Free Printable Lichen Dye Journal Cards for Art Journals and Mixed Media
Inside This Post
Features one sheet of 2" x 3" printable journal cards from early 19th-century dye studies
Each card pairs a lichen illustration with swatches of its natural dye colors
Perfect for junk journaling, color-themed spreads, and mixed media palettes
Taken from Svenska Lafvarnas Färghistoria (The Color History of Swedish Lichens), early 1800s
Long before synthetic pigments filled art supply shops, artists and naturalists turned to the landscape for color. From the bark of trees and the petals of flowers to the humble lichen, nature offered a spectrum of hues that could be coaxed from the most unexpected sources.
The prints in this collection come from Svenska Lafvarnas Färghistoria — The Color History of Swedish Lichens — published in the early 1800s. This beautifully detailed scientific study documented how lichens could produce brilliant dyes in shades ranging from ochre and crimson to soft mossy greens.
More than two centuries later, these plates still feel strikingly modern. Their simple composition of an image of the lichen paired with hand-colored dye swatches makes them a perfect bridge between science and art, data and design. Whether you’re drawn to them for their history, their subtle palette, or their elegant minimalism, these illustrations are ready to inspire your next creative project.
About the Free Printable
This free printable includes:
One sheet of 2” x 3” journal cards featuring illustrated lichens and their corresponding natural dye swatches
Images taken from Svenska Lafvarnas Färghistoria (early 19th century)
High-resolution JPG or PDF format for easy home printing and clear image reproduction
Each card highlights a different species of lichen, accompanied by a row of color samples, delicate watercolor washes showing the range of pigments that could be extracted from the plant. The result is a miniature study in color theory, history, and craftsmanship all at once.
These cards combine well with other naturalist illustrations or minimalist elements in collage work. They’re versatile and compact, fitting easily into pockets, envelopes, or layered journal spreads.
How to Use This Printable
These lichen dye cards invite a slower, more observational kind of creativity. One that celebrates natural materials, process, and color. Here are a few ideas to spark inspiration:
Junk journaling: Use the cards as focal pieces in nature-themed spreads. Pair them with handwritten notes, pressed flowers, or vintage handwriting ephemera to create pages that feel like old field notebooks.
Mixed media art: Layer the cards beneath transparent papers, paint washes, or stitching to explore tone and texture. Their color swatches naturally complement botanical imagery, insects, or anatomical studies.
Color reference decks: Print on cardstock and punch a hole in one corner to bind the cards into a small “natural color study” deck for future art projects.
Art journaling prompts: Treat each color swatch as inspiration for a spread. For example, use the ochre tones of one card to build a page around warmth and light, or the mossy greens to evoke quiet, woodland calm.
Collage & composition exercises: Mix the cards with fabric scraps or painted backgrounds to practice combining colors from nature rather than pigments from a tube.
The small scale of the cards makes them perfect for layering - subtle, scientific, and endlessly adaptable.
2” x 3” Rectangles
Other Free Printables You Might Like
Free Mushroom Printables — Mushroom illustrations perfect for pairing with the dye theme for earthy, organic spreads.
Free Fern Ephemera Sheets — Delicate Victorian-era fern prints that blend beautifully with any nature-inspired art journal pages.
Free Fish of Germany Printables — 18th-century illustrations of freshwater fish, great for nature study, journaling, or collage layering.
Free Floral Printables — Botanical prints featuring a mix of flower species, ideal for building colorful or seasonal journal spreads.
FAQ
Can I print these on textured paper?
Yes. Printing on watercolor or lightly textured cardstock enhances the authentic look of vintage naturalist illustrations.
Can I use these in products for sale?
Yes, you can incorporate them into handmade or digital collage art for resale, provided they’re used as part of an original composition.
How should I store printed cards?
Keep them flat and dry, such as inside a journal pocket or archival envelope, to preserve the vibrancy of the printed colors.
Final Thoughts
The Natural Dyes printable set invites you to rediscover color through the eyes of 19th-century naturalists, not as something mass-produced, but as something cultivated, observed, and treasured. Each tiny card celebrates the relationship between art and nature, pigment and patience.
Whether you’re exploring color journaling, building layered mixed media compositions, or simply seeking inspiration from the quiet intelligence of the natural world, these lichen dye studies remind us that creativity can grow from even the smallest details.
You may also enjoy these free collage sheet printables.
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.
