Paper automata
Bristol-based paper engineer Cool4Cats makes a range of humorous and highly intricate paper automata kits for nimble fingers to cut out and assemble.
In Disaster at Sea, for example, the terrible fate of the ‘SS Cardbordia’ is brought to life. The unfortunate vessel departs a skyscrapered New York, passing the Statue of Liberty, only to collide with towering icebergs and disappear beneath the waves. In Feeding Time at the Zoo, meanwhile, small children disembark a bus, pass through a gateway and march straight into the chomping jaws of an enormous waiting crocodile.
Most of the models employ a handle to operate an internal mechanism but some of them move under the influence of gravity alone, such as the Walking Terror Robot.
Some of the automata models are incredibly complex, such as the Artist Automaton, which will actually draw a picture of the model it sits opposite, The results are not exactly up to Da Vinci standards, but it’s a remarkable achievement nonetheless.
There’s also the huge table-top-sized Space Base 2000, designed in classic 1950s sci-fi style, which features a red rocket that can be used to lift and transport cargo pods, robots and tour parties from building to building above the surface of a hostile and forbidding planet.
The maker, who also sells through Etsy, says that some of the more complicated kits require considerable patience and accuracy to assemble – as well as a sharp knife – and so aren’t suitable for younger print lovers. You could also pick up a pack of cut-out-and-stick 3D angel Christmas cards at the same time.
Where can I find it? cool4cats.biz
What does it cost? From £12
The History of Graphic Design by Jens Müller
Müller’s book charts the development of graphic design from 1890 to the present day highlighting a few standout examples of commercial print work from each year that reflect the zeitgeist of the day. It’s crammed with advertising and film posters, logo designs, maps, book covers, magazine layouts, vehicle liveries and packaging designs that use the best commercial art to communicate a message perfectly.
This is a more manageable version of Taschen’s massive two-volume XL edition, which includes a great deal more detail but will set you back £60 for each volume.
Where can I find it? taschen.com/en/books/graphic-design
What does it cost? From £25 (though you’ll find it cheaper on Amazon)
British Islands Geological Map
This map is based on one published in 1912, compiled from the work of the Geological Survey, created by the splendidly named Jethro Justinian Harris Teall and published by Ordnance Survey. This map adds a modern twist to the 5th edition, published in 1969, by the addition of cunning shading to illustrate the topography of these isles, with the elevation data taken from the Shuttle Radar Topography Mission, which the US government was kind enough to release to the public around 10 years ago. So, it’s a 2D map with a very 3D look.
Where can I find it? Etsy.com
What does it cost? From £39 depending on map size and framing
Border Riding
Border Riding is a game for three to six players about maps, boundaries, borders and “the way we use rituals to maintain and shape our community”. Its creator was inspired by the tradition in the Scottish Borders of ‘common ridings’, in which local communities sought to protect their lands from encroachment and ‘reiving’ by riding around their boundaries. This practice dates from the late Middle Ages, when England and Scotland were frequently at war. At the time inter-community violence was widespread and authority was weak.
Border Riding explores how arbitrary borders can create real long-lasting divisions between communities, and how petty village rivalries can turn into full blown conflicts.
By following these communities and their border rituals over time, you will also explore how, in seeking safety from perceived threats, communities can vilify or warmly welcome those that fall outside of a drawn border.
The game was created by Jo Reid, a Borders-born writer, and edited by Roz Leahy, one half of Two Rats Press, a Risograph micropress based in Edinburgh.
You’ll need two dice, pencils or pens and lots of paper.
Where can I find it? stoutstoat.co.uk/products/border-riding
What does it cost? £15
Paper: Material Medium Magic
This book is a lavish paeon to the humble, everyday medium we like to print on. While there is a lot of technical information contained in its pages, this very much belongs on the coffee table and not on the print works’ reference shelf.
It traces the history of paper and its earliest forms, and looks at paper as a symbol of political and economic importance and as a carrier of ideas, from literature to art, design and music. It looks at the different surfaces, opacities, weights and volumes of paper and how it is used for printing, typography, graphics and maps as well as a vehicle for origami, architecture, and fashion.
Where can I find it? prestelpublishing.penguinrandomhouse.de
What does it cost? £35
Diptyque L’Eau Papier eau de toilette
Possibly if you go home smelling of ink at the end of the day, there is some synergy with having a partner who smells of paper, and so maybe this is the ideal gift.
The marketing blurb runs as follows: “As ink soaks into a sheet of white paper, shadows emerge. Worlds are invented. L’Eau Papier celebrates the power of the imagination – that moment, suspended in time, when ink, paper and the hand become one.”
The scent is a “A deep dive into the essence of white musks in all their myriad facets. A luminous mimosa, plus accords of blonde wood and rice steam”.
Where can I find it? diptyqueparis.com
What does it cost? £129 for 100ml
HelloBaby Instant Print Camera
The Printweek Christmas gift guide often includes one of these instant print cameras, which are aimed at children, and this seems to be one of the better ones. Its cute cat styling will no doubt appeal to younger kids and the quality of print is decent if you take the time to tweak the settings. It features two 12MP cameras (one forward facing, the other rearward), a 3.2in screen, built-in games and an MP3 player. The camera will capture HD video as well as still images which are automatically saved on an included 16GB SD card. The buttons are well sized and the user interface is easy to get to grips with, meaning younger children can get the most out of it.
Where can I find it? amazon.co.uk
What does it cost? £40
Colorpik pen
What sorcery is this? A pen that mixes its own ink internally to put 16m-plus different colours in your fingers at once? Witchcraft. The Colorpik pen does appear to be a remarkable bit of engineering; it comprises a colour sensor, ink cartridges and a set of nibs that can be swapped to suit your application.
The sensor in the fat end can be used to take a colour reading from whatever takes your fancy. That colour information can be stored as a preset, shared for use on digital screens or used immediately to write or draw with. Colorpik uses a familiar inkset, C, M, Y and, erm, T for ‘transparency’. And yes, the inks are mixed internally, immediately, to produce whatever shade you choose. The manufacturer says each cartridge holds 30 miles of ink, however, each refill set costs $20, so you might be better off gifting a drawful of Bics.
You can also use the device with your tablet in drawing or note apps as you would a normal stylus, using the colour sensor to change colours; it will work with popular image editing packages such as Photoshop and CorelDraw. There also Colorpik’s own apps which come free with the pen, alongside an ink refill set, charging cable, colour book, six pen nibs and access to video tutorials. The USB-charged battery is claimed to give 15 hours of continuous use.
Where can I find it? colorpik.ai
What does it cost? $298 (about £235)
Shift Happens typewriter key bracelet
These stylishly retro bracelets are made with keys from long-defunct typewriters, and no two are the same as a result. The keys spell out the phrase ‘Shift happens’, a sentiment that will no doubt be very familiar to most printers. The bracelets are approximately 18-19cm long.
Where can I find it? theliterarygiftcompany.com
What does it cost? £60
Whispering Pages custom book embosser
Whispering Pages says it is a company on a mission to “rekindle the intimate bond between book lovers and their cherished collections”. It sells a single product (plus some accessories): its custom book embosser. This is a small manual embossing press which can be personalised with a limited range of images – drawn from nature, sci-fi, legend and mystery – and your name. It’s a nice way of adding a personal touch to treasured books. It comes with a case plus 50 circular metallic gold stickers which can also be embossed and then applied to anything.
Where can I find it? thewhisperingpages.com
What does it cost? £36
LaserPecker 2 laser engraver
The LaserPecker 2 (LP2) is a lightweight (1kg), portable laser engraver that can be used to embellish a decent range of materials including wood, plastic, metal, stone, paper and leather. It comes with a stand, but can also be used hand-held to mark vertical surfaces or surfaces at an angle, such as cupboard doors.
It’s likely to be a popular tool for crafters, jewellery makers and small merchandising operations. It will cut through thinner materials and so can be used to make, for example, bespoke jigsaws. It employs a 5W semiconductor laser which has a top engraving speed of 600mm/s, has a maximum marking/cutting area of 100x100mm and is controlled by a phone or tablet via an app. Users might want to make sure they have plenty of ventilation as it can get a bit smokey and smelly in operation. LaserPecker also makes the Versatile electric roller, which enables the LP2 to engrave cylindrical objects, such as tumblers or pencils, and, when flipped over, can act like a trolley allowing the LP2 to create engravings up to 2m long.
Where can I find it? uk.laserpecker.net
What does it cost? £629 base model; £207 for the Versatile electric roller
Atoms to Astronauts notebooks
These UK-made notebooks feature beautifully drawn cover artworks highlighting scientific development along themes such as astronomy, chemistry, evolution and genetics, marine biology, math and more. They are the brainchild of Damian Hardacre, a chemistry teacher who designed the first of his notebooks during lockdown. He says: “I wanted to design a notebook for myself that reflected my passion for science. Then my friends asked for one. Then friends of friends. Then dozens of people I didn’t know.”
The A5 versions offer 180 pages on “fountain-pen friendly” 100gsm paper, a thread-sewn layflat binding, 1.5mm board hardcover.
Where can I find it? atomstoastronauts.com
What does it cost? £23.95 although there are discounts for multiple purchases
Chaos Type prints
Chaos type was a process invented by 19th-century US printer and artist John Franklin Earhart. Molten type metal would be poured into a casting box without a mould in place. The liquid metal could be tipped in horizontally or vertically, depending on the effects required. Dampening the base of the casting box, or even trickling a little water into the void before the metal was poured could create spectacular effects as the liquid vaporised and the steam created bubbles within the rapidly cooling type metal alloy. The process was used to create complex ‘organic’ shapes and unique patterns.
These have been printed by the St Bride Chapel, which revived the process in 2020, likely for the first time in over a century, and are available in a rainbow of different colours – please add a note to your order if you wish to specify which colour you’d like.
Where can I find it? stbridelibrary.bigcartel.com
What does it cost? £5
Curwen Print Study Centre courses
The Curwen Print Study Centre was established as an educational Fine Art Printmaking charity in the late 1990s in Great Thurlow, Suffolk. Since then it has established a reputation for excellence in its field. It has recently published its 2025 course programme covering a wide range of traditional printing and print making styles. The adult course programme offers something for everyone, from those who are new to printmaking to those who have previous experience and are looking for masterclass tuition.
Where can I find it? curwenprintstudy.co.uk
What does it cost? Gift voucher £249
The Book-Makers: A History of the Book in 18 Remarkable Lives
The Book-Makers brings to life the history of commercial book printing from its earliest days in the workshop of Caxton acolyte and pioneer print entrepreneur Wynken de Worde, and carries the reader through time to the zine factories of New York in 2024. It’s not a dry assessment of dates and technologies, but rather focuses on the personalities of the progenitors of so much of the printed world we know today. Along the way it takes in papermaking processes, the development of typography, illustrative processes, the emergence of the lending library and boutique press houses. Many of those who make up the ’18 remarkable lives’ are not the superstars of the book world, and some have almost been lost to history, such as Shakespeare’s binder William Wildgoose, but all have made a significant contribution to the industry.
Where can I find it? theliterarygiftcompany.com
What does it cost? £25
