In celebration of the release of CAMH Teen Council’s music zine, Play > Pandemic, learn how to make a zine that tells a story, shares some drawings, and presents new information.
Materials
Paper (several sheets – for planning, sketching, and also for your final product)
Drawing materials (e.g., pencils, pens, markers, etc.)
Scissors
Optional – Decorative elements and glue (e.g., stickers, washi tape, magazine images, etc.)
Instructions
01. Plan Your Content
Brainstorm the content of your zine. Your zine could be a guide to your city or neighborhood, directions about how to do something, a story told through comics or drawings, or just a collection of abstract collages.
Using a blank piece of paper, draw and write out your ideas. Remember, your zine can be about anything you want to share!
02. Prepare Your Paper
To prepare your paper for your zine, take a new sheet of blank paper and fold your paper in half. Fold it again into quarters, then one more time so your paper is folded into eighths.
Next, unfold your paper so that it is only folded in half. Find the perpendicular middle crease line, then cut a line halfway up along this middle crease. Be careful to not cut the paper in half! Open your paper and find the slit you have created in the middle of your paper.
Now, fold your paper lengthwise along the crease with the cut slit. Holding the paper at both ends, push the paper in toward each end to make the sections fold into each other to form an eight-page booklet.
03. Create Your Zine
Now that your blank zine is ready, plot out each page to decide where everything you want to share will go. Consider the order in which you want to share your story or information. Then begin writing and drawing onto each page.
Complete your zine by adding any finishing touches including coloring and decorating your zine. Then, flatten your zine by placing it under a book.
About Drop-In Experiences
CAMH’s Drop-In Experiences feature instructions for pop-up activities you can do in-person or at home. Each hands-on activity provides creative opportunities to experience current exhibitions from a distance in a unique and meaningful way.
Drop-In Experiences are available in-person between 1–4PM every Saturday and released on our website at 1PM every Saturday. All ages, always free.
In-person activities are low and no contact and designed with the safety of our visitors, staff, and community in mind. Visit our Museum From Home page for more hands-on activities you can enjoy anytime!