Victorian Bathers Collage Sheets - Vintage Beach Ephemera for Junk Journals & Mixed Media
Free Printable Victorian Bathers – Colorful Vintage Beach Ephemera for Junk Journals & Collage
Bring a splash of vintage seaside fun to your junk journals, scrapbooks, and mixed media projects with this free printable Victorian Bathers ephemera set. This collage collection is made up of vintage illustrations of women in brightly colored bathing costumes, playfully posed along the shoreline. With striped suits, bathing slippers, and ocean waves lapping at their feet, these ladies capture the carefree charm of 19th-century beach culture.
Each image has been selected from a set of Victorian trade cards. The colors are fresh yet authentically vintage, with vivid reds, ocean blues, soft pinks, and buttery yellows. These women strike playful, theatrical poses against softly rendered beach backgrounds that make them perfect for seaside or ocean-themed pages.
In this free download, you'll receive:
A full-page printable of 1.5 x 2.5 inch collage images (perfect for focal points, tags, and layering)
A sheet of 1 x 2 inch domino-sized pieces (great for jewelry making, mini clusters, or twinchies)
A sheet of 2 x 3 inch images that work well as pocket inserts, journaling cards, or standalone tags
2” x 3” Tags
These prints are ideal for junk journalers and mixed media artists looking for bold, feminine ephemera with a playful twist. They pair beautifully with lace scraps, vintage advertisements, shell illustrations, or tea-stained paper. The size variations make it easy to mix and match across multiple journal layouts.
You can use these Victorian beachgoers in themed summer journals, mini albums, art journal spreads, handmade cards, or whimsical tags. They're also fun for decorative layering in collaged envelopes and pockets.
Ink the edges for an aged look, or cut them out with deckle-edge scissors for added texture. You could even try printing them on clear sticker paper or vellum for a dreamy, layered effect.
1” x 2” Dominoes
Ready to add a little seaside whimsy to your creative stash? Download all three free printable sheets featuring Victorian Bathers!
Be sure to browse the full free collage sheet archive for even more vintage-inspired imagery to use in your next journal or mixed media spread. Check out the Victorian section. You may also like these Victorian butterfly fairies, or these Victorian fans.
1.5” x 2.5” Journal Tags
Here is an example of an art journal layout I created using one of these Victorian bather images. The background was painted with acrylic paint in an upcycled book. I added strips of painted collage papers, a bird fodder piece that I made by stamping over discarded gel prints, the Victorian lady, and a vintage illustration of seashells.
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A Little Information About Victorian Swimwear:
Swimsuits during the Victorian era were quite different from the modern swimsuits we are familiar with today. During that time, modesty and propriety were highly valued, and this was reflected in the design and style of swimwear.
Victorian swimsuits were designed to cover the entire body, leaving very little skin exposed. Women's swimsuits typically consisted of long-sleeved tops with high collars and ankle-length skirts. These garments were often made of heavy, non-stretch fabrics like wool or flannel.
Another popular style for women's swimwear was the bloomer suit. This consisted of loose-fitting pants that extended to the mid-calf, which were worn under a knee-length skirt. The bloomers allowed for more freedom of movement compared to the full-length skirts.
In the early Victorian era, it was customary for women to enter the water using bathing machines. These were small, wooden structures on wheels that were rolled into the water. The woman would change into her swimsuit inside the machine and then descend into the water from a door or steps. This practice ensured privacy and maintained the modesty expected of women.
To complete their beach attire, women often wore bathing caps made of rubber or cloth to cover their hair. They carried parasols or wore large hats to protect their faces from the sun. They would also likely put on bathing shoes or slippers to protect their feet.
It's important to note that swimming as a recreational activity gained popularity during the late Victorian era, and the style of swimwear gradually began to change towards the end of the era. Towards the turn of the 20th century, bathing suits became slightly less modest, with shorter sleeves and skirts, but still maintaining a modest overall appearance.
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: 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.
