If you’re looking for something fun to read and want to support small creators, pick up some zines! They’re DIY magazines that can be about anything at all, from hobbies and crafts to travel and life or illustrations and art. It’s super easy to make a zine yourself too – and a great activity to keep yourself, or kids, entertained. I’ve got a little giveaway at the end to help you out with that but first some picks from all the amazing zines on Etsy.
Hyrule: Taste of the Wild has 12 recipes illustrated by a group of artists along with in-world interviews and ads. You can buy a print copy from milkbun (USA) or a digital download from Shattered Earth.
peppermintpopuk has a set of mini illustrated zines with amazing titles like Potatoes In Hats, A Poem About Pies and Why Seagulls Are The Worst. They’re digital files so you can print them yourself to read at home.
I’m always on the hunt for interesting Japan zines and like the look of POST, a love letter to Japan’s postal system by girlstampclub (Australia). It’s full of photos of post boxes, which have some really clever and cool designs.
I love an illustrated travel zine and have a Beijing travelogue by azreenChan (Malaysia) on my wishlist. Azreen also has a Doodle Journal Mini Guide with ideas and tips to help you make your own.
Or get creative with Draw Everyday: A Do It Yourself Daily Drawing Challenge Zine by Chrissy Curtin (Ireland). It’s filled with drawing activities, challenges, tips, prompts and illustrations.
SCK’s own MissMuffcake (USA) has a new zine out. Foraged From The Pantry has over 15 easy vegan recipes that you can make with your lockdown supplies. Pricing is on a sliding scale so pay what you can.
Giveaway – Let’s Make Zines!
I also have a ton of print and digital zines in my Asking For Trouble shop (UK) including Japan guides, comics and personal life stuff, plus a Let’s Make Zines! guide that has everything you need to make your own zine. I’ll send a free digital copy to the first 5 people to leave a comment below on this blog post – just tell me, what would you make a zine about?
PLEASE READ BEFORE ENTERING:
- Please provide a working email address so I can send a download code.
- If you are under 16, please check with a parent or guardian before entering.
- This giveaway is open worldwide.
- Closes after the first 5 people, though I may send more if I’m feeling generous!
- By entering this giveaway, you are agreeing to the Terms and Conditions and our Privacy Policy.
Marceline is the co-founder and editor of Super Cute Kawaii and the author of The Super Cute Book of Kawaii. She lives by the seaside in Scotland in a flat full of kawaii, creating cute character goods as Asking For Trouble, working on endless craft projects and playing Nintendo.
9 Comments
Kona
April 9, 2020 at 2:07 pmI’d make a zine about baking! Or the frustration of trying to be creative and not knowing where to start.
Suzanne
April 9, 2020 at 2:56 pmI’ve got a few zines and I’ve wanted to try making them for about a year! I’d love to do one as a mini bestiary of creatures I’ve made up over the years. Or a series of them with life advice from different animals.
Thanks so much for the website. I read it every day, and it’s always a little bright spot for me. Especially right now.
Marceline
April 10, 2020 at 8:56 amThank you! That’s so nice to hear :)
Bekki
April 9, 2020 at 7:14 pmI’ve recently adopted a couple of rats from the rspca so a day in the life of a rat would make a fun zine
Molly Bolder
April 9, 2020 at 10:26 pmAbout my experiences with trying to be an illustator and crafter with anxiety and depression. It’d be cute though, honest! XD
Jen
April 9, 2020 at 11:37 pmI’d probably make a zine about Dinosaurs and Prehistoric Life.
Marceline
April 10, 2020 at 8:58 amEveryone above has been emailed a download link – if you don’t see the email, check your spam folder! I may still send some more free copies so feel free to add a comment below.
debbie
August 5, 2020 at 8:04 pmi would make one about food, food that has size insurcurities just like humans!, in a “handle the subject delicately” kinda way with cute kawaai food to spread body positivity! :)
Joy
February 2, 2021 at 9:21 amI want to put my daughter’s little penguin cartoons into a zine for her birthday. She drew them in margins, on church bulletins, on envelope corners…. I saved them over the years and she doesn’t know I did that!