Free Vintage Label Printables for Junk Journals, Scrapbooks & Craft Projects
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Inside This Post
Download five free printable vintage label collage sheets from an original 1915 design manual.
Perfect for junk journals, mixed media, scrapbooks, planners, packaging, and handmade tags.
Includes blank labels with beautifully ornate borders designed for professional sign-painters.
Ready to print, cut, paste, stamp, write on, or digitally layer.
Always free with no sign-ups or memberships required.
Free Printable Vintage Labels for Junk Journals, Gifts, and Mixed Media Art
If you love ornate borders, fancy frames, and vintage design aesthetics, you’re going to adore today’s free printable set. I’m giving away five full collage sheets of beautifully detailed blank vintage labels, taken directly from a 1915 professional sign-painter’s reference book designed for artists, decorators, and advertising illustrators of the early 20th century.
These labels weren’t originally meant for crafting. They were created as professional ornamental reference designs for people painting shop cards, display signs, decorated packaging, posters, and advertising panels. That means every element was drafted with precision and intention, right down to the smallest dot, swirl, or curl.
Fast-forward over a century, and these illustrations now make perfect additions to junk journals, art journals, collage artwork, bullet journals, scrapbooks, zines, stationery, pen pal mail, and printable gift tags. They’re blank and totally un-themed, so you get complete creative freedom over how you use them.
Today, all five sheets are available for you to download, print, and enjoy!
About These Free Printable Label Sheets
There is a set of five full-size printable collage sheets available for download below featuring blank rectangular label frames in a variety of different border styles from simple beaded edges to elaborate ribbon flourishes and botanical-inspired motifs.
Each sheet:
Is sized for standard U.S. letter paper (8.5" x 11")
Prints well on regular paper, cardstock, or sticker paper
Contains multiple uniquely illustrated labels
Includes high-resolution images suitable for printing
Works for both cut-and-paste crafts and digital collage
The labels are completely blank inside, which means you can customize them with:
Hand lettering
Rubber stamps
Dates or page titles
Quotes or affirmations
Mini photos
Layered collage elements
Fabric scraps or lace inserts
Ink or watercolor washes
Download the Free Printable Label Sheets
Simply select the file format (JPG or PDF) you would like below each preview image, download, save, and print as many times as you'd like. These files are free with no email or login required.
Creative Ways to Use These Blank Vintage Labels
If you want ideas, here are some favorite ways mixed-media makers use labels like these:
Junk Journaling
Write page headings or themes
Add faux “catalog card” titles
Create tuck-spot pockets
Use as tabs on page edges
Layer under dried flowers, lace, or wax seals
Art & Mixed Media Journals
Make intention or mantra tiles
Use as collage focal points
Add to textured backgrounds
Create layered antique clusters
Scrapbooking & Memory Keeping
Use as photo captions
Add dates, locations, or initials
Turn them into “specimen” tags
Happy Mail & Pen Pal Swaps
Use as label stickers
Add them as tuck-ins or extras
Write tiny messages or quotes
Gift & Packaging Arts
Turn into gift tags
Add to treat boxes
Tie with twine or satin ribbon
Digital Creative Projects
Digital scrapbooking
Planner graphics
Printable stationery
Because there is no text printed inside the borders, these sheets are remarkably adaptable across all kinds of styles such as Victorian, botanical cottagecore, antique apothecary, grimoire/gothic, shabby chic, steampunk, farmhouse, Edwardian romance, and more.
A Little Historical Backstory
The artwork on these sheets was originally published in 1915 in a practical manual teaching artists how to decorate commercial signwork using freehand scrolls, flourishes, and ornamental borders inspired by late-Victorian and Edwardian design.
This was an era before computer fonts, stencils, or mass-produced sticker labels. If a business wanted a sign or decorative card, an artist had to design and paint everything by hand, using scrollwork, leafwork, and repeat patterns as embellishment.
These label designs represent:
Early advertising aesthetics
Art Nouveau and late Victorian influences
Hand-drawn professional art
To us today, they are vintage ephemera gold.
Tips
For best results:
Use cardstock if you want durability.
Use lightweight paper for layering in collages.
Use cream, buff, linen, or textured paper for a more authentic vintage appearance.
For sticker versions, print on matte sticker sheets.
Want them to look authentically aged?
Brush lightly with coffee or tea stain
Add distress ink or smudged charcoal
Spritz with walnut ink
Burn or roughen just the edges, not the interior writing space.
How These Labels Pair With Other Ephemera
Because they are neutral, they work beautifully with:
Antique maps and diagrams
Book text scraps
Ledger and receipt paper
Postal ephemera
Vintage alphabet or schoolbook pages
Other Free Printables You Might Like
Here are additional printables to pair with the labels:
Free Photo Printables - Elegant old-world photos that pair perfectly with ornate framed labels.
Free Antique Sewing Trade Ephemera Sheets - Historical illustrations that complement the handmade advertising era.
Free Victorian Apothecary Labels & Ephemera - Ideal for anyone creating potion-themed, magical, or historical pages.
Free Vintage French Postcard Printables - Great for layering behind labels for an authentic paper-stack aesthetic.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Can I use these labels in items I plan to sell?
You’re welcome to use these labels in completed handmade projects to sell (such as journals, cards, or tags), but please do not resell, repackage, or distribute the original digital files either individually or as part of another download collection. Also, please do not sell or redistribute printouts of the sheets "as-is."
What type of paper prints best?
These look great on:
Regular printer paper for light layering
Matte presentation paper for crisp detail
Cardstock, if using as tags
Sticker paper for labels
Printing on cream or parchment-style paper will enhance the authentic vintage appearance.
Can I resize the labels?
Yes — you can reduce them using your printer settings or a digital editing program.
Can I add color?
Absolutely! These are designed for personal customization. Try:
Watercolor washes (lightly)
Colored pencils
Distress inks
Alcohol markers
Tea or coffee staining
Tip: If coloring heavily, print on cardstock to prevent warping.
Do I need special software?
Nope! These files are standard image/PDF formats and will open on almost any computer, tablet, or phone.
Can I share the files with friends?
Please direct friends to this blog post rather than sending the files. Sharing the link helps support more free printable releases. Also, please do not resell the original files or upload the sheets to image-sharing websites or AI training platforms.
How do I make them look more authentically aged?
Try:
Inked edges
Coffee staining
Crinkling and flattening
Wax seal accents
Layering with fabric or tissue paper
For an extra antique effect, dab on a small amount of brown watercolor with a dry brush.
Final Thoughts
There’s something really special about working with artwork that was created long before home printers or digital clip art ever existed. These label frames were once part of a professional artist’s toolkit used to decorate shop signs, packaging displays, and handcrafted advertising pieces in an era when every flourish was drawn with intention. By giving them new life in your journals and creative projects today, you’re continuing their story in a beautifully personal way.
Whether you use them for titles, tags, affirmations, or little hidden messages, I hope they inspire you to slow down, savor the process, and enjoy the tactile magic of paper art.
Happy making, and may your next project be full of charm, texture, and a little touch of antique whimsy.
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:
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: 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.
