I Made a Printable Present for YOU!
It's a week in the life ZINE
I’m noticing a theme. I like writing small things.
Haiku. And lately, whatever I can fit into a tiny ZINE (also known as a folded booklet made from a single piece of 81/2 by 11 paper).
I’ve got two drafts of BIG books sitting in the darkness of my closet, but what I seem to share and turn to most often are the small, daily doses of writing that sustain my creative impulses and inspiration. Maybe all of my small bits of writing will someday coalesce into something BIG, but for now, small seems just right.
With that in mind, I made a ZINE which I used to record a week from my life—just seven days out of 365, or one slice of the life I’m currently living.
This isn’t a new idea.
During the pandemic, I used Amy Krouse Rosenthal’s beautiful book to complete my first week in the life project. Since I had lots of time on my hands and it was clear that we were in the midst of a seminal season, I wanted to do some personal documentation. I wrote about the five surprises, favorites, and lessons from experience HERE.
This is what Amy’s book looks like.
I used her book, but wanted to personalize it by adding my own cover art with good ole glue and tape.
I still have another blank copy waiting for my words, but there are lots of pages for each day, and right now I need something that takes less time. Maybe I’ll open it the week my daughter heads off to college in August. Maybe I’ll wait for another seminal moment that we are collectively experiencing.
Similarly, and if you’re into really fancy journals and stickers and fonts and everything modern scrapbooking, Ali Edwards has an amazing week in the life project. I love her, but it’s just not me right now. I include Amy and Ali in this post because their approaches might suit YOU right now. We’re all in different seasons and I want to honor that.
But, here’s what’s working for me and you can get everything you need (AND MORE) by clicking HERE!
It’s one sheet of folded paper (with an added cover) that makes a cute 8-page booklet. I provide the prompts and you fill in the rest. It fits in your pocket or purse. Keep a pen nearby and you’re ready to go!
I added photos using one of my mini printers.1 Of course, you can draw, paint, glue, or collage any image you want.
Each day of the week has a set of prompts. For example, here are the Tuesday and Wednesday prompts which can be easily answered with lists.
Tuesday is all about what’s currently happening in your life: What are you currently reading, watching, listening, wanting, letting go, and spending time doing?
Wednesday is all about experiencing the day with your senses: What are you smelling, hearing, tasting, touching, and seeing? What emotions are you feeling? What are words you’ve overheard?
For those of you who don’t love prompts, I’ve made two other versions that might suit you. One with more open-ended prompts, and one with the option to simply free write for two minutes each day.
Now that my booklet is finished, she lives with my growing collection of zines in a pretty teacup on top of a stack of books. I’m in love.
Let me know if you do this project and which version you prefer. I’d love to know more about a week in YOUR life.
Happy week. Happy ZINES.
Always writing,
P.S. A lot of us are in summer planning mode so I figured I’d let you know what’s coming in the next few weeks.
May 30: What I’m Currently Reading
June 6: What’s at the Top of MY Summer Reading List
June 13: Summer 1-Hour Retreat
June 20: Travel Zine that’s perfect for every vacation you take this summer!
June 27: Equation for a Happy Creative Summer. Here’s mine from last year! I can’t wait to know yours!
I have two mini printers. Both use apps you can download to your phone. The set up is super easy. Both use refillable stickers.
Canon Ivy 2 Mini Photo Printer produces stickers that look like actual color photos.
Printpods Mini Printer is good for printing text, but only prints black and white. The Printpod prints photos, but they are black and white and of marginal quality.
I like the Canon for photos. The Printpod for text or drawings.
The Canon stickers feel like glossy photographs that are printed on tiny, single sticker sheets. The Printpod image stickers feel like a thick receipt that’s torn off a roll.
The Canon is a lot more expensive.
Either work for my zines and I love having both.