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A Mix & Match Zine #2: Rainy Day
Hot on the heels of Mix & Match Zine #1 (Serendipity) comes a second round, which I'm sure will be just as much fun! For those who didn't take part last time, this is how it works:
You will create 2 double-sided zine pages for each of your partners. Because you have 4 partners, you will receive 8 zine pages back (16pp) by the end of the swap, which you can then bind together to make a 20pp zine (including your own pages) to keep for yourself. Because partners are assigned at random, each person will end up with a slightly or completely different combination of pages from every one else, including a random mix of styles, images, projects, opinions - whatever your partners happen to have included in their pages.
The theme for this round is Rainy Day, inspired by the onset of autumn and my memories of 'rainy day activity books' from when I was a child. Did you have those, too? Full of puzzles, projects & activities designed to keep restless kids occupied when the weather prohibited playing outside... You can interpret the rainy day theme however you like, whether you have a rain-soaked story to tell, or artwork depicting rainy weather, or even activities to occupy overgrown kids (us!). Get creative with the theme and share your ideas!
Swap requirements
- 4 partners = 2 double-sided pages each sent to 4 partners, and 8 different double-sided pages received (2 each from 4 partners)
- In addition to your 4 partners, you will also send a copy of your pages to me ( @TangleCrafts ) for inclusion in a complete group Rainy Day Zine. This can be sent by post or email, and set up as a private swap, if you like. I will send you a copy of the finished zine in return. See below for more details.
- Create 2 double-sided quarter-size/A6* zine pages. (It would be easiest to copy your pages for each partner, but if you want to do something different or add personalised artwork for each partner, that's up to you.)
- Pages should relate to the theme of 'Rainy Day', any interpretation. Just images, just text, or a combination of both is fine.
- Individual pages may be printed from your pc, photocopied original work, or individually hand-finished – sender's choice. It must, however, be your own unique work, not cut-and-pasted from another zine, book, blog etc.
- It is up to you whether you make each page complete in itself, if you create 2 'double-page spreads', or if you create one 'feature' that encompasses all 4 pages.
- Leave a margin of approx. 1cm along the side of your pages, so there is enough room for your partner to bind her finished zine together.
- Add your name and/or user name somewhere on each of your pages, so that you will always be credited for your work (for example, if the pages are reproduced in a future group zine swap).
- Use opaque paper or thin cardstock for your pages, so that your work is photocopiable without the reverse showing through. If you only have thinner paper, or want to use it for aesthetic reasons, make 4 single-sided pages, instead of 2 double-sided pages.
Because the standard paper sizes are different in different countries, this means your collated zine will probably have uneven edges. I kinda like that, but if you especially want a uniform finish, simply scan/photocopy the pages you receive and trim them to a uniform size.
The obvious bit
Rating requirement for this swap is fixed at 4.9 (as per group membership) but I will also check individual profiles before assigning partners. Any overdue swaps, persistent late-sending, recent/unexplained low ratings etc will be taken into consideration, so please contact me before sign-up date, if there is any issue you feel may count against you but can be adequately explained.
A Mix & Match Rainy Day Super-Zine
One of the requirements of this swap is to send copies of your zine pages to the host (me) in addition to your swap partners. I will be collating the pages from all participants to create a super-zine, featuring all of the mix-and match pages, and everybody who sends me copies of their pages (by email or post) will receive a copy of the super-zine in return from me.
Why? Because it's fun! And the super-zine will be offered as a prize in a future group forum game, to help entice other group members to join future Mix & Match swaps. :)
Answers to some questions that were raised re. M&M #1:
"Could you please give me actual inch measurements for the pages?"
"4" x 6" would be a rough approximation of the right size. Just divide a letter-size or A4 sheet of paper into quarters, and that'll be close enough. :-) 4.25x5.5 is the exact measurement for a quarter (letter-)size zine page. A quarter of A4 is approx. 4.1" x 5.8"." "For this swap I will take a 'letter' size (that's US american for A4) sheet of thin cardstock and cut it into fourths. Then I will decorate the front and back of two of those fourths according to the theme 'serendipity.' Then I will make 4 double-sided copies (do the copies need to be on cardstock?) for my partners.
Alternatively, I could cut two 'letter' size sheets of cardstock into fourths and decorate all eight pieces front and back, then send two to each of my partners."
"If you send 2 double-sided fourths (to each partner), they should be printed on/made of thick paper or thin cardstock.
If you send 4 single-sided fourths (to each partner) the thickness of the paper is not so important.
There's a possibility the pages you send will be photocopied at a later date, so the idea is just to prevent the print/images on the reverse side showing through. (So if you send single-sided pages that isn't an issue!)" "These are color copies, yes? Also is original photography welcome?"
"If you have worked in colour, yes, please copy in colour; but if you've worked in black & white, I guess it doesn't matter! As far as original photography goes: make your zine pages "using whatever medium, style etc you like" - so yes, photography is welcome. :)" Some helpful tips from @pengrafyx :
"In the past I've made copy-friendly 1/4-size zine pages by making 2 pages side by side on a half page, then folding them back to back after copying. The two outside edges are then on the binding side, and the folded edge is in the middle where you turn the page. The advantage is that if you want to copy them, you take out the binding and unfold them flat onto the copier, and the text doesn't show through when copying because there's nothing on the back of the page. It also eliminates all the hassle of trying to line up the edges, etc. since once they're copied, you trim them to half page size and fold and they match perfectly. Another advantage is that you can design your four pages on a single letter-size sheet (2 on the top half, 2 on the bottom half), and then make single-sided copies, which is way easier than trying to line up stuff back to back with 2-sided copies. After copying, you cut the page in half (top half + bottom half), fold the halves to quarter-size and you're done. :)"
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