet of paper (preferably cardstock)

    • One – 7 x 5 ½ in. sheet of paper (preferably cardstock)

    • Scissors, glue stick, pencil, bone folder (or ruler or popsicle stick), additional scrap paper for gluing and embellishing

Virtual Fold Along: Circle Fold Book

    • Eight – 5 x 5 in. sheets of paper (or one large sheet)

    • One – 6 x 6 in. sheet of heavy weight paper for covers (optional)

    • Compass (or bowl or quart container smaller than 5 x 5 in.) to draw circles

    • Glue stick, pencil, bone folder (or popsicle stick or ruler), additional scrap paper for gluing

Virtual Fold Along: Single-Sheet Book

    • One 8 ½ X 11 in. sheet of paper OR

    • One 11 X 17 in. sheet of paper

Virtual Fold Along: Tower Pop-Up Card

    • One – 7 X 11 in. sheet of paper (preferably cardstock)

    • One – 4 ½ X 11 in. sheet of paper (preferably cardstock)

    • Scissors, ruler, glue stick, pencil, bone folder (or ruler or popsicle stick), additional scrap paper for gluing

Virtual Fold Along: Dos Á Dos Book

    • One – 4 X 11 in. sheet of paper (preferably card stock)

    • Ten – 5 ½ X 4 in. sheet of paper

    • Two – 12 in. pieces of string

    • Embroidery needle, pencil, 4 paper clips, awl (or thumbtack), unused sponge (optional), ruler, bone folder (or popsicle stick or ruler)

Mail Art: Mail is Magic

Dive into a different aspect of mail art in each of the five episodes below!  Hosted by Madeline Garcia, MCBA’s former education and community engagement coordinator, these 10-to-15-minute lessons cover everything from DIY envelopes to hand lettering and printmaking techniques. Madeline shares lots of inspiring examples and prompts to get you started.

You’ll support the USPS while you’re at it. #MailedIt

Lesson One: Envelopes

Madeline shows us how to make an envelope from scratch by folding any large photograph or paper sheet into nine sections.

Lesson Two: Artistamps

Madeline shows us how to design a sheet of “artistamps,” which play off of real postage stamps for design inspiration.

Lesson Three: Hand-lettering in Mail Art

Madeline inspires viewers to create mail art composed entirely of letterforms (with the help of scissors, stickers, and colorful pens).

Lesson Four: Rubber Stamp Carving

Madeline demonstrates how to carve your own stamp with an Xacto knife and a rubber eraser.

Lesson Five: Collage & Found Objects

Madeline inspires us to repurpose paper scraps and found media into a mail art collage.

Pop-Up Valentines

Learn how to make 3 unique pop-up valentine cards to send to your loved ones! Fun and accessible to many developmental levels, this hour-long workshop is open to all ages. Families can choose to work together or side-by-side to create their valentines.

  • To follow along with the workshop, all participants will need to prepare the construction paper or card stock cut to the following dimensions, along with the tools below:

    Flower Bouquet Card
    1x 5 ½ x 8 ½ in. 1x 5 ¼ x 8 ¼ in.

    Nesting Accordion Card
    1x 4 ½ x 11 in. 1x 4 ½ x 7 in.

    Love V-fold Card
    1x 5 ½ x 8 ½ in. 1x 3 ½ x 7 in.

    Tools

    • Bone folder or alternative (popsicle stick, spoon)

    • Scissors

    • Pencil

    • Glue stick

    • Ruler

    • Waste sheets for gluing

    • Additional scrap paper to decorate your cards

Summer Pop-Up

Follow along and make three summer-inspired pop-up cards to send to your loved ones! Fun and accessible to many developmental levels, this workshop is open to all ages. Families can choose to work together or separately to create their cards (some adult help suggested when using Xacto knife).

  • To follow along with the workshop, all participants will need to prepare the construction paper or card stock cut to the following dimensions, along with the tools below:

    Umbrella Pop-Out Card
    1x 5 ½ x 8 ½ in. card stock paper
    5x 1 ½ x 4¼ in. construction paper strips of different colored paper
    1x 1 ½ x 8 1/2 in. sand colored strip (optional)
    1x ½ x 4 in. strip (optional)

    Campfire Pop-Out Card
    1x 5 ½ x 8 ½ in. card stock paper
    5x 2 ½ x 2 ½ in. strips of yellow/orange paper
    1x 3 x 3 in. strip of brown paper

    Lift-the-Flaps Card
    1x 5 ½ x 8 ½ in. card stock paper
    1x 4 x 5 ¼ in. different colored paper

    Tools

    • Bone folder or alternative (popsicle stick, spoon)

    • Scissors

    • Xacto Knife

    • Pencil

    • Glue stick or double-sided tape

    • Ruler

    • Waste sheets for gluing

    • Additional scrap paper to decorate your cards

Winter Holiday Cards

Learn how to make three holiday-inspired cards to send to your loved ones! Fun and accessible to many developmental levels, this workshop is open to all ages. Families can choose to work together or separately to make cards (adult support is needed for young children).

  • To follow along with the workshop, all participants will need to prepare the construction paper or card stock cut to the following dimensions, along with the tools below:

    Window Pop-out Card
    1x 5 ½ x 8 ½ in. card stock paper
    1x 4 x 5 ¼ in. different colored paper (preferably blue)

    Cross-fold Card
    1x 8 ¼ x 8 ¼ in. paper

    Tree Pop-out Card
    1x 5 ½ x 11 in. card stock paper (preferably green)

    Tools

    • Bone folder or alternative (popsicle stick, spoon)

    • Scissors

    • Xacto Knife

    • Pencil

    • Glue stick or double-sided tape

    • Ruler

    • Waste sheets for gluing

    • Additional scrap paper to decorate your cards