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What are zines?: Making zines

A guide to creating your own zines

There's no right or wrong way to create a zine, but here are a few tips and tricks for getting started!

What you need for zine making

What you need to create a zine:

  • Paper (any type of paper works...printer paper, loose leaf, construction paper, etc.)

  • Writing/drawing utensils, such as pens, pencils, crayons, markers

  • A way to combine your pages and hold them together---this could be done by simply folding the paper, stapling, using a rubber band, etc. 

  • Other materials, if you'd like---this could be anything but ideas include images, magazine cuttings, found objects (leaves, receipts, old menus), stickers 

  • Photocopier, printer, or scanner so you can reproduce & share your zine---you can also scan your zine & share it digitally

  • Zines can also be made fully online if you'd like! 

The library has crafting supplies, such as scissors and markers, a long arm stapler, computers & a scanner, and collage materials to help you in your zine creation! 

Zine Making Inspiration

Zine Making Prompts

  • Explore what home means to you 
  • Who is someone you look up to?
  • What's a cause you're passionate about?
  • What does Marist mean to you? 
  • Explore your favorite color
  • Write about a singer who brings you joy 
  • What's your favorite food and why?
  • Write a love letter to yourself 
  • Interview someone different from yourself 
  • Go somewhere new & write about it 
  • Take pictures of things that scare you 
  • What's something you learned as a child you're trying to unlearn? 
  • Explore a piece of your identity 
  • What would you say to the future generation? 
  • What's the best trip you've ever taken? 
  • Explore heartbreak
  • What does joy feel like to you? 
  • Write self-care tips for hard days 
  • Collage with items you collect over the period of 24 hours 

Folding a zine

Make a zine from a single piece of paper! This simple folding guide was created by Social Studio. 

Make a Zine with Canva

Canva is a great and simple way to make a zine. We have an example with directions and a blank zine template. You cannot edit these files directly. To use these templates - log in to Canva, go to file, and select "make a copy". Have fun zine making! 

How to make a one page zine

Making a digital zine in Canva

Contact

James A. Cannavino Library

3399 North Road
Poughkeepsie, NY 12601
(845) 575-3106

In the Library