July 2023 Collaborative zine go-round: Open theme

This is a collaborative swap, based on a single sheet of paper folded into a mini-booklet ("zine"). We will continue new rounds monthly until the booklets are finished and returned to their originating artists.

How to fold a mini-zine https://www.ashleytopacio.com/how-to-fold-a-zine

INSTRUCTIONS: Each round, you will have approximately two weeks to do your page and send the zine on. Try to send as early during the window as you can, since the mail is often very SLOW, and you want your partner to have ample time to work on her zine page before the next round.

NEW PARTICIPANTS (if you participated in the last go-round, jump to RETURNING PARTICIPANTS below) Make a 1-page booklet using either a sheet of letter size 8.5"x11" paper or a piece of A4 paper. See the link above for how to fold a mini-zine. The paper should be a heavy enough weight to stand up to collage medium/glue. Please do not use glossy/slick paper, as most glues don't stick well to glossy paper.

Decorate the front and back covers. (Do not glue the base page together. It must be able to be unfolded. so participants can leave information on the back sides of their decorated pages.)

There will be six interior pages for swappers to decorate. It will be an open theme journal--subsequent participants may take cues from your cover, but they don't have to. Participants can decorate their page how they wish--drawing, stamping, mixed media, paint, glue-book-style, etc. No bulky embellishments please.

In order for the filled booklet to be returned to you, write your Swap-Bot username, e-mail, and mailing address on either the back cover page or the inside cover page (open the booklet up and write on the reverse side of the front or back cover) Beware of inks that may bleed through (or use pencil).

In subsequent rounds, participants will decorate the next available page, then send the booklet on to the next artist in the next round. Eventually, when the booklet is full, it will be returned to its original owner.

Send the booklet to your partner. Please keep it FLAT & LIGHT to save on postage. You can unfold the book down the middle to send a flatter version.

Save the booklet you receive for the next round (August 2023). IMPORTANT: If at some point you cannot continue on to the next go-round, return the booklet to me (contact me for my address) and I'll put it back into circulation.

Please message me if you have any questions. I hope you will join in and enjoy this collaborative process!

RETURNING PARTICIPANTS You will have received a booklet from the last round (June 2023). Decorate a page in the booklet, and send it to your partner for this round (July 2023). When you receive your July booklet, decorate the next available page. Hold on to the booklet for the next round.

Carefully unfold the booklet. Add your swap-bot username and your address on the back of your page. You can add more info if you would like, such as a description of what you created and how. Use pencil, or ink that doesn't bleed through the paper.

If you are decorating the last blank page in the booklet, send it “home” to the original artist in the next round.