Paper & Ephemera Lab: 2-Day Teen Maker Junk Journaling Workshop

Tangible Creative Engineering & Memory Keeping.

Reclaim the physical and step away from the screens. Dive into the deeply satisfying world of analog media, book arts, and mixed media journaling using a blend of traditional handcrafting and modern maker tools.

A high-skill, low-stress, 2-day workshop series where teens (ages 12+) learn the mechanics of structural book building, memory logging, and upcycling household items into beautiful, tactile keepsakes.

What Your Teen Will Walk Away With

• A custom-built, structural journal shell with hand-sewn paper signatures
• A custom, 3D-printed stencil tool to perfectly align chipboard backings at home
• Self-published mini booklets (zines) and interactive dimensional pop-up pages
• A hand-constructed, reusable sticker book and new additions from the community swap
• Complex pocket inserts and multi-tier folio folders made from everyday household items
• The Post-Workshop Creator Kit: All finished projects, design templates, and foundational bookbinding skills to keep the off-screen making going at home
• An understanding of book structure fundamentals, paper engineering, and analog layout techniques

Choose Your Path: Single-Day Pass or 2-Day Bundle

On Day 1 (Book Arts, Zines & Stencil Tools), students transform chipboard and fabric into hardcover spines, use a custom 3D-printed stencil tool to bind paper inserts, and engineer interactive push-pull slider mechanisms and self-publishing zines. Single Day: $85.

On Day 2 (Ephemera Building & Sticker Soirée), they breathe new life into household items to construct nested folio-fold layouts, build a reusable sticker book from scratch, and participate in a community sticker swap and memory-logging session. Single Day: $85.

Get the 2-Day Full Pass for $145 and save $25!

Want to keep the studio vibes going at home? Grab the VIP Starter Studio Upgrade (+$40) at checkout for a complete toolkit including a storage pouch, heavy-duty glue stick, bone folder, binding awl, stencils, waxed thread, and curated ephemera.

The Details

• Where: Make at Rosie, 8711 Burnet Rd Suite F72, Austin, TX
• When: 1pm–4pm each day (drop-off event)
• Ages: 12 and up
• Capacity: Limited to 12 seats to ensure hands-on guidance with bookbinding tools and templates.
• What to bring: One nut-free snack. All tools, adhesives, fabrics, and curated ephemera are included. (Teens are welcome to bring their personal sticker collections for the Day 2 swap!)

Day-by-Day Schedule Structure

Day 1: Book Arts, Zine Making & Stencil Tools

• Module 1: Upcycled Case-Binding (Core)
  • Transform chipboard panels and fabric into hardcover spines, sewing paper inserts using classic binding needles. Students will use a custom, 3D-printed stencil tool to perfectly align their chipboard backings—and they get to keep the stencil to continue crafting at home!
• Module 2: Interactive Mechanical Pop-Ups
  • Layout custom score-lines on cardstock to engineer push-pull slider mechanisms and multi-pivot folding points.
• Module 3: Intro to Zines & Mixed Media
  • Design, fold, and construct self-published mini booklets (zines) while experimenting with essential mixed media tools.

Day 2: Ephemera Building & Sticker Soirée

• Module 1: Upcycling & Ephemera Building
  • Breathe new life into everyday, household items. Learn the art of memory logging by transforming ordinary papers into interactive components, including a custom multi-tier folder.
• Module 2: The Sticker Soirée Book Build
  • Construct a custom, reusable sticker book and swap stickers with other attendees
• Module 3: The Swap & Memory Logging
  • Put the final touches on your mixed media journal layouts, trade stickers with fellow makers, and dive into analog memory keeping layout techniques.

After you register, you'll receive a link to a short digital consent form. Fill it out and you're confirmed.

Questions? Email hello@makeatrosie.com