Free Printable Insect Ephemera for Junk Journals and Collage Art
Inside This Post
Download two free insect-themed collage sheets with vintage illustrations.
Perfect for junk journals, mixed media art, scrapbooking, and collage projects.
Features authentic entomology-style prints of beetles, grasshoppers, and other insects paired with botanical elements.
Learn creative ways to use insect ephemera in your projects.
Get tips for printing, cutting, and layering these sheets into your journals.
If you love working with vintage ephemera in your junk journals, scrapbooks, or collage art, you’re going to love this freebie! Today I’m sharing two printable collage sheets of vintage insect illustrations that you can download and use in your creative projects. These designs come from antique entomology books, featuring beetles, grasshoppers, and other fascinating insects beautifully paired with botanical elements.
In this post, I’ll show you what’s included in the free downloads, give you some ideas for how to use insect-themed ephemera in your journaling and mixed media work, and provide printing tips so your pages turn out just right.
What’s Included in the Free Insect Ephemera Download
When you download this freebie, you’ll receive two printable collage sheets:
A set of nine rectangular cut-outs – Each one features a different insect illustration. These are perfectly sized for journal cards, focal points in collage spreads, or layering into art journaling pages.
A sheet of six larger illustrations – These include more detailed prints, some with multiple insects and botanical elements. They work beautifully as background pieces or statement images.
Both sheets are saved in high resolution for clear, crisp printing. You can print them on standard copy paper, cardstock, or even specialty papers, depending on your project needs.
Why Use Insect Ephemera in Your Journals?
Adding insect-themed imagery to your creative work can bring a unique and eye-catching twist. Here are some reasons why these insect illustrations make such great ephemera:
Natural History Aesthetic: These vintage images were originally created for scientific study, giving your pages an antique botanical and entomological feel.
Symbolism: Insects can symbolize transformation, renewal, curiosity, and the natural cycles of life, which are meaningful themes for art journaling.
Visual Interest: With their unusual shapes, textures, and colors, insects add intrigue and contrast to floral, botanical, and abstract designs.
Journal Tags
Creative Ways to Use the Printable Insect Collage Sheets
Not sure how to incorporate insect illustrations into your crafting? Here are some ideas to get you started:
1. Junk Journals
Use the images as journal cards tucked into pockets or envelopes.
Layer insect cutouts with florals and text clippings for collage clusters.
Create themed pages that highlight natural history or curiosity cabinets.
2. Art Journals
Add them as focal images on painted or textured backgrounds.
Use insects as symbols of growth and transformation in your journaling prompts.
Combine with handwritten notes, stamps, or watercolor washes for a mixed media look.
3. Scrapbooking
Pair insect illustrations with photos from nature walks, gardens, or hikes.
Use the cut-outs as embellishments alongside pressed flowers.
Create a botanical or naturalist-themed scrapbook spread.
4. Collage Art
Combine insects with vintage handwriting, book pages, and maps for a Victorian-inspired collage.
Use the larger images as background layers for mixed media canvases.
Cut out individual beetles or grasshoppers to add to handmade cards and tags.
5. DIY Stationery and Tags
Print the insect sheets on cardstock to make journaling tags, bookmarks, or labels.
Create unique envelopes or notecards with insect designs.
Use them to decorate gift wrapping or handmade packaging.
Printing and Crafting Tips
To get the best results when using these free printables, keep these tips in mind:
Paper Choice: Print on matte cardstock for sturdy journal cards or use lightweight copy paper for easier layering.
Cutting: Use small detail scissors or a craft knife for precise edges, especially around delicate insect wings.
Aging Techniques: If you want a more vintage look, try distress inks, tea staining, or lightly sanding the edges.
Scaling: Adjust your printer settings to scale the sheets up or down depending on your project size.
Storage: Keep cut-outs in a small envelope or ephemera folder so they’re easy to grab when inspiration strikes.
Inspiration: Nature Journaling with Insect Ephemera
If you’re into nature journaling, these insect illustrations are a perfect addition. Pair them with:
Pressed flowers or leaves collected on walks.
Botanical illustrations (I have free sets of those here on The Art Scavenger, too!).
Handwritten field notes or observations.
This combination creates pages that feel like old naturalist sketchbooks or Victorian specimen collections, perfect for lovers of vintage and natural history aesthetics.
Related Free Printables You Might Like
If you enjoyed these insect ephemera sheets, you may also love:
Vintage Mushroom Illustrations - Pair fungi with insects to give your pages a woodland, earthy feeling, perfect for nature journaling and autumn-themed spreads.
Vintage Flower Ephemera - These vintage flower illustrations are ideal companions to insect imagery, creating natural pairings that echo field notes and botanical journals.
Bird Illustration Printables - Birds and insects naturally complement one another, bringing movement and life to your layouts with a natural history flair.
Common Objects of the Countryside - Earthy objects like leaves, mushrooms, and snails paired with insect illustrations for rustic, cottagecore-style journals and collages.
Final Thoughts
Insect imagery might not be the first thing that comes to mind when you think of junk journaling or collage art, but these vintage entomology illustrations offer a striking and unique aesthetic. Whether you use them as journal cards, collage elements, or focal points in art journaling, they’re a wonderful way to add variety to your projects.
Download the free sheets, experiment with layering, and let your creativity take flight!
2.5 x 4.25 Inch Journal Cards
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:
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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: art journals, 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.
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.
