Free Printable Shin-Bijutsukai Japanese Ephemera: ATC Cards & Gift Tags
Quick Overview
Download two free printable collage sheets featuring rare Japanese art designs from the magazine, Shin-Bijutsukai.
Includes one sheet of 2.5” x 3.5” ATC backgrounds and one sheet of vintage-style gift tags.
Perfect for junk journals, mixed media collages, altered books, and scrapbooking projects.
A great resource for artists who love historic pattern design and decorative art ephemera.
Introduction
If you’re drawn to the beauty of historical design (intricate line work, bold color palettes, and the perfect balance of art and nature) you’re going to love this week’s printable. These richly detailed designs are taken from the pages of Shin-Bijutsukai, a groundbreaking Japanese design magazine first published at the dawn of the 20th century.
Shin-Bijutsukai introduced artists and craftspeople to fresh decorative motifs inspired by nature, geometry, and the aesthetics of the Art Nouveau movement. Each issue was a treasure trove of cutting-edge design ideas, from swirling florals and dynamic waves to stylized insects and abstract patterns. More than a century later, these motifs remain timeless and a bridge between traditional Japanese art and the emerging global design language of the modern era.
Now, you can bring that history into your own creative projects with these free printable collage sheets, perfect for adding a dash of antique elegance and artistic sophistication to your journals, collages, and mixed media art.
About the Free Printables
These free downloads include two high-resolution printable collage sheets featuring authentic Shin-Bijutsukai designs
ATC Background Sheet – One sheet of 2.5” x 3.5” artist trading card backgrounds, ideal for creating mini collage art, journaling cards, or embellishments.
Gift Tag Sheet – A coordinating sheet of pre-shaped tags featuring the same stunning designs, ready to print, cut, and use in your paper crafts.
Each design showcases the bright color palettes and nature-inspired motifs that defined Shin-Bijutsukai’s style — think stylized flowers, abstract waves, butterflies, and swirling organic patterns that feel as fresh today as they did over a century ago.
Both sheets are provided as high-resolution JPG or PDF files for crisp, detailed printing. Print them on cardstock for durability or on lightweight paper if you prefer a more delicate, layered look.
How to Use These Printables
These printable collage sheets are versatile and can be used in a wide range of creative projects. Here are a few favorite ways artists and crafters use them:
In Junk Journals - Use the ATC-sized designs as journal cards, background layers, or focal points in themed spreads. The gift tags make wonderful tuck-ins, tip-ins, or decorative accents tied with ribbon or washi tape.
Mixed Media Collage - Layer these patterned pieces into your mixed media work. They add texture, color, and historical depth to art journal pages, collage canvases, or altered book projects. Try tearing or distressing the edges for a beautifully aged effect.
Scrapbooking - The intricate patterns make eye-catching embellishments for scrapbook pages, especially in travel-themed, nature-inspired, or heritage albums. Use them as mini photo mats, borders, or journaling spots.
Artist Trading Cards (ATCs) - The 2.5” x 3.5” size is perfect for creating ATCs. Add paint, stamps, or collage elements on top of these designs to build layered mini masterpieces that are ready to trade or collect.
2.5” x 3.5” ATCs
More Creative Inspiration
Looking for something beyond the usual journal or scrapbook use? Try these unique ideas:
Decorative Envelopes & Happy Mail – Fold the tags into envelope seals or use them as decorative inserts for pen-pal letters.
Mini Art Prints – Frame individual cards as tiny art pieces or mount them on greeting cards for handmade stationery.
Altered Book Pages – Use these historical designs to transform the margins and backgrounds of vintage book pages into art.
Other Free Printables You Might Like
If you enjoy these historic designs, you might also love exploring these free printables from my library:
Free Victorian Sewing Ephemera Collage Sheets – A beautiful set of 19th-century sewing diagrams and advertisements, perfect for heritage-style junk journals and altered books.
Printable Botanical Atlas Mushroom Cards – Natural history illustrations of fungi, ideal for nature journals, botanical scrapbooks, and layered collage art.
Bairei Gakan Bird Ephemera Sheets – Exquisite Japanese animal and botanical illustrations from the late Edo and Meiji era that pair beautifully with Shin-Bijutsukai patterns.
Vintage Butterfly Ephemera Printables - A bright, nature-inspired set of butterfly illustrations, perfect for adding color and movement to junk journals and mixed media art.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Can I resize the ATC cards or tags before printing?
Yes! You can scale the PDF or JPG files in your printer settings or image editor to make smaller embellishments.
What type of paper should I use for the best results?
For sturdy journal cards or tags, print on 65–80 lb cardstock. For collage layering, lightweight printer paper works beautifully.
Can I sell items I make with these printables?
You may sell handmade, one-of-a-kind creations (like journals or collages) that incorporate these designs, but please don’t resell the digital files themselves or printouts of them "as-is.".
Final Thoughts
The pages of Shin-Bijutsukai offer a fascinating glimpse into the art and design spirit of the early 20th century, which was a time when traditional Japanese aesthetics and global artistic movements were beginning to intertwine. By incorporating these printable designs into your own work, you’re not just decorating a page. You’re continuing a creative conversation that began more than a century ago.
So print, cut, collage, and create, and let these timeless patterns spark new ideas in your art journal or mixed media practice.
Gift Tags
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.
