FOR THE GROWN-UPS
A little prep.
A lovely afternoon.
You don’t have to be crafty. You bring the company, we help with the paper, the tricky bits and the getting started.
MAKING IT TOGETHER
Who does what?
Most makes have a few precise steps and a lot of fun ones. Split them like this and everyone gets the good part.
Your jobs
The careful, fiddly bits.
- Print the template at actual size
- Cut small or curved pieces
- Punch holes and use anything sharp
- Keep the video ready for the tricky moves
Doing the prep before you sit down keeps the fun part flowing.
Little hands’ jobs
The choosing, sticking and storytelling.
- Pick the colours and patterns
- Glue the flat pieces and press them down
- Decorate, draw faces, add stickers
- Decide who the make is for, and play with it
It doesn’t have to look like the video. Their version is the right one.
YOUR LITTLE MAKING DRAWER
Start simple.
You don’t need a craft room. These few things cover most of our projects. Add more only when a make you love asks for it.
Scissors
A comfy pair for paper. Small, precise cuts stay with you.
White & coloured paper
Plain printer paper and a few colours go a long way.
Glue stick
Easy for little hands and flat paper layers.
Double-sided tape
For neat joins on boxes and decorations.
Ruler & pencil
For a light mark and a straight fold.
String & ribbon
Keep offcuts for bows, tassels and hanging things.
QUESTIONS
A few things you might be wondering.
Can’t find your answer? Write to us or ask under any of our videos on YouTube.
Making it, with or without kids
Do I have to make it with my child?
No. Lots of grown-ups make our projects on their own: as a surprise, for a birthday table, for a class or as a little gift. The written steps and the video show every move, so you can follow them alone just as well.
Can I use the templates at preschool or school?
Yes. The templates are free for personal and classroom use, so you can print as many copies as your group needs. Please don’t sell the files or upload them somewhere else. If you want to share them, share the link to the page.
Can I make these as gifts or party favours?
Yes, that is exactly what many of them are for. A strawberry box with a tiny surprise, a set of paper toys for party guests or a card holder for a teacher all make lovely handmade gifts.
Can I sell the things I make from the templates?
No. The templates are for personal and classroom use only, so please don’t sell finished makes or printed templates, online or at a craft fair. Making them as gifts is always welcome.
How old should my child be?
It depends on the make. Every project shows how long it takes and how tricky it is (one to three dots), so you can choose one that fits your child and your afternoon.
What if a project is fiddly?
Prepare the precise cuts before you sit down together. Keep the written steps nearby and use the video when seeing the movement helps.
How long does a project take?
Most of our makes take between 15 and 60 minutes. The time is shown on every project, so a quick one is easy to spot.
Printing and materials
Are the templates really free?
Yes. Every template, colouring page and activity is free to download, with no sign-up. Find them all on the Printables page.
Which paper size should I print?
Any paper works, A4 or US Letter. Choose “Fit to page” in the print settings, so nothing gets cut off. Our templates have no exact sizes, so if everything comes out a tiny bit smaller, that’s fine. When a template needs 100%, its page says so.
What paper should I print on?
Plain printer paper (about 80 g/m²) is perfect for colouring pages and flat pieces. For boxes and anything that should stand up, use card of about 160–200 g/m². Each printable page tells you which one works best.
Do I need a colour printer?
Not for colouring pages, they are made to print in black and white. Craft templates look best in colour, so check the preview on the printable page before you print.
Do we need everything from the list?
No. Start with one project and its own list of materials. The making drawer above is only a guide for things that come back often.
About Cubi Mini DIY
Who are Cubi and Mini?
Cubi is a mint paper cube who looks at an ordinary sheet of paper and already has an idea. Mini is Cubi’s little sibling and wants to try everything. Together they show each make, step by step.
Where can I watch the videos?
On the Cubi Mini DIY YouTube channel. Every tutorial on this site also has the video at the top, followed by written steps with photos.
How do I find out about new projects?
New makes land on YouTube first. Subscribe to the channel to see them as soon as they are out, and check the Let’s make page for the written version.
Ready for your first make?
Pick something short for a first try. Cubi suggests under 30 minutes.
