Free Decorative Pattern Printables for Junk Journals and Mixed Media Collage
Free Decorative Elements Collage Sheets: Vibrant Patterns for Maximalist Journals
What's Inside:
Download free printable collage sheets filled with vivid Art Deco–inspired patterns and ornamental motifs.
Perfect for maximalist junk journaling, loud layering, and bold mixed media creations.
Use these pattern-packed rectangles to energize your pages with vintage rhythm and movement.
If you love color, pattern, and rhythm on your journal pages, this set of free printable decorative element collage sheets is for you. This collection of designs pulled from a vintage book on decoration and ornament is all about making your art journal sing with visual texture. Whether you lean toward maximalist junk journaling or just want to add a splash of curated chaos to your next mixed media art journal project, these rectangles and cut-apart designs are ready to inspire.
Each printable features bold, richly inked motifs: swooping lines, stylized florals, and geometric flourishes in saturated tones of crimson, chartreuse, coral, and indigo. Think Art Deco meets Expressionist wallpaper. Some of the rectangles feel like miniature tapestries, while others look like color-blocked botanical sketches dancing across the page.
About the Free Printable Decorative Collage Sheets
There are four free printables in this collection:
1x2-Inch Rectangles: These small, narrow pieces are perfect for adding accents to clusters, borders, or tags. Try layering them behind washi tape, cutting them into tabs, or using them as vertical strips in a flip-out.
2x3-Inch Rectangles: These larger cards let the patterns shine. Use them as journaling card backings, tuck spots, or statement pieces in your collage layers.
2-Inch Circles: These round elements add movement and contrast to your pages. Great for sealing envelopes, creating layered embellishments, or softening layouts with lots of straight lines.
2.5x4.25-Inch Rectangles: These are the largest in the set and perfect for statement layers, tip-ins, or creating bold journaling cards. Their generous size makes them excellent for anchoring clusters or building up a page layout around them.
Each design has been carefully restored from its original form and laid out for easy printing. The colors are vivid and intentionally off-register in places to maintain their vintage charm. Print on matte paper for easy gluing or on cardstock for a sturdier insert.
2” x 3” Rectangles
Why Use Patterned Elements in Your Journals?
Vintage decorative patterns offer more than just eye candy. These motifs were originally designed for interior spaces to add beauty, structure, and repetition to everyday life. When used in art journals, they create that same sense of balance and intrigue. Even a small strip of these designs can energize a page, acting as a visual anchor that ties together bolder collage elements or layered textures.
Because these patterns come from an authentic early 20th-century design book, there's a timeless quality in their composition. Their boldness isn’t trendy. It’s enduring. Use them to echo the past while creating something entirely new.
How to Use These Patterned Pieces Creatively
Here are a few ideas for bringing these decorative designs into your next journal spread:
Color Anchors: Use a patterned rectangle to set the color palette for an entire page or spread. Layer other papers and ephemera to match the hues in the design.
Miniature Backgrounds: Cut them down even further to create mini backdrops for labels, sentiments, or focal points.
Framing Tools: Use them to frame a photo, drawing, or handwritten quote. The strong shapes and borders naturally draw the eye inward.
Tag Reinforcements: Punch a hole and back your tags with these bold designs for contrast and strength.
1” x 2” Dominoes
Pair These with Other Free Printables
Looking for more ways to mix and match? These decorative rectangles work beautifully with other free printables on The Art Scavenger, such as:
Mixing graphic patterns with vintage imagery is a fantastic way to create contrast and keep your journal spreads dynamic and engaging.
2” Circles
Download and Print
All of the sheets are available as high-resolution JPGs or PDFs. Click the download links below each preview image to open the full-sized files.
Whether you’re crafting, collaging, scrapbooking, or journaling, these decorative pattern pieces will bring vivid energy to your creative process. Let the shapes guide your layout. Let the color do the talking. And most of all—have fun with it.
Love These Printables? Support The Art Scavenger!
I love sharing free vintage printables, and if you enjoy them, there are easy ways to support my work so I can continue creating and offering more free designs:
2.5” x 4.25” Rectangles
You may also enjoy these free collage sheets.
Terms of use:
Free to use for personal or commercial projects. You may print the collage sheets as many times as you wish for your personal crafts or in your projects to sell, including: scrapbooks, junk journals, collage art, etc. You may not redistribute or sell the collage sheets “as is" in either print or digital form.
If you wish to share the files on your own website, please do not make the files available for download directly from your site. Instead, include an image with a link back to this site. Pinning is always welcome and appreciated!
To the best of my knowledge, these are all royalty free images that are in the Public Domain in the US. However, you should always do your own research if you plan to use them commercially.
