Inspired by the work of CAMH’s Director of Education and Public Programs, Felice Cleveland, create your very own zine. Using simple items found around your house, you’ll 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.)
Stapler or needle and thread (preferable waxed thread – dental floss can be used)
Optional – Decorative elements (e.g., stickers, washi tape, magazine images, etc.)
Instructions
01. ORGANIZE MATERIALS
Gather your materials together and get everything in one place.
02. PLAN YOUR STORY OR CONTENT
Brainstorm what you want your zine to be about – anything works. Your zine could be about a favorite television show, directions about how to do something, a guide to your city or neighborhood, a story told through comics or drawings, or just a collection of abstract collages. There is no limit here!
03. CREATE A MOCK ZINE
Fold your paper in half including as many pages as you imagine using in your zine. Plot out the pages and where everything will go. This is not your final copy, so feel free to erase and move things around as needed. Add or take away pages as you work through your design.
04. COPY YOUR STORY INTO YOUR ZINE
Once your mock zine is finalized and you have figured out the order you want to share your story or information, it is time to make your final copy. Fold more pages and work on the final version of your zine.
05. BIND YOUR ZINE
Once you have completed your final zine, it is time to bind the pages together. You have several options for this. You can just staple your zine together along the fold. Another option is to sew your zine together using a pamphlet stitch. To do a pamphlet stitch, use a needle to punch three holes evenly spaced along the fold. Thread your needle with thick thread or waxed dental floss. Starting in the middle hole create a figure 8 by going through the first hole, back through the middle, and then through the last hole. Tie off the string at the middle and trim the excess.
06. COLOR OR DECORATE
Complete your zine by adding any finishing touches including coloring and decorating your zine. Then, flatten your zine by placing it under a book.
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Note: Zines are made to be shared and replicated. If you have access to a copy machine or risograph, make copies of your zine before binding. Share the final copies with friends and family.
Document your zine and share with CAMH.
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About Virtual Drop-In Experiences
CAMH’s Virtual Drop-In Experiences feature instructions for pop-up activities you can do at home. Each hands-on activity provides creative opportunities to experience current exhibitions from a distance in a unique and meaningful way.
Led by our FAQ Team (Frequently Asked Questions), a group of artists and historians who assist with contextualizing CAMH’s dynamic exhibitions for diverse audiences. Virtual Drop-In Experiences are released on our website at 1PM every Saturday. All ages, always free.