Tiny CSS Projects

CSS is a must-know language for all web developers. In this practical book, you’ll explore numerous techniques to improve the way you write CSS as you build 12 tiny projects.

In Tiny CSS Projects you’ll build twelve exciting and useful web projects including:

A loading screen created by styling SVG graphics
A responsive newspaper layout with multiple columns
Animating social media buttons with pseudo-elements
Designing layouts using CSS grids
Summary cards that utilize hover interactions
Styling forms to make them more appealing to your users


The projects may be tiny, but the CSS skills you’ll learn are huge! Tiny CSS Projects teaches you how to make beautiful websites and applications by guiding you through a dozen fun coding challenges. You’ll learn important skills through hands-on practice as you tinker with your own code and make real creative decisions about the projects you’re building. You’ll rapidly master the basics and then press on into CSS’s exciting layout features including grid and flexbox, animations, transitions, and media queries.

Purchase of the print book includes a free eBook in PDF, Kindle, and ePub formats from Manning Publications.

About the Technology

Don’t settle for boring web pages! With Cascading Style Sheets you can control color, layout, and typography to make your sites both functional and beautiful. CSS is an essential skill for web developers and designers. This book will help you get started the right way.

About the Book

Tiny CSS Projects builds your CSS skills by guiding you through 12 creative mini-projects. Each interesting challenge starts with a downloadable HTML skeleton. As you flesh it out with your own design ideas, you’ll master CSS concepts like transitions, layout, and styling forms, and explore powerful features including Flexbox and Grid. All the skills you’ll learn are easy to transfer to full-size applications. When you finish, you’ll have an exciting portfolio of designs ready to go for your next project.

What's Inside

Transitions and animations using keyframes
Layout techniques including Grid and Flexbox
Styling form elements including radio buttons
Embedding fonts and typography-related styles
Conditional styling using pseudo-elements and media queries


About the reader

For readers who know the basics of HTML and frontend development. No previous experience with CSS is required.

About the author

Martine Dowden is an author, speaker, and award-winning CTO. Michael Gearon is a user experience designer and frontend developer who has worked with many well-known brands.

Table of Contents

1 CSS introduction
2 Designing a layout using CSS Grid
3 Creating a responsive animated loading screen
4 Creating a responsive web newspaper layout
5 Summary cards with hover interactions
6 Creating a profile card
7 Harnessing the full power of float
8 Designing a checkout cart
9 Creating a virtual credit card
10 Styling forms
11 Animated social media share links
12 Using preprocessors