How to Make a Paper iPhone Notebook
Craft a realistic, pocket-sized mini iPhone notebook featuring layered cardstock covers, app icons, a camera bump, and lined notebook filler pages.
- Read the tools, materials, safety notes, and steps below for free.
- Tap Start Camera Coach when you want hands-free voice help.
- Allow camera and microphone. Point your phone at the work; the coach watches your progress and tells you the next step.
🧰 Required Tools & Equipment
- ✓ Precision craft scissors
- ✓ Steel ruler
- ✓ Pencil
- ✓ Fine-tip black gel pen
- ✓ Colored markers
- ✓ Bone folder
📦 Materials & Supplies
- ✓ Thick white cardstock (250+ gsm)
- ✓ Standard white printer paper (80 gsm)
- ✓ PVA glue stick
- ✓ Black cardstock scrap
- ✓ Silver metallic gel pen
⚠️ Safety Checkpoints & Warnings
- • Always cut away from your guide hand when trimming small paper curves with scissors.
- • Work on a clean, flat surface to prevent glue smears on the drawn screen interface.
📋 Step-by-Step Guide (6 Steps)
Measure and Cut Cover and Base Cards
Use a ruler and pencil to measure two identical rectangles sized 7 cm by 14 cm on heavy white cardstock for the front and back chassis. Cut along the pencil lines using craft scissors, then carefully trim each of the four outer corners into smooth, uniform rounded curves to mimic a smartphone frame. Place one card on top of the other to verify their profiles match identically.
- • Two identically sized cardstock rectangles with evenly rounded corners.
- • Cutting corners with uneven radiuses, making the edges look asymmetrical.
Cut and Fold the Internal Note Pages
Cut 8 to 10 sheets of standard printer paper into strips measuring 13.6 cm by 6.8 cm so they sit slightly inside the cover boundary. Fold each sheet in half lengthwise using a bone folder to create crisp center creases, or stack them as loose single leaves aligned at the left spine. Align the edge flush and apply a thin line of PVA glue along the left margin to bind the stack into a cohesive notepad block.
- • A neat, aligned stack of paper that opens cleanly like a miniature flip booklet.
- • Applying too much liquid glue, causing pages to wrinkle or stick together past the spine margin.
Illustrate the Front Screen Interface
On the front cardstock piece, draw a slim 3 mm border around the perimeter using a pencil to define the screen bezel. Draw a small pill-shaped cutout at the top center using a black gel pen to create the Dynamic Island or notch. Sketch a 4x4 grid of colorful mini app icons, a dock at the bottom, and a status bar showing time and battery at the top using fine-tip markers.
- • A clear smartphone interface layout with evenly spaced icons and top status indicators.
- • Drawing icons too large, leaving no room for the dock or top notch.
Construct the Rear Shell and Camera Module
Cut a 2.5 cm by 2.5 cm square from white cardstock and round its corners to create the raised camera bump. Glue this square to the top-left corner of the back cover card. Use a black marker and silver metallic gel pen to draw three circular lenses, a flash circle, and a small microphone dot, then draw a silver Apple logo in the dead center of the back panel.
- • A 3D-effect camera bump with three defined circular lenses and a centered metallic logo.
- • Placing the camera island in the center instead of the top-left corner.
Assemble the Internal Pages to the Shell
Apply a generous, smooth layer of glue stick across the entire inside surface of the back cardstock panel. Press the back page of your prepared paper block firmly onto the glued area, ensuring the spine sits flush with the left outer edge. Glue the left spine edge of the front illustrated cover to the page block, keeping the front screen accessible to open.
- • The notebook opens smoothly from the right side like a miniature phone book.
- • Misaligning the spine, causing the front and back phone panels to shift out of square.
Add Side Buttons and Final Details
Using a fine-tip black pen, mark small rectangular button indicators along the outer edges: volume rockers on the left spine and a power button on the right edge. Use a silver or gray marker to lightly shade the outer rim to give the edges a simulated titanium or stainless steel look. Place the completed mini notebook under a heavy book for 5 minutes to set flat.
- • Subtle edge button details and a perfectly flat, well-bonded notebook structure.
- • Closing the notebook before wet ink or glue dries, leading to internal smudges.
Credit: inspired by an original tutorial by Arts by Astha — watch the original on YouTube.
Don’t have everything?
- No Bone folder? Back of a metal spoon or edge of a plastic ruler
- No Heavy cardstock? Thin cardboard from a cereal box painted or lined with white paper
- No Silver metallic gel pen? Gray colored pencil or aluminum foil strip