Village Book Nook

A
Christmas
Story
Village

Fascinated by all things miniature, it was only a matter of time before I tried my hand at Book Nooks. I purchased a simple starter kit from Amazon to gain an overview of the basic construction and materials used, and I also researched other examples and tutorials on YouTube. This first attempt was a small, box-like version and was pretty limited in detail. But I did learn some things not to do—and others that can really enhance the visuals. Simple as it was, a friend of mine was taken by it and asked that I make one with a Christmas scene for her. I saw this request as an opportunity to use my new knowledge and techniques to create a much better result.

First, the book itself. I wasn’t thrilled with the “open box” look, like the one in the kit. I wanted an actual book box that I could modify - one I could work on while open for easier access until completed, and then close. Fortunately, I found some nice book options on Amazon. I chose a 7" by 9 ½" red velvet version that fit the Christmas theme. I felt the size would have a nice presence on a bookshelf without being too large to fill adequately. The book did need to be modified, of course: the ends of the pages had to be cut off, and holes or pockets were required for wiring.

Next, plotting it out. The Christmas village scene was a given, but there are several approaches you can take, from the view down a street or town, an outdoor scene, a particular building or station, or looking into a specific room. I then just started with using paper and cardboard to plot things out and then eventually basswood for the structures. The size you are going to make any structures is going to determine the scale of the miniatures you add to it. I found it can be challenging to keep everything in scale within the scene.

As for materials... I used basswood, balsa wood, beads, and polymer clay, and several pieces were from model trains and their scenery. I found dollhouse scale was too big for what I was doing. I made some of the miniatures, purchased others, and found a nice selection on Etsy that are 3D-printed to whatever scale you need. You, of course, still have to paint them (get out the magnifier!). For the buildings, I cut out the patterns for the structures, windows, and doors. I then found the textures I was looking for in the way of wood siding, stucco, or bricks - either as paper on Amazon, or printed from the internet and used to wrap the buildings or fill the window scenes.

Tips and Insights In my research I picked up the technique of adding an angled mirror to the back of the nook and it creates an image of further depth. For my village, it gave the appearance that the street and buildings continued farther back than they actually did.

The last tip I have is on the lighting - it's a lot harder than I thought. My original idea was to use fairy lights played out behind the buildings and get the bulbs lined up in the windows and the switch was slid into a pocket at the top of the book. My first attempt was just taping the wire on the buildings and found the wire was difficult to work with and had a mind of its own. Second attempt I at least got one side of the town wired with the fairy lights and upon closing the book to review they did not provide enough illumination to light up all the details within. Nice thought if you are going for a night scene or something, but wasn't going to work here. So I tore it all out and started over, it's a process. It took some searching around, but I did finally find some small puck lights on Amazon that had a switching mechanism that could still be reached from outside the box.

Now, the fun part.
And that's the miniatures, embellishments, and little details! I did decide not to seal the book closed, but rather allow it to be opened to better view the details.

A
Christmas
Story
Village

Fascinated by all things miniature, it was only a matter of time before I tried my hand at Book Nooks. I purchased a simple starter kit from Amazon to gain an overview of the basic construction and materials used, and I also researched other examples and tutorials on YouTube. This first attempt was a small, box-like version and was pretty limited in detail. But I did learn some things not to do—and others that can really enhance the visuals. Simple as it was, a friend of mine was taken by it and asked that I make one with a Christmas scene for her. I saw this request as an opportunity to use my new knowledge and techniques to create a much better result.

First, the book itself. I wasn’t thrilled with the “open box” look, like the one in the kit. I wanted an actual book box that I could modify - one I could work on while open for easier access until completed, and then close. Fortunately, I found some nice book options on Amazon. I chose a 7" by 9 ½" red velvet version that fit the Christmas theme. I felt the size would have a nice presence on a bookshelf without being too large to fill adequately. The book did need to be modified, of course: the ends of the pages had to be cut off, and holes or pockets were required for wiring.

Next, plotting it out. The Christmas village scene was a given, but there are several approaches you can take, from the view down a street or town, an outdoor scene, a particular building or station, or looking into a specific room. I then just started with using paper and cardboard to plot things out and then eventually basswood for the structures. The size you are going to make any structures is going to determine the scale of the miniatures you add to it. I found it can be challenging to keep everything in scale within the scene.

As for materials... I used basswood, balsa wood, beads, and polymer clay, and several pieces were from model trains and their scenery. I found dollhouse scale was too big for what I was doing. I made some of the miniatures, purchased others, and found a nice selection on Etsy that are 3D-printed to whatever scale you need. You, of course, still have to paint them (get out the magnifier!). For the buildings, I cut out the patterns for the structures, windows, and doors. I then found the textures I was looking for in the way of wood siding, stucco, or bricks - either as paper on Amazon, or printed from the internet and used to wrap the buildings or fill the window scenes.

Tips and Insights In my research I picked up the technique of adding an angled mirror to the back of the nook and it creates an image of further depth. For my village, it gave the appearance that the street and buildings continued farther back than they actually did.

The last tip I have is on the lighting ... it's a lot harder than I thought. My original idea was to use fairy lights played out behind the buildings and get the bulbs lined up in the windows and the switch was slid into a pocket at the top of the book. My first attempt was just taping the wire on the buildings and found the wire was difficult to work with and had a mind of its own. Second attempt I at least got one side of the town wired with the fairy lights and upon closing the book to review they did not provide enough illumination to light up all the details within. Nice thought if you are going for a night scene or something, but wasn't going to work here. So I tore it all out and started over, it's a process. It took some searching around, but I did finally find some small puck lights on Amazon that had a switching mechanism that could still be reached from outside the box.

Now, the fun part.
And that's the miniatures, embellishments, and little details! I did decide not to seal the book closed, but rather allow it to be opened to better view the details.

Project Materials

Below is a list of Amazon links for some of the materials I purchased for this project.

Red velvet book Bass wood Balsa wood Brick stencils Fairy light strand Miniature puck lights Craft mirror Brick paper Craft snow Polymer fruit slices Wooden building silhouettes Miniature pine trees

BRINGING IT TOGETHER

Click or tap image for larger view.

Preview. . .
This is what we are working towards - a tiny Christmas-town wonderland that can be nestled among the books on your shelf!

1Let's start from the beginning. First came a search for the ideal book. I chose one of the storage books from Amazon (having a spine, front and back cover, and printed faux pages on the three outer edges).

2I removed a rectangular section from the long outer edge (opposite the spine) to create a viewing window for the inside diorama.

3Playing with cardboard and wood cutouts of the buildings to figure out how to place and layer them. Being able to keep the front cover open gave easy access for working.

4I taped the cutouts in place at first so I could keep opening and closing the book to check the scene and make sure nothing interfered with it closing properly. Once everything aligned, I marked the critical areas where I shouldn’t extend past or below when gluing.

5I had initially cut and created a pocket in the top of the book for the fairy lights switch to slide down into.

6After many attempts with the fairy lights, I finally got a few in place. The window light effect was nice, but there was not enough illumination overall. I'll be trying again.

7I left the background behind the buildings (inside the front lid) black like night. But, for the other side inside the book, I found a Christmas card that had a beautiful winter nighttime scene. I thought it might work as a great background behind the shops.

8Next, I used a paver stencil to paint the road, then glued the card background into place. Now for a little visual trick: adding a mirror to the back of the book. The mirror needs to match the height of the scene and be set at an angle to reflect properly. I built a small wooden support to hold it, checked the alignment with the book closed, and then glued it in place.

9Here you can see the mirror positioned at an angle in the back of the book. The buildings on the left and farther toward the back aren’t visible from a straight-on view; instead, they’re the ones reflected in the mirror. This creates the illusion that the road continues, turns, and leads to more of the town beyond.

10Lots of miniatures involved. Some made from scrap wood and cardboard.

11Others were amazing "to-scale miniatures" done on a 3D printer through an Etsy vendor.

12Even though you could get almost anything created with a 3D printer, you still have to paint them. Yes that is a paintbrush tip next to those lanterns.

13The buildings in the forefront were made from bass or balsa wood for ease of cutting. Then wrapped in printed paper of brick, wood, or stucco. Corrugated cardboard was used for the roofs and overhangs. Other embellishments, like signs, were printed or cut out of magazines and glued to wood.

14The doors and windows were cut out of wood and glued together, painted, and then mounted on the buildings. I left some of the doors and windows ajar to give some more dimension.

15Once the buildings were completed, it was time for the fun part. Adding all the little details to bring it alive, like snow, evergreen in the window boxes, decorations, and trees, or shrubs.

16Santa’s cottage items are made with cardboard, beads, polymer clay and paper

17Embellishments for some of the other buildings - beaded stars, sequins, and garland. Also an interior scene is placed behind the window frame.

18OK, now to get things mounted on the walls. Attention has to be paid to the markings showing where not to glue so you don’t interfere with the book closing. I wanted a layered look, so there are silhouette buildings behind the front buildings.

19I had left this background black to represent the night, so I added some distant trees and stars. And — oh yes — there must be snow! The snow draped on the roofs was made by gluing flake snow onto white felt and then attaching it to the roofs. More details — like a wreath, doghouse, mailbox, evergreen, and lanterns — were glued directly onto the buildings.

20The little shops look amazing with the Christmas card background! I added in a town Christmas tree... decorated the tree and added gifts below. Also, I added some flake snow to the road and base of the buildings.

21I added some fun little touches just for me, like the miniature squirrel on the roof (a painted 3D-printed figurine) and the icicles hanging on either side of Santa’s Cottage (made by cutting the tips off inexpensive plastic icicle tree ornaments). A town bell was added to the top of the tall shop.

22Here's a view with the book closed up, and it's looking pretty good. Notice the back buildings showing in the mirror as an extension of the town. Now I need to figure out the lighting.

23I tried the concept of a ball fairy light which had a nice effect but didn’t illuminate the top.

24What you are seeing is the reflection in the mirror of the buildings that you can’t see on the side.

25I finally found a miniature puck light that shines down nicely on the details. I affixed this to the inside top of the book. There is a little switch on the puck light to turn it on and off from the inside. I built a little black cardboard block around the front of the light facing out of the book, so the actual light isn’t seen.

26Open book view. I decided not to permanently seal the book, so you can open it up and view all the details. It also makes it easier to turn the light on and off.

27A view inside with the book sides closed. The finished Christmas town wonderland!

I'm no expert, and often accomplish things like this by trial and error, but I wanted to share a little of the creative process on this project.

Other than the lighting (which I will continue to work on) I was pretty pleased with the way this came out. It's what I had envisioned in my mind and it's nice when you can bring an idea to life. And yes, my friend just loved it! Next in line is a Halloween project - something in line with a Franstein laboratory perhaps.