naomi loves: 19 ways to make snail-mail (even more) fun

19 ways to make snail-mail (even more) fun

A little while ago I mentioned I was making a zine about things you can do with snail mail. Things that help you connect with other people (both strangers and friends), to play games, practice creativity, and show you care. Every page has a call-to-action, like a website you can visit or key words to Google or an address to write to.

I made 11 copies of the zine, and sent them off to some lovely blog readers. I wanted to make more, I truly did, but I don’t have a double-sided printer and I just couldn’t get the fronts and the backs to line up (do you know what I mean?), so I had to cut and paste all the individual pages and each zine literally took me HOURS to make.

In for a penny in for a pound, so I also hand-made some little envelope homes for the zines, out of last year’s old calendar (it was SUCH a beautiful calendar – I wish I had one like it this year!). I finished the whole thing off with a wax seal, as you do.

If you’d like your own copy of this zine and can help me figure out the photocopying conundrum, let me know. Or maybe I should make it available as an e-book? What do you think? Would you like that? In the meantime, I made this little movie so you can see what’s inside.

Yours truly,
Naomi xo

28 comments

Deb Baker March 19, 2015 8:14AM

These are just absolutely adorable Naomi!! I wonder if you could take them to a printer to run off double-sided – somewhere like Officeworks does that kind of thing at a reasonable price. I’m sure there would be a huge waiting list of people who would love one of these little zines. Me included!! Also, thank you so much for the mention. You are too kind. x

Reply
- Naomi Bulger March 19, 2015 8:31AM
  
  See Deb that is so simple and smart! Thank you! I have to be the least practically-minded person I know. Last night I ran out of matches for the wax seal and spent half an hour searching the house before Mr B suggested the gas stove.
Kate @ One Small Life March 19, 2015 9:00AM

Oh! So beautiful! I would love to have one of these little beauties in my hot little hands, but totally understand the process must be so time consuming. Like Deb, my first thought was Officeworks, their B&W printing is not too exy, in fact probably cheaper than the printer ink you buy for home!

But totally understand if it needs to be a limited run. 11 is a great number!

An Ebook version would be a fabulous alternative. You are clever!

xk

Reply
- Naomi Bulger March 19, 2015 9:23AM
  
  You are right I should get my act together. Part of the problem is now that I’ve done the (arduous) cutting and pasting, the little zine feels so… substantial… and I feel like a photocopied version might not be so nice. But I think I’ll just have to get over that!
Dani @ sand has no home March 19, 2015 9:09AM

Ooh, me me me please! Hehe, if you have any left, but an e book is a wonderful idea. You are such a great snail mail inspiration x

Reply
- Naomi Bulger March 19, 2015 9:23AM
  
  Alright I’ll do it! You’re on the list Dani
Tash March 19, 2015 9:42AM

Lol, my first thought was officeworks as well, or a mate who has a collating photocopier who you could barter with

Reply
- Naomi Bulger March 19, 2015 12:20PM
  
  I know Tash – I have to be the least practical person I know!
pia March 19, 2015 9:58AM

Naomi your zine is so beautiful. I love seeing your snail mail and art being sent through the mail. It’s absolutely gorgeous and it’s one of the reasons I love reading your blog! So clever x

Reply
- Naomi Bulger March 19, 2015 12:20PM
  
  You are so lovely Pia. Thank you! xxx
Emily March 19, 2015 10:14AM

What a lovely zine and great idea to do the you tube video. I’m a new fan of snail mail, so its good to get some more inspiration. Thanks for sharing it Naomi

Reply
- Naomi Bulger March 19, 2015 12:34PM
  
  My pleasure Emily. It was so fun to make!
Zoya March 19, 2015 10:16AM

It looks beautiful and sounds interesting. Lucky people, who’ll get them in the mail. I would love to see an eBook/pdf version of it.

Reply
- Naomi Bulger March 19, 2015 12:35PM
  
  Will definitely see what I can do Zoya. I’m wondering if I can create clickable links from what essentially would be images.
ally March 19, 2015 11:03AM

Its a gorgeous zine – I have big envy!!!
Just found your blog today through Pip’s link on facebook – loving all the ideas here

Reply
- Naomi Bulger March 19, 2015 12:36PM
  
  That’s so lovely of you to say Ally. So glad you enjoy it! x
peppylady (Dora) March 19, 2015 12:10PM

I’m trying to get my letters more eye apealing and interesting with out breaking the bank. Some great ideal

Coffee is on

Reply
- Naomi Bulger March 19, 2015 12:36PM
  
  It’s such a fun hobby isn’t it Dora!
Kristal March 19, 2015 2:10PM

What a creative piece you’ve made, Naomi! I hope we can figure out a way for you to make more of these in a less all-consuming manner, not at all just because I would love to receive one.

A couple of thoughts – do you think it is your printer that is somehow offsetting one side and causing the asymmetry? Or do you think it is possibly something within your margins from the files you are printing?

This link has a few thoughts for people who are printing the entire thing on paper and then folding the paper into a booklet (no cutting/pasting) … the original poster had alignment and symmetry problems as well: http://wemakezines.ning.com/forum/topics/how-to-align-a-double-sided-mini-zine-for-print

Also, with a PDF e-book, you can definitely create links to the different websites, etc. that you mention, which could be fun.

Or you can just invite a lot of readers to meet you somewhere and hand them a stack to assemble. If I lived in your country, I would be glad to help!

Reply
- Naomi Bulger March 20, 2015 10:07AM
  
  Kristal you are so great. I love how practical you are! I fear you have exposed my total ignorance when it comes to printing and alignment etc, but I’m definitely going to read through that link you sent me and see what I can figure out. I love the idea of a zine-making workshop. Maybe I need to organise something fun for a bunch of us to make our own snail mail together one day. What a shame you’re not here in Melbourne!
Sandra F March 19, 2015 5:14PM

Oh they are just beautiful Naomi.
They’d be lovely as online zines or if Officeworks wasn’t too expensive that’d be an option. Just exquisite. x

Reply
- Naomi Bulger March 20, 2015 10:07AM
  
  Thank you lovely Sandra! x
Jennifer March 20, 2015 3:19AM

Yay! Thank you for the lovely show! Definitely please make more and share! I will gladly support the snail mail efforts. Love!

Reply
- Naomi Bulger March 20, 2015 10:07AM
  
  Ha ha hurrah for snail mail! Thanks Jennifer xx
Bek @ Just For Daisy July 1, 2015 8:51PM

I definitely think you should turn this into an ebook! And printing at Officeworks is a good idea – sounds like you’re busy with other things now too! But thanks for directing me here again – loved having another look!

Reply
naomi loves: Making lately September 22, 2015 7:31AM

[…] At last I’ve managed to make up a new batch of “19 ways to make snailmail even more fun” zines, packaged in handmade envelopes and sealed with wax, to post to readers. I’ll […]

Reply
Ana Isabel Morais September 22, 2015 5:33PM

Hello Naomi. What i have to do to win one zine? Greetings from Portugal!

Reply
- Naomi Bulger September 22, 2015 5:36PM
  
  Hi Ana! You don’t have to do anything to win a zine :-). I send these (and other things) to people who subscribe to my blog, to say thank you for reading. If you’re a subscriber (or if you want to be), fill in the form on my “subscribe” page to give me your address, and I’ll post you something nice. xo