Zine Launch - Issue 01 • 2026 | Collected Stamps - Didn’t Look, Just Pointed

Feb 10
2 min read

Zine Series Launch – Collected Stamps

As someone who has has kept sketchbooks, journals, and blogs (and now social media) her whole life, the insistent feeling I’ve had to create zines felt like a call I knew I’d eventually have to answer. I kept going back and forth on ideas and what to share.

There’s a whole culture around zines where the topics can be quite serious and heavy, and I started to feel like maybe my content needed to be more serious, too. I kept building these “rules” for what I wanted to share and ended up feeling locked up with apprehension.

You know what, though? Sometimes the best way to get started is to stop overthinking it. So here we are with a launch issue for Collected Stamps.

Why This Series Exists for Collected Stamps

I began a social media account on Instagram, @collectedstamps, as a way to share mini, curated topical groupings of stamps from the massive stamp collection I built up through a combination of what my Great Aunt Laverne left me when she passed away and what I had been collecting on my own before that.

And wow - I managed to unlock the most fantastic, supportive, and fun community of stamp collectors. I suddenly found so many others who appreciated stamps, too. This zine series is an effort to share that passion even more, with an infusion of my own knack for art.

Download the Zine

👉 Download Launch Issue 01 · 2026 – Didn’t Look, Just Pointed (Printable PDF)

(Free for personal use. Print and share as often as you like.)

This first issue is a fun one. I closed my eyes and took a chance, choosing four random stamps to feature from the topical “Kids, Cartoons & Family.”

Print It, Fold It, Share It

My zines are designed to circulate.

You’re encouraged to:

Print them at home
Fold and cut them into a one-page mini zine
Include them in snail mail, pen pal letters, or stamp swaps
Trade interpretations with friends and fellow collectors
Tag and share on social media

How to Cut & Fold the Zine

Each issue is designed as a single-sheet mini zine.

You’ll need:

One sheet of paper (US Letter or A4)
Scissors

Instructions:

Print the PDF at 100% scale
Fold the paper in half lengthwise, then widthwise
Unfold and cut along the center fold (as marked)
Refold following the arrows to create an 8-page mini zine

The folding diagram shown above is not my original work. I found versions of it across multiple sites and don’t know who originally created it, but I found it helpful—and it’s something I would have drawn myself.

What’s Next

Future issues will continue to explore randomness, materiality, and the small stories hidden inside stamp collections. If you enjoy philately, paper ephemera, zines, or slow, analog projects, more are on the way.

Until next time ✨ - Jenn

Disclaimer: The thoughts shared in this blog are solely my own and do not represent the perspectives of my professional relationships or clientele.