Quirky & Unusual Vintage Valentines: Free Printable Ephemera for Creative Journaling
Vintage Valentine cards weren’t always sweet, sentimental, or subtle. Long before pastel hearts and glossy roses took over, Valentine’s Day was filled with odd humor, visual puns, exaggerated illustrations, and sometimes delightfully questionable romantic logic. Lobsters were used to propose marriage. Pickles debated love triangles. Shoes delivered sass. Fish flirted shamelessly.
And honestly? We love them for it.
In today’s free printable giveaway, I’m sharing three printable collage sheets of quirky and unusual vintage Valentine images, perfect for junk journals, art journals, scrapbooks, mixed media projects, and creative paper crafts. These images come from antique Valentine cards with novelty illustrations that lean heavily into humor, wordplay, and visual absurdity, making them ideal for artists who prefer their romance with a wink.
Inside This Post
Free printable sheets featuring quirky and unusual vintage Valentine illustrations
Humorous Victorian-era Valentine imagery with visual puns and playful symbolism
Creative ideas for using novelty Valentine ephemera in junk journals and art journals
Tips for incorporating antique Valentine images into mixed media and collage projects
Downloadable public-domain Valentine image printables for paper crafting and journaling
What Makes These Vintage Valentines So Quirky?
Unlike modern Valentine cards that aim for universal appeal, antique Valentine cards often embraced eccentricity. Many were designed to amuse, surprise, or even gently tease the recipient. Humor wasn’t an afterthought. It was the point.
Some recurring themes you’ll notice in these printables include:
Visual wordplay (pickles, matches, lemons, fish, and shoes all used to make bold romantic statements)
Exaggerated emotions that range from playful devotion to comedic desperation
Bright colors and bold compositions meant to grab attention at a glance
These unusual designs make vintage Valentine ephemera especially appealing for creative journaling, where not everything has to be earnest or sentimental. Sometimes, the weirdness is the charm.
What’s Included in the Free Printable Valentine Ephemera
This giveaway includes three printable collage sheets filled with quirky vintage Valentine illustrations. Each sheet features multiple images sized for easy cutting, layering, and rearranging.
You’ll find:
Humorous antique Valentine card designs
Bold red borders that frame each image beautifully
A mix of vertical and horizontal compositions
Artwork that works equally well as focal points or background elements
These printables are ideal for:
Junk journals
Art journals
Scrapbooks
Mixed media art
Paper crafts and handmade projects
Because the imagery is visually strong and a little absurd, even a single cut-out can carry an entire page.
Journal Cards
How to Use Quirky Vintage Valentine Ephemera in Creative Journaling
If you’re wondering how to actually use these oddball Valentines, here are a few ideas that go beyond simply pasting them onto a page.
1. Create a Humor-Themed Junk Journal Spread
Lean into the absurdity. Pair the Valentine images with vintage typography, ledger paper, or handwritten notes that play along with the joke.
2. Contrast Sweet and Strange
Use lace, florals, or soft backgrounds, and then drop a lobster proposal right in the middle. The contrast makes both elements more interesting.
3. Build a Visual Story
Several of these images feel like tiny scenes. Combine multiple Valentine cut-outs across a spread to create a playful narrative.
4. Mixed Media Layering
These printables work beautifully with:
Acrylic washes
Tea-stained paper
Gessoed backgrounds
Vintage book pages
The bold colors and clear illustrations help them stand out even under multiple layers.
5. Use as Decorative Ephemera
Trim them down to tags, pockets, or belly bands for Valentine-themed junk journals or seasonal inserts.
Why Quirky Vintage Valentines Are Perfect for Artists
There’s something freeing about working with images that don’t take themselves too seriously. These unusual vintage Valentines invite experimentation, and they’re forgiving if things get messy.
They’re especially great for:
Artists who feel intimidated by “perfect” pages
Journalers who enjoy humor and storytelling
Mixed media makers who like strong focal imagery
Collage artists who collect novelty ephemera
Plus, because these designs are rooted in antique illustration styles, they still feel cohesive with traditional vintage aesthetics—even when the subject matter is downright strange.
5” x 3.5” Postcards Set 1
More Free Printables You Might Like
If quirky vintage Valentines are your thing, you might also enjoy these free printable collections on The Art Scavenger:
Free Vintage Typography Printables – Perfect for adding text, labels, and playful captions to collage and journal pages.
Vintage Valentines Scraps Printable – A charming collection of tiny antique Valentine pieces perfect for layering, tags, and collages in junk journals and art journals.
Valentine Cutouts Printable Collage Sheet – A selection of cut-apart vintage Valentine images sized for journaling, cardmaking, and mixed media projects. These pair beautifully with the quirky Valentines in today’s post.
Free Seasonal Vintage Collage Sheets for Planners & Journals – Great for building themed spreads throughout the year.
(Each of these collections is designed to mix easily with the Valentine printables without overwhelming your pages.)
FAQ: Quirky Vintage Valentine Printables
Are these vintage Valentine images in the public domain?
These printables feature antique Valentine imagery sourced from historical materials. They are shared for creative use.
Can I use these in junk journals and handmade gifts?
Absolutely. They’re perfect for junk journals, art journals, scrapbooks, and handmade paper projects.
Can I resize the images?
Yes! You can scale them down to fit tags and pockets.
Are these suitable for mixed media art?
Definitely. The bold illustrations hold up well under paint, collage layers, and texture.
Do I need special software to print them?
Nope. You can print them directly from your browser or PDF viewer.
Why Vintage Valentine Humor Still Works Today
Even a century later, these oddball Valentines feel oddly relatable. Love is confusing. Romance is awkward. And sometimes the best way to express affection is with a lobster, a pickle, or a box of matches.
That timeless humor is exactly why these images work so well in creative journaling. They invite play, experimentation, and storytelling without pressure.
5” x 3.5” Postcards Set 2
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.
