Spaced Out is now available in a digital format! You can download the zine as a PDF on Ko-fi.

Read more about Spaced Out

A colorful, cosmic-themed graphic that features planets on a starry background and the text SPACED OUT.

2024 zine recap

I make zines for fun, and I want zines to be primarily for fun, so I don’t set specific goals each year. Even so, I’m really happy with what I accomplished in the past year!

Here’s a rundown of zine-related things I did in 2024.

Zines I made

I made 10 zines!

Mini zines:

Six colorful mini zines with various titles such as Left-brained art and How to make a mini zine are displayed on a dark surface.

Quater-page zines:

Contributor zines (that I organized):

Four zines titled Children of Immigrants, Urban Legends, Shoveling Sand: my favorite writing advice, and Spaced Out are arranged overlapping each other.

Zine contributions

I contributed pages to these zines:

Events

  • Local zine fest - I was a vendor, and I taught a workshop on making mini zines.
  • Fall Fest at a local library - I led a zine-making station.
  • Local creative studio - I taught a workshop on making zines.
  • Local college - I spoke to a graphic design class about making zines.
  • Two zine hangouts at local spots - These were great events to spend time making zines with people. Very casual hangouts.

Collage zines I made at events

Three zines with collages on the covers. One cover features autumn leaves. One cover features rows of chairs and dominoes. One cover features technology elements.

Miscelleanous

I joined the zine line of the Smallweb Subway. This is a webring themed after subway systems.

Not a zine, but collaboration with a zine friend. I submitted a short story to a podcast, VLASINDA’s Desolate Library.

I’m looking forward to making more zines and continuing to connect with people in 2025!

Spaced Out zine

One more zine for 2024. 🚀

The cover of a zine titled SPACED OUT with colorful, abstract planets and a starry background.

“Spaced Out” is a quarter-page zine that collects writing and illustrations that are inspired by outer space.

Illustrations were hand-drawn in black and white, and color elements were added with space-themed washi tape. All text is typed.

Details:

  • 12 pages (including covers)
  • Finished zine measure 5.5 inches high x 4.5 inches wide
  • Printed in full color on white paper
  • Folded by hand and bound with staples

Paper copies are available in my Etsy shop (U.S. only), and I’m open to trading (anywhere mail can go).

Spaced Out is also available in a digital format on Ko-fi.

Here are some of the pages:

A page spread with planets drawn in black and white. Colorful curved shapes are around each planet. The text on the left page says I just want to float in your atmosphere. The text on the right says Sometimes you throw me out of orbit, and I have a hard time coming back.

A zine open to a page featuring an astronaut floating in space on the left. On the right, there’s an abstract eye design with text above it that says The abyss looks inside you and you cannot look away.

If you’re interested in how I made the washi tape pieces, I wrote a blog post about my process.

I made holographic stickers to go with this zine! This is an updated design of my “I need some space” stickers. Every “Spaced Out” zine comes with a sticker.

A round holographic sticker that says I need some space. Text and graphic elements, including a rocket ship, planet, and stars, are in yellow on a purple background.

I added a note to the back of my zine about not using AI.

The back cover of a zine includes a starry background, a moon and stars logo, and Mythical Type in a large font. Near the bottom of the page, text says Creativity is human. This zine was made without the use of AI.

I’ve been seeing some artists clarify that they don’t use AI in their work, and I think it’s an important distinction to make. I already have a webpage about why I don’t use AI. Now I have a note in print, too.

Knowledge is

Here’s a collage zine I started at a local zine hangout on Thursday and finished tonight.

I like experimenting during zine-making events, so this style is very different from the zines I usually make.

The images are pretty random. 😂 I was looking more at colors and patterns, with less regard for items in each image. Text is inspired by old card catalog entries (cards were on the tables, among archival materials available to use).

A hand holds the front cover of a collage zine with a photo of chairs and domino patterns. The title is Knowledge is... A hand holds a collage zine that features various images, including a grapefruit slice, a photo of people, and colorful xylophone keys. The text says, Challenge and response. A hand holds a collage zine that features a grapefruit slice, part of a paint brush, and abstract shapes. The text says, skepticism. A hand holds a collage zine with images of large green leaves, colorful geometric patterns, and dominoes. The text says, question and answer. A hand holds a collage zine that features colorful speech bubbles, a blue oval shape with purple doodles around it, and a yellow star. The text says, communication. A hand holds a collage zine that features an illustrated backpack with various objects inside it. The text says, theory. A hand holds a collage zine that features an illustration of Earth with a yellow abstract background and a vintage photograph of a crowd of people. The text says, empathy. A hand holds the back cover of a collage zine with abstract geometric designs on the top of the page and a domino pattern on the bottom of the page. There's a small moon and stars logo next to the words, Mythical Type. Near the bottom of the page, text says F&M zine hangout, Nov. 21, 2024, Lancaster, PA.

Urban Legends is now available as a digital zine! You can download the PDF on Ko-fi for free (or pay what you want). 👻🎃

The cover of Urban Legends on a purple background with spider webs in the top corners. Text at the bottom says, Digital version now available on Ko-fi.

Left-brained art

“Left-brained art” is a mini zine that includes tips for how to make art without having to plan all the details up front. Each page includes a tip and brief explanation.

This zine encourages you to work with the materials you already have and not worry about what people will think of the finished work.

I drew the background by hand with markers. Layout and text in Canva.

Copies are available in my Etsy shop (U.S. only). I’m also open to trading! (Message me.)

A hand holds a mini zine called Left-brained art. A hand holds and open zine with advice on overcoming creative obstacles by simply starting and allowing ideas to flow. A hand holds an open zine with text about focusing on personal interests and accepting uncertainty. A hand holds an open zine with text about creativity and self-expression.

Full text in the zine:

Front cover

Left-brained art

Page 1

If you are a left-brained person (like me!), sometimes making art feels difficult. 

You want there to be order. You want to sort out all the details from the start. And if you can’t do that, you feel stuck.

Here are some things I try to remember so I don’t get stuck. 

Maybe these will be helpful to you, too.

Page 2

Simply start

Easier said than done. 

Try making something (anything) before you decide on what the end result will be.

One idea might spark another idea..and then another.

Page 3

What’s “good”?

Don’t get hung up on what’s “good.”

Whatever is trending or popular for the moment doesn’t matter. 

Make what interests you.

“Comparison is the thief of joy.” – Theodore Roosevelt

Page 4

No plan is okay

You don’t have to plan everything. (It feels uncomfortable. I know.)

Figure it out as you go.

You can take it one step at a time.

Page 5

What you have

In most cases, you don’t need special tools to start a creative project.

You can start with what you already have.

“The best camera is the one you have with you.” – Chase Jarvis

Page 6

You, first

Make stuff for yourself.

If other people like it, that’s a bonus.

If no one else likes it, you’re still learning and growing.

Either way, you win.

Contributor zine: Urban Legends

“Urban Legends” is a quarter-page zine that collects art and writing about urban legends, myths, and folklore. Eighteen people contributed stories, poetry, illustrations, and collages. Work was submitted from the U.S., Canada, Scotland, Belgium, and Germany

Auto-generated description: A hand holds a book titled Urban Legends, which features artwork and text about urban myths, folklore, and legends on its cover.

The finished zine is 36 pages (including covers); 4.25" wide x 5.5" high; printed in black & white; and bound with staples.

The cover is white cardstock. Interior pages are 24 lb white paper.

I’m mailing copies to contributors this week. Limited copies are available in my Etsy shop.

Urban Legends is also available as a digital zine. You can download it for free on Ko-fi (or pay what you want).

Check out a few of the pages:

Auto-generated description: A book is open to a page titled Crazy Jones by C.F. Robert, featuring a personal narrative about childhood experiences with an Indian Guides group. Auto-generated description: An illustration of a woman with long hair holding a scythe, seated by a moonlit backdrop with the title ARDUINNA at the top. Auto-generated description: Holding an open book, the visible page contains a story titled Ogopogo by Christine Hart, discussing a personal experience with the legendary creature.

Zine station success

Yesterday I ran a zine-making station at a public library fundraiser. 🙂

The library had a Fall Fair with a bake sale, raffles, magic show, and games. Arts and crafts tables were inside the library. Here’s the zine-making station.

Auto-generated description: A library table set up for a crafting activity is covered with art supplies like markers, glue sticks, and colorful paper.

The library provided magazines, scrapbook paper, markers, glue sticks, scissors, and plain white paper. I brought copies of How to make a mini zine and What’s a zine?

This is the first time I’ve done a zine event with kids. Having collage materials definitely helps, so kids don’t have to write something on the spot.

Two girls spent about an hour and a half at the table, making two zines each, because they said they were having so much fun. 🥹

I think if I do more kid-focused zine events, I might make some kind of template that they can fill in. Having more of a guide might be a nice option besides having a blank piece of paper.

Here’s a zine I made during some downtime.

A hand holds a small zine titled My favorite Fall Things with autumn leaves on the cover. A hand holds pages 1 and 2 of the zine, which includes the text: apple pie, apple dumplings, apple cider, and apple turnovers. At the bottom of the page, there's a photo of a basket of apples. A holds pages 3 and 4 of the zine, with phrases like Fall colors, changing leaves, sunsets. There's a small sun illustration. A hand holds pages 5 and 6 of the zine. The text says, holidays, Halloween, Nov. 14 is my birthday! and Thanksgiving. Decorative orange and brown patterns are on the edges of the paper. A hand holds the back of the zine, which features floral and celestial designs, titled Mythical Type, with event details for the Wernersville Public Library Fall Fair in September 2024.

What's a zine?

“What’s a zine?” is an 8-page mini zine that you can download and print on your own. It includes a brief introduction to zines: what zines are, some historical highlights, and common formats.

Auto-generated description: A hand holds a mini booklet titled: What's a zine? a brief introduction.

The zine is available on Ko-fi for free (or pay what you want).

The PDF is sized to print on one sheet of 8.5 x 11-inch paper (standard U.S. letter size).

This zine is licensed under Creative Commons (CC BY-NC-SA 4.0), which means you’re welcome to distribute and share copies for non-commercial use.

If you don’t know how to fold this kind of zine, search for “how to fold an 8-page zine” on YouTube to find tutorials.

Zine: So You Met Your Past Self

“So You Met Your Past Self” includes tips for what to do when you meet a past version of yourself. This fictional zine is a handy guide for the time traveler in your life (even when that’s you).

This zine is available on Etsy (U.S.) only.

Auto-generated description: A booklet titled So You Met Your Past Self: a practical guide is displayed against a red background. Auto-generated description: Tip 1 suggests ensuring time-travel permits and avoiding interactions with one's past self to prevent complications. Auto-generated description: Tips for interacting with Past You include staying calm, being reassuring, and lying if necessary to protect them, with the understanding that future knowledge gives you an advantage. Auto-generated description: A blue card with tips about interacting with the past and timeline risks is shown on a red surface.

I made the background for this zine by hand. I diluted blue fountain pen ink in water. Then I painted the ink on to watercolor paper.

Auto-generated description: A sheet of blue watercolor paper is placed on a measuring grid.

After the paper dried, I drew an abstract design with a dark blue marker and white gel pen.

Auto-generated description: A series of abstract, interconnected geometric shapes are drawn on a blue watercolor background, bordered by a ruler grid.

This kind of line drawing is a technique I learned from Katie Gebely.

First you draw dots on the page, at random. Then you connect the dots with straight lines. That’s what I did with the dark blue marker. Then I added shorter lines in white gel pen.