Free Vintage Christmas Printables: Kids on Holiday Postcards for Crafts & Journals
Inside This Post:
Free printable ephemera sheets featuring early 1900s vintage Christmas postcard images showcasing children enjoying the holiday season.
Includes:
One sheet of 2.5” × 4.25” journal cards
One sheet of 2” × 3” journal cards
Perfect for junk journals, festive scrapbooks, handmade cards, and mixed media crafts.
Features nostalgic longtime favorites: snow play, joyful expressions, and heartwarming holiday innocence.
Authentic antique Christmas imagery for children, ready to print and create.
A Charming Glimpse of Early 1900s Christmas Joy
There’s a magic in how children experience Christmas. The excitement in their eyes, the snow crunching beneath their boots, and the glow of a tree laden with handcrafted ornaments. These moments become etched into family memories. That sense of wonder and delight shines through in early 20th-century holiday postcards. This is the exact imagery featured in these free printable ephemera sheets.
These printables are sourced from authentic vintage Christmas postcards from the early 1900s showcasing holiday scenes such as children decorating a Christmas tree, sending a letter to Santa, or reading a Christmas storybook. That innocence and seasonal charm have a nostalgic pull that’s hard to replicate with modern images.
I’ve prepared two convenient printable sheets to make crafting with them effortless:
2.5” × 4.25” Journal Cards – Perfect for slipping into journal pockets, layering in scrapbook spreads, or creating handmade greeting cards with vintage flair.
2” × 3” Journal Cards – Ideal for adding sweet, smaller touches to junk journals, mini tag embellishments, or festive mixed media layers.
Why Vintage Christmas Images of Children Resonate
When I put together holiday-themed ephemera sheets, I’m always drawn to images that evoke emotion. Children ready to enjoy a Christmas dinner, siblings bundled up in cozy winter wear, or kids holding gifts. These moments transcend time. They remind us of simpler Christmases and the pure, unfiltered joy of the season.
Using these illustrations in your Christmas crafts adds warmth and storytelling. A 2.5” journal card might anchor a December Daily spread featuring photos of your own family’s holiday traditions, while a smaller card of a child sledding could become a festive embellishment in a handmade greeting. These visuals bridge the past and present, helping your crafts speak from the heart.
2.5” x 4.25” Journal Cards
Creative Ways to Use These Vintage Kids' Christmas Printables
Here are a few ideas to inspire your holiday crafting using these nostalgic images:
Junk Journals & Art Journals – Slip the tall journal cards into binder rings or pocket pages. Use them as prompt cards—pages that ask questions like “What did your favorite toy look like?” or “Describe the snow day that made you giggle.”
Holiday Cards – Adhere the image to a folded card base, add a layer of baker’s twine or vintage lace, and pen a simple message like “Merry Christmas, from my heart to yours.”
Gift Tags & Stickers – Print the smaller journal cards onto sticker paper, cut around the images, and stick them on wrapped presents as gift labels. Or print them on cardstock, punch a hole, and use them as adorable personalized tags.
Table Place Cards – Fold the taller cards into tent-style place cards. Write each guest's name on them, and they instantly add nostalgia and a touch of whimsy to your holiday table.
Mixed Media Collage – Combine the vintage kid scenes with evergreen botanical ephemera, gold foil, and handwritten holiday quotes for layered winter spreads or scrapbook pages.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are these illustrations from authentic vintage postcards?
Yes! They are genuine images from Christmas postcards that date back to the early 1900s.
What sizes are provided?
You’ll receive one sheet of 2.5” × 4.25” journal cards and another sheet of 2” × 3” journal cards.
What paper should I use?
Cardstock or matte presentation paper works best for durability if using them as tags, or use lightweight copy paper for easier layering in art journals or collages.
Can I use them in items I sell?
Absolutely! You’re welcome to use them in handmade items like art journals, cards, or scrapbook spreads you sell. Just don’t resell or redistribute the digital files or printouts of them "as-is."
More Christmas Printables You Might Love
If these children-in-Christmas-printables delight you, check out these other festive printables from The Art Scavenger:
Vintage Christmas Ephemera – Classic holiday scenes refashioned into journal cards and tags.
Snowflake Photos – Intricate snowflake imagery captured on film for wintry elegance.
Vintage Christmas Postcard Ephemera – A broader set of festive postcards perfect for layering or decoration.
Pinecones & Evergreen Collage Sheets – Rustic botanical art that beautifully complements holiday themes.
Final Thoughts
There’s a unique sweetness in vintage Christmas illustrations of children whether they’re enjoying a snowfall, getting ready for a Christmas Eve slumber, or stepping out with sleds. These free printable ephemera sheets capture that joy and nostalgia, bringing a sense of history, innocence, and engaging storytelling to all your holiday projects.
I hope they spark your creativity and fill your crafting sessions with laughter and warmth. After all, holiday art isn’t just decoration. It’s memory-making.
2” x 3” Journal Cards
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.
