How to Make a Zine the Old Fashioned Way

In a world of instant gratification, I invite you to slow down and create in a more intentional way by making a zine all by hand.
TIME STAMPS
0:00 Intro
0:11 What are zines?
0:34 Why "the old fashioned" way?
02:39 Zine Example
03:28 Step 1 Gather Supplies
03:59 Step 2 Fold Your Zine
05:55 Step 3 Decorate
08:30 Step 4 Make Copies (optional)
09:04 Step 5 Bind Your Zine
09:55 Step 6 Rejoice!
10:45 Zines are NOT Magazines
14:45 Leave a Comment ☺︎
✷ Zines in the Order Shown in Video ✷
0:15 You Kinda Suck Issue 2 by me!
www.brestinyprintshop.com/
0:20 TV Eyes Zine by Disha from the U.K.
/ t.v.eyes.zine
1:06 Official Mac DeMarco Fan Club Zine by me!
issuu.com/macdemarcofanclub/d...
10:00 Sorry! I Didn't Know You Have Trauma, You Can Keep Being Mean to Me Now by me (which I created in this video and only available in my zine club on Patreon)
✷ Important Links ✷
Free Zine Resources ⬇️
docs.google.com/document/d/11...
Zine Distributors "Distros" ⬇️
guides.loc.gov/zines/zine-dis...
Buy my Zines! ⬇️
brestinyprintshop.bigcartel.com/
Join my Zine Club ⬇️
/ brattyxbre
Follow me on Instagram ⬇️
/ brattyxbre_
Music: LoFi Animal Crossing
Tags: zines, zine, how to make a zine, traditional zines, self publishing, independent publishing, hand made zines, DIY zines, print
#zines #howto #selfpublishing #tutorial #zinemaking

[@brattyxbre]

Check out the description for information on how you can buy my zines or trade with me 💌

[@otterystchocolat9071]

Zines are punk! They're the anti-magazine. Magazines are cool, but zines are cooler, they're supposed to be raw and diy and bad a$$. So yeah. Most times I just use paper and markers or pencil . . . everyone should make a zine, they're just fun and cool.

[@brattyxbre]

LONG LIVE ZINES!!! 🤘🏽

[@khiclark31]

If this video wasn't inspiring, this reply sure is

[@santiagoarrachemontes7237]

Take the MAGA out of the zine!!! 🤟

[@cliftonslocum7423]

I'm so stoked to see young people still making zines! I got into punk culture and zines over 20 years ago (time flies, enjoy every moment!) and it warms my elder millennial heart to see it still going strong! Love the keffiyeh too! 🇵🇸

[@brattyxbre]

That is awesome, thanks for paving the way! Have you ever kept any of your zines from then? I went to a bookstore the other day and the owner gave me a bunch of 90s zines and it was so cool to see 😍 Thank you so much for watching! Long love zines!! And free Palestine!! ✊🏽

[@purplefireweed]

I go way back to Riot Grrrl days when zines were as common as phone booths and I'm here for the new generations to crank out the zines BY HAND. Thank you for this tutorial! Nice keffiyeh. 😊

[@brattyxbre]

Wow that’s incredible! ♥️♥️ Thank you thank you ✊🏽🇵🇸

[@kjmav10135]

Me too! Love❤ RG!

[@TheGardenStorm]

Gosh, I just got reminded of that time my college professor for an ocean environmental class had us do a project based on outreach. I decided to make a zine and I had different sections I could update or fill with different things for future hypothetical issues. I got criticked by the prof cause I guess she didn't really understand what I was going for, and told me if I want it to be more homemade maybe I should use a font like comic sans X| . Ummmmm what? Keep in mind she's like in her 70+ years of age. The zine was about sustainability and I included some of my own art that I made for it as well as some recipes. It also had information but ultimately came back to consuming less and saving more money. Through that class, I thought America needed a mindset change, and I thought the path of least resistance would be something that saves you money AND helps save the planet. Reconnecting with nature is really important. If you want I could try sending you a copy to look over if you're interested. Most of the others in my class didn't understand her criticism either, especially the font comment. I used Courier New which is more of a typewriter font that I like. Just baffles me.

[@brattyxbre]

Wowwww, I’m sad she didn’t recognize the approach you were taking to be mindful of consumption/costs! I’d love to look over it. If you have a PDF version you can send it to my email (listed on about section) or if you have copies and wanna do a trade that’d be cool too 😎

[@cliftonslocum7423]

I will never judge anyone's creative choices, unless they use comic sans for any reason 😂 jkjk

[@leslieortega3585]

hell yea! this is so dope to read a comment like this right now because I'm also doing a zine for my class! haha I'm going for a creative way to connect westernized scientific studies with ancestral knowledge in relation to lichen used as medicine.

[@infiniteinspiration1493]

I would like to trade as well!

[@gdarling7180]

I stopped making zines for years due to computer issues and I’ve found that making them by hand is so much more enjoyable.

[@sallytownsendart]

Gen X here and I grew up with zines being such an integral part of me discovering music and ideas. I've been so disillusioned with the suppression of discussion - ESPECIALLY regarding Palestine - I've decided to make it my focus to get off the apps and back to zines. So I'm currently making my first one!! Your videos are so awesome and I love that zines span all generations and are accessible to everyone ♥️

[@brattyxbre]

I appreciate you, thank you for watching and leaving this comment. You’ve made so many good points and I hope more people are inspired to put the apps down and return to zine making ❤️ Cheers to making your first zine - and happy new year!

[@ezrelab6637]

omg i like just discovered zine making and im obsesseddddd i have yet to make any cuz im scared but i love all of zinetube rn

[@brattyxbre]

I hope this video (and all the content you see on zinetube) will help you feel less scared! Zine making is such a fun experience 🥰

[@cccc7098]

I''ve been scared too, let's just do it

[@brattyxbre]

y'all got this 🫂@@cccc7098

[@EmberinTayson]

Welcome to zines!! If you’re scared you need to watch Bre’s video “Your Zines Suck (and that’s ok)”. I promise you’ll be inspired!

[@lindsey.13]

you’ve really been kicking ass with the content lately! great videos, amazing zines, being active on instagram, re-opening your shop. just know that i see how hard you work and appreciate it!

[@brattyxbre]

Thank you for seeing me 😭❤️❤️

[@mystikmisfit]

every time I watch one of yer videos I get more and more fired up to delve into making bigger sized zines ;--; !! im someone who gets really inspired by visual / step by step explanations / seeing someone else doing something that falls in my interests! SOOOO! thanks for making these video's Bree! you freaking RULE!

[@brattyxbre]

Awwww *hugs* thank you for watching 😍

[@kaylwerx]

The page format when going to print drives me nuts but I started making my zines in procreate a couple weeks ago and I already have 2 ‘full size’ and 2 mini 🤩 zine making is SO FUN

[@airwreckaaaaaaaa]

That stapler situation-genius. Noted. 📝

[@CherryxBlossom21]

Thank you so much. I’m very creative but struggle to commit and complete projects. Inaccessibility to resources and chronic health issues feel like hindrances- all of the steps and tools I often see with these fancy zines… This feels like a binge to really just make something for me that will have value to others, and not bec I spent weeks or did all this fancy stuff but because I made use of what I have and the unique perspective I bring. Even, “Your zine is worthy. Make it messy”. I’m so trial trial and error based so THANK YOU. This all felt like “you have a space here. As a co-creator and human. You have what you need and have fun while sharing this space with others.” Bless you

[@brattyxbre]

Thank you so much for watching and sharing this ❤️❤️❤️ Your zines are more than worthy!! Keep going..

[@SevenUnwokenDreams]

I got into graphic design when I was 14 back in 2006 but I never thought to do a zine digitally. I love doing it the cut and paste way. It's so much fun and I have always loved the look. That look is what got me into zines in the first place!

[@last-lime-soda]

Thank you so much for all your work and inspiration!! I found out what zines actually are through binge watching your channel, and just can’t get enough of it You’re so wholesome and lively, it’s so comforting to put you’re videos on while I try to make my first zines Idk how to properly express it in words, but want to say that you’re amazing From the bottom of my heart - thank you I hope you’re having a great day :D

[@brattyxbre]

Oh thank you so much - I am so touched! Your comment made my day ❤️ Hope you have a happy weekend…and happy new year to you :)

[@lukap7297]

first thing i noticed was the kuffiyah… very very beautiful 🇵🇸❤️🖤🤍💚

[@brattyxbre]

✊🏽🇵🇸♥️

[@stroodledoodles]

This was so helpful omg, I've been debating on making a zine for a while now but the whole process of folding + binding seemed so daunting (the one time I did make one was for an assignment and omg the folding was so stressful lol). You made it so straight forward so thanks a bunch!

[@brattyxbre]

My pleasure! 🤗

[@laurablackhart4091]

YES BISH!!! I'm an older millennial and almost embarrassed to leave this remark, but fuck it. YOU FORKING NAILED IT! This felt like reading all about zines when I first got into them in the mid-90s and I applaud you! Keep up the awesome work and I'll definitely be ordering some zines from you soon!

[@brattyxbre]

THIS MADE MY DAY THANK U☺️♥️♥️

[@lisacrowther3664]

Thank you so much for this, I do not have the digital tools to make a fancy book. You nailed it by keeping it simple. Thank you soooo much. You rock!

[@brattyxbre]

You are so welcome 🤗

[@tomcatwombat6529]

Thank you! So helpful and inspiring.

[@r.l.howard8459]

BRE!! I LOVE YOUR CHANNEL!!! TYSM!!!

[@roser2058]

thank you for everything! you're amazing!

[@linzeehee]

This was so inspiring! So excited to incorporate more zine-making in my life this year 🤩

[@EmilyE3_Creates]

I love this! So fun, creative and inspiring! 😊 thanks for another great video! ❤

[@jawarablake]

This was super helpful. Thank you

[@meganharman4814]

Good resource is the LIBRARY!! The libraries in my town all have copiers that are available for 10 cents per page! It is awesome!!

[@brattyxbre]

WORD!

[@jaydonm4634]

that boundaries playlist is so good omg ur zines are very inspiring!!!

[@brattyxbre]

Thank you so much!! 😍

[@peppermorrison]

Love the headgear xx

[@EmberinTayson]

♥️🖤🤍💚

[@RaspberryDevil]

Loved this, thanks for sharing this with us! I haven't done a digital zine yet because I feel more comfortable creating them with paper and any material I can get. I'd love to try it digitally one day, but for now I just want to get into the habit of making them in my preferred medium.

[@eroane]

❤❤❤❤❤❤❤ TU!!!❤❤❤❤❤❤ I have an idea to make a zine for a friend whom has made her manga for 18 years and want to create for her as a gift to celebrate!! Thanks for the truth behind making a zine❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@brattyxbre]

That’s so sweet of you, your friend will LOVE IT. Nothing beats a handmade gift 🥰

[@neon-kq6wz]

Love this channel :)

[@vicky_thegiantpossum]

Thankyou very much for this video !

[@arkanimation9833]

I think imma start a zine this year! I am inspired! I am just working on a pilot and finding full time work.

[@brattyxbre]

2024 is the year of zines!!! You got this 💪🏽

[@J.Starsatz]

This was perfect timing! I've been wanting to make a zine by hand but was too scared of messing up, but I think I'm gonna try again!

[@brattyxbre]

You can do it 😎💯

[@cuntressmcgee]

thank you so much for sharing

[@brattyxbre]

thank you!! 🤭

[@a-little-sunshine]

This was so helpful oh my goodness. The time lapse was captivating. I've only made three zines so far and they've all been the mini, folded kind. I'm going to try making a stapled one now. Thank you for the inspiration!

[@brattyxbre]

Have fun makin your zine!! 😇♥️

[@craftlit-channel]

You warm my heart. I had my students make these in the 90s and I thought the whole practice was dead. Thank you for the smile and happy memories!

[@brattyxbre]

♥️♥️

[@JackANDJude]

Thank you for this. I started making my first zine last night after watching your vid. Cheers!

[@brattyxbre]

Yay!!!! ⭐️

[@jumies4056]

i was really excited to catch the premiere and then i missed it ahhh 😭 really great video though, i love making zines by hand instead of digitally, it makes the mistakes feel more like part of production and takes off some of the pressure of the blank slate of an empty digital canvas lol. thank you for always providing resources and support for not only people who are new to zines but people like me who struggle with their zines and their art being janky 😅

[@brattyxbre]

I was expecting to see you, you almost never miss a premiere! But to be fair I held it in like, the middle of a workday 😂 We’ll catch ya at the next one! And I agree with everything you said, handmade zines have a special feel. It’s like each copy is a snail mail letter to a friend ❤️

[@bestlaidplans2024]

This sounds like so much fun. I'm going to give it a try. Now I just need a topic

[@kalik6801]

Thanks so much for sharing your process! One thing I struggle with is going from the idea to finished pages. So it’s super helpful to see you making a draft version and using post-its as a way to plan out pages.

[@brattyxbre]

You are so welcome💕

[@millevallees]

This motivates me so much ! I want to "zine" but don't want to spend all my time on screens. It's already my day, it can't be my evening ! thank you very much for your content :)

[@brattyxbre]

It’s my pleasure, happy zine making :)

[@raghadshk3583]

Great video ❤❤ I will be making my own zine soon

[@brattyxbre]

I love to hear it ⭐️✂️

[@pilesofthings]

thanks for your videos, they inspired me to finally try making my own zine (i used to make learning ones for my classroom but never tried to venture out creatively and make one just for me). Spoiler, I loved it and discovered blackout poetry in the process too lol. So yea, thanks 😊

[@brattyxbre]

♥️♥️♥️

[@wovenfairy]

I discovered zines in November last year and soon after I found your channel. I love your videos and have found them to be very inspiring. I have written two mini zines and have nearly finished my third one. Zines have offered me a wonderful way to combine my inspirational poems with my artwork and I love creating them. (I make them like you do in this video! I find it more relaxing and fun making them the old school way then scanning them into my computer.) The zine community seems really welcoming too. I'm autistic and find it hard to connect with new people, but it feels like I might have found my people in the zine world! And a way to express myself too. I'm going to send you a copy of my mini zines (hope that's ok?). I live in New Zealand so I might be a bit too far away to trade, but I would like to send you my zines to say thank you for your help and advice through your channel.

[@brattyxbre]

I’m so glad you enjoy my content and make your own zines! I’d love to trade, I use global international stamps which helps with cost. So once I receive yours, I will send some back if that’s ok! I’m also autistic! I have been able to click with lots of zine makers - the way we communicate with each other is very accommodating and patient. Which is great for nuerospicy folks like us 🫂 Thank you for watching and I’m suuuper excited to see the zines you’ve made :)

[@wovenfairy]

Cool, I'll get them in the post next week. I'll also be using a stamped envelope to send them. Hope you enjoy them 😊

[@SensibleMandi]

You are amazing 😻

[@brattyxbre]

🥰♥️

[@kjmav10135]

I jusrt started my second zine. My other zine is 100% by hand. It’s one huge sheet of 18 x 24 drawing paper cut a certain way and folded into pages. I can unfold the whole thing and all the zine pages wind up on one side of the sheet of paper, so I could print it that way if I had a printer with a big enough scanning bed. Every page is hand illustrated with original drawings and the text is hand written. It’s sort of a “Chapter 1.” My next zine picks up where that one left off. I’m making it the same way. I’m proof that all you need is paper, scissors, and something to write/draw with. For mine, I don’t even need staples. They are so much fun to make!

[@blackfeathercrafts]

90's vibe!!!! LOL. Oh Sweet Summer Child! (I'm being funny). We used comp notebooks for zines back in the early 80's. Class of '86! :) Hello! New sub.

[@brattyxbre]

I’m glad you’re here! ☺️♥️

[@blackfeathercrafts]

@@brattyxbre thank you! :)

[@dudeyourarecool]

currently 2:35 am in nyc and i'm making my 1st zine!!! yeeeee

[@brattyxbre]

😍

[@EmberinTayson]

OMG YOU LEAVE ZINES IN BOOKS, TOO!!!!!!! I feel so SEEN

[@brattyxbre]

I do!! It feels so sneaky it gives me an adrenaline rush 😂

[@castaliafierce8466]

I don't know how many times I saw this video 😅💜

[@moira1734]

Libraries also sometimes have materials that can be used! and printing

[@brattyxbre]

They sure do!! I made a video on that previously and forget to keep mentioning how awesome of a resource the library is 🖤🖤 thank you for reminding me!!

[@castaliafierce8466]

Watching this video is a form of selfcare

[@whatkeepsmeupatnight5636]

don’t know if i’m the only one but this videos does not show up in my subscriptions 🤷🏻‍♀️ thought i’d let you know. can’t wait to watch this later! ps. the keffiyeh looks so good on you 😍✊🏼

[@brattyxbre]

Oh no! I wonder why 🤔 thank you for letting me know though…I hope other people still find it. Have a good weekend! ✊🏽🇵🇸🕊️

[@mystikmisfit]

oh ya shoot, I didn't either!? it came up on my homepage though @@brattyxbre

[@brattyxbre]

I think it’s bc when I set my video to premiere so early in the week, it just doesn’t notify haha my bad!

[@whatkeepsmeupatnight5636]

@@brattyxbre I think so too 🤭 loooooved this video thank you for continuing to inspire us 🙏🏼💐

[@Delalumiere666]

what about having a proper layout to be able to print or copy the pages on the two sides of the paper? that seems to me mostly trickyy

[@brattyxbre]

Tricky and most definitely trial and error. You learn from the mistakes! I have another video somewhere about how I copy, I’ll try to find it and tag you

[@theoldpea1]

hey, just wondering where you got the stickers you used to write "boundaries" with? :D

[@brattyxbre]

I bought them from a store called Five Below 👍🏽

[@theoldpea1]

@@brattyxbre ah cool, thanks! :)

[@neon-kq6wz]

Was wondering if you use regular printer ink when printing your zines or if you use archival? I'm looking to start a shop and start selling some of mine / enter contests soon but I only have regular ink and archival seems a little expensive to me. Thanks a lot if you answer this and I hope you have a nice day :)

[@brattyxbre]

I print on an epson eco tank which is ink pods (so normal ink!) my zines are janky and very cheap to make 🥰 Tbh I don’t even know what archival means in this context hahaha

[@neon-kq6wz]

@@brattyxbre thanks for responding, I'm kind of relieved lol 😂

[@brattyxbre]

You got me on google looking up archival HAHA

[@chloek1182]

what scanner do you have? my scanner always scans colors oddly

[@brattyxbre]

Epson ecotank

[@janey3420]

@brattyxbre do you think you could make a video going in depth about the ethics behind your business? i think many zine makers or just myself tbh, struggle with the guilt of monetizing our art due to wanting it to be as accessible/anticapitalist and authentic as possible. it's all so confusing

[@brattyxbre]

I never brand my business as a “zine business” because I’ve learned to diversify my income in order to allow me to make zines as much as I do and zines are not my best sellers tbh. It may seem that way bc of how much my content is centered around zines lol but I just love talking about zines. Because I know zines aren’t profitable and really shouldn’t be bc of their accessible nature, I primarily make most of my income from selling t-shirts and doing commissions. If people buy my zines, great! But I also sell higher priced items that make the sale that have nothing to do with zines, and those are my best sellers. I had to sell other things and find other streams of income to supplement me being able to make content, so I learned a lot about business. Everyone’s journey on that will be different but I encourage you to learn what other ways you could build you business because making money off zines alone is not really the goal. I talk more about how I make money in this short here ⬇️ kzbin.infoEj3OeOKPAs4?si=cc-P8g5CzL7kb229 I really hope this helps!! ❤️❤️ Trust in your own gut and do what feels right for you. Pushing zines as my main source of income never felt right to me so I had to get creative to make other forms of money - I know you’ll figure it out in a way that best suits you :)

[@brattyxbre]

Also be sure to check out this video where I talk about that guilt part of selling your zines, hopefully it is insightful for you! 5 Lies About Zines Debunked kzbin.info/www/bejne/ppCTqaZ3hKh0kNk

[@xxmidnitecyanidexx8443]

I've been wondering about copyright in zines, specifically with the use of stickers? Has anybody run into copyright issues when using stickers?? Also is the distribution of fanzines allowed?? Thnx

[@brattyxbre]

Nope! Unless you’re claiming the sticker as your own or something you shouldn’t have a problem. You’ll have to look into the copyright stuff though! I just be breaking rules and some of my fanzines have been hit for copyright (Nicolas Cage’s legal team hit me once but later said it was ok!) so it varies. If you care about the law, definitely look into that haha I don’t brush up enough on it tbh 😅 Have fun!!

[@mahnstroffan]

I am a beginner how do I scan and print zines?? Does that cost money??

[@brattyxbre]

You can go to your local library, a FedEx, or wherever they make copies. Or if you have a scanner/copier at home you can do it yourself :) it costs very little money to do it if you print black and white.

[@tudibelle]

Kinda left this video feeling like my zines aren’t zines, cos most of them are full colour and drawn in procreate. They are my main artistic outlet, I know I’m lucky to have an iPad & Apple Pencil and a good quality printer, but they are still my thoughts, put into physical form,printed at home and carefully folded and stapled.

[@brattyxbre]

Your zines are still valid! There are just lots of ways to make them and I see too many people get discouraged thinking they need digital tools. While they are nice, and I definitely use them, not everyone has them and that’s ok 👌🏽

[@brattyxbre]

@14:25 I try to reiterate that all types of zine making is valid ❤

[@tudibelle]

Thank you,I am sorry. I think a lot of where my head has been at is about my worry because I’m tabling at my first zine fair on Saturday, and I’m so nervous about if people will like my stuff. Been having a tough time, and it wasn’t fair of me to be grumpy at you. Thank you for all your great videos. I’ll try to be braver and kinder.

[@brattyxbre]

Oh no you’re okay! I hope my tone didn’t come across as defensive I was really just trying to reassure you ♥️♥️ Nerves are so normal for fests but I know you’ll do great!! Have a good time and trust that your work is valid and will be received well 🙏🏽🙏🏽

[@tudibelle]

No, you just made me worry I'd hurt someone whose work I value. Thank you for your reassurances :-)

[@samiedwashere]

🇵🇸🍉❤️🖤💚🤍🤎

[@scottthomas3792]

The most basic zine I have seen....at my last job, a guy folded a piece of paper in half, wrote and illustrated the zine with a gel pen, and made 10 copies on a copier that can do double sided copies. He distributed them at various Mom and Pop shops around town....very basic, anyone can do...

[@brattyxbre]

Now THAT’S what zine makin’ is all about 😎🫵🏽

[@shannonsartgathering3321]

Do do research for your zines?

[@brattyxbre]

Sometimes! But usually I just make the zines about my lived experiences