Have you ever stumbled across a crafting technique so delightfully simple yet utterly charming that you can't believe you hadn't discovered it sooner? That's exactly what happened when I took my daughter to our local library's craft day.
This is why librarians are the best!
Our local library has regular family craft days with a selection of various crafts to try. Among the activities offered recently was a zine-making station featuring a binding technique I'd never encountered before. As someone who loves exploring different bookbinding methods, I was immediately intrigued by this rustic, nature-inspired approach.
The finished product was not only functional but had this wonderful organic quality that made each zine feel like a tiny treasure. I knew immediately I wanted to share this discovery with my creative community!
What You'll Need
The beauty of this binding style lies in its simplicity. You'll need just three basic items:
- Paper: Regular printer paper works perfectly. The library used plain white paper cut in half with cardstock covers, but you could easily use colored paper, art paper (like watercolor paper), or cardstock pages as well.
- Rubber band: A standard office rubber band is perfect.
- Twig: Find a small, straight twig about the width of your paper. Alternatively, a pencil, pen, paintbrush, or any straight rigid object works just as well (more on substitutions later).
- Hole puncher or some other means to punch holes into a small stack of paper
Step-by-Step Instructions
1. Prepare Your Paper
Begin by folding your paper in half. This will create the basic structure of your zine.
The zine will be half the size of your original paper size, so feel free to cut down your paper to any size you like before folding.
2. Punch Your Holes
Once your paper is folded, you'll need to punch two holes:
- One near the top edge of the folded paper
- One near the bottom edge
The holes should be positioned about half an inch from the top and bottom edges and in from the folded edge. You can use a hole punch, an awl, or even carefully poke through with scissors.
3. Thread the Rubber Band
Take your rubber band and thread one end through the top hole, pulling it from the back of the zine to the front.
4. Position the Twig
Place your twig on the outside of the zine, parallel to the fold. Loop the rubber band around one end of the twig to secure it.
5. Complete the Binding
Pull the rubber band tight across the back of the zine, and thread it through the bottom hole, again pulling from back to front. Loop the rubber band around the bottom end of the twig.
The Finished Product
Voilà! You now have a charming little zine with a rustic binding. The beauty of this method is that you can remove the twig at any time, allowing the zine to open flat, making it perfect for both writing and drawing.
Alternative Binding Materials
While I love the natural aesthetic of the twig, you can easily substitute it with:
- Pencils or pens: Perfect if you want your binding element to be functional as well
- Paintbrushes: For an art-themed zine
- Chopsticks: For a clean, minimalist look
- Colored wooden dowels: If you want to add a pop of color
Decorative Options
The simple binding style provides an excellent foundation for other embellishments:
• Use a greeting card as the cover: An A2 sized greeting card is exactly the same size as half a piece of 8.5" x 11" printer paper, making it perfect for zine covers! For this example, I used my Floating Ghostie greeting card which adds the perfect spooky-cute touch.
• Add stickers for instant artwork: No time to draw? Decorate your zine cover with stickers! This mini journal features my Catterfly sticker from my shop, which adds whimsical charm without any artistic skills required.
• Thread charms through the rubber band: Before securing the rubber band to the twig, thread a small charm through the rubber band for extra personality. I've used a small cat charm here that pairs perfectly with my cat-themed illustrations.
Why I Love This Technique
What makes this binding method so special is its accessibility. It requires no special tools, uses materials that are either free (twigs from nature) or extremely inexpensive, and can be completed in minutes.
It's also wonderfully sustainable—especially if you use recycled paper, reused rubber bands (like the ones on produce at the grocery store), and foraged twigs. The finished zines have this beautiful handmade quality that mass-produced notebooks simply can't match.
Perfect For All Ages
My daughter was able to complete her own twig-bound zine with minimal assistance, which speaks to how kid-friendly this craft is. It would make a wonderful activity for nature walks with kids! Just collect twigs while you're out and about, then make zines about what you observed.
Have You Tried It?
Have you ever made a zine with this binding technique? Or do you have other favorite simple bookbinding methods? I'd love to hear about your experiences in the comments below!
And if you make your own twig-bound zine, please tag me on Instagram or TikTok @beeskneesindustries so I can see your creative variations!
Make It Special with These Supplies
Complete your zine project with these perfect companions:
- Floating Ghostie greeting card ($6) - Ideal for zine covers
- Catterfly sticker ($5) - For instant decoration
- Mushroom Love bookmark ($4) - the perfect accessory to hold your place in your nature-inspired zine
- Browse all greeting cards, stickers, and bookmarks for more inspiration
Want more creative ideas and behind-the-scenes peeks at my illustration process? Sign up for my newsletter here for monthly inspiration delivered straight to your inbox!