Seashell Illustration Collage Sheets
Free Printable Seashell Illustrations for Junk Journaling, Scrapbooking, and Mixed Media Art
This free printable collage sheet set features a beautiful selection of vintage seashell illustrations, ideal for adding a coastal, beach, or ocean-inspired theme in your junk journals, scrapbooks, or mixed media projects.
This printable collection includes antique seashell drawings sourced from a vintage book about conchology, the study of seashells. Whether you're creating an ocean-themed junk journal, a summer travel scrapbook, or just want to incorporate natural textures and elements into your mixed media collages, these printable seashells are a versatile and inspiring addition to your ephemera collection.
What's Included in the Printables
Scroll all the way down, and you’ll find four different printable collage sheets for you to download. The first is a sheet of 1.5” x 3” journal tags, followed by a sheet of 3” circles, a page of 2.5” x 3.5” ATCs, and finally a sheet of larger 4-up images. The images are reproduced at high resolution and sized to print on standard 8.5 x 11 inch paper.
1.5” x 3” Journal Tags
Creative Ways to Use These Vintage Seashell Images
Here are some ideas to help you make the most of these printables in your junk journal, scrapbook, or mixed media art:
Create a Beach-Themed Junk Journal Spread
Use the seashells as focal points in a summer or vacation-themed junk journal layout. Pair them with scraps of blue watercolor paper, pieces of nautical maps, or handwritten travel notes for a layered ocean vibe.
Use as Ephemera in Art Journals
Add one or two shells as accents in your art journal spreads. Their soft shapes and earthy tones blend beautifully with gesso washes, tea-dyed paper, or ink splashes.
Make Tags, Clusters, or Pockets
Print a sheet on cardstock and turn the illustrations into collage clusters, journaling cards, or tuck spots. You can back the cutouts with old book pages or sheet music for a more vintage, layered effect.
Incorporate into Mixed Media Collage
Seashells are a great motif to contrast with grungier elements like rusted metal textures, dark paints, or textured fabrics. Try using image transfers to add the shell illustrations to a canvas or wood panel project.
3” Circles
Embellish Scrapbook Pages
Planning a beach trip scrapbook? These shells make elegant embellishments for photo pages, journaling blocks, and title cards. They're especially lovely when paired with sand-colored paper, textured ribbon, or vellum overlays.
Junk Journaling with Natural History Ephemera
One of the joys of junk journaling is the freedom to collect and repurpose forgotten or unusual materials, and vintage natural history imagery fits that perfectly. Antique seashell illustrations like these were once created to document and classify species, but they now hold a kind of poetic nostalgia.
These types of images work beautifully in junk journals because they evoke a slower, more observational way of seeing the world. They're perfect for grounding your creative pages in a mood of wonder, quiet curiosity, or seasonal change.
If you're building a themed junk journal around the ocean, coastal life, or natural science, this printable pairs well with other kinds of vintage ephemera, including:
Scientific diagrams or handwritten specimen notes
Weathered nautical maps
Stamps or postmarks from seaside towns
Victorian postcards featuring lighthouses or ocean scenes
Botanical prints of seaweed, coral, or coastal grasses
You can also combine this sheet with other freebies available on The Art Scavenger to create entire themes or color stories. Check out the Ocean/Beach section of my library of free printables.
2.5” x 3.5” ATCs
Print and Craft Tips
To get the best results from your collage sheet, try these tips:
Use high-quality scissors or a precision knife for clean fussy cuts
Distress the edges with ink, sandpaper, or diluted paint to blend into older papers
Layer with transparent materials like vellum, tulle, or tracing paper for a beachy, airy effect
Why Free Printables Like These Matter
At The Art Scavenger, I love curating avintage ephemera for creative makers like you. This free printable seashell sheet is part of my ongoing mission to share beautiful, usable artwork that supports your creativity, whether you're a seasoned mixed media artist or just beginning your junk journaling journey.
Vintage images like these offer more than just aesthetic value; they create a connection to the past and give you a unique storytelling tool for your projects. Best of all, they’re free to download and use in your projects, and perfect for experimenting without pressure.
So grab your glue, your favorite pens, and a stack of old papers, and bring a little of the ocean into your next journal page.
4-up
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: 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.
