Free Vintage Postcards Ephemera Sheets + What Does Junk Journaling Mean?
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Free Vintage Postcards Ephemera Sheets + What Does Junk Journaling Mean? A Beginner's Guide to This Creative, Vintage-Inspired Art Form
Are you new to junk journaling and wondering what it even means? If so, you’re in the right place. I think if you asked ten people what it means to them, you would get ten different answers, but at its core, junk journaling is a creative practice that invites you to celebrate imperfection, nostalgia, and the beauty of everyday scraps.
As someone who shares free printable ephemera and collage sheets here on The Art Scavenger, I love junk journaling, and I’m excited to walk you through what it is, how it works, and why it’s such a popular form of creative expression. Plus, I’m giving away three vintage postcard ephemera sheets to get you started in your junk journaling journey.
What Is Junk Journaling?
At its core, junk journaling is the art of creating journals using "junk"—things that might otherwise be thrown away, like old receipts, packaging, envelopes, fabric scraps, and paper ephemera. It’s a highly personal and often vintage-inspired way to combine journaling, scrapbooking, and mixed media art.
Despite the name, junk journals are far from junky. They are tactile, layered works of art filled with character and storytelling. You might use a thrifted book as your base, bind your own pages, or use a store-bought sketchbook. Every journal is different, because every creator brings their own story, style, and materials to the page.
Why Do People Love Junk Journaling?
Junk journaling has become a creative refuge for so many people. Here’s why it’s caught on as both a craft and a form of self-care:
Creative freedom: There are no rules. You can mix vintage ephemera with modern magazine clippings, watercolor over tea-stained paper, or stitch lace onto a postcard.
Tactile joy: It’s a screen-free, hands-on experience that lets you play with textures, layers, and found materials.
Eco-friendly fun: Junk journaling encourages recycling and reusing, which is perfect for turning discarded items into something beautiful.
Therapeutic benefits: The repetitive nature of cutting, gluing, and arranging is soothing, making this a fantastic outlet for stress relief.
Memory keeping: Like a visual diary, your junk journal can capture daily snippets, travels, or meaningful moments.
2.5” x 3.5” ATCs
What Can You Use in a Junk Journal?
The short answer: almost anything! But here are some favorite materials to spark your imagination:
Vintage Ephemera
This is the heart and soul of many junk journals and can include old postcards, vintage sheet music, antique books, Victorian trade cards, postage stamps, vintage photos, and more.
If you don't have those things laying around the house (not many of us do), you’ll find a whole library of free vintage printables here on The Art Scavenger, like:
You can get started with the collection of free printable collage sheets right here on this page. I made them using vintage postcard images. They’re perfect for cutting up and layering into your spreads, and they come in a variety of sizes, including two sheets of ATC-sized images, a sheet of tickets/labels, and a sheet of 2” circles.
Found Paper Goods
Book pages, music sheets, maps
Junk mail with interesting fonts or patterns
Paper bags, tags, or wrapping paper
Textile Touches
Fabric scraps, lace trims, embroidery floss
Ribbon tabs, old buttons, or doilies
Personal Keepsakes
Ticket stubs, letters, receipts
Polaroids, travel ephemera, or pressed flowers
Pro Tip: Keep a “treasure box” of scraps and snippets—you never know when a little candy wrapper or receipt will inspire a page.
How Is Junk Journaling Different From Scrapbooking or Art Journaling?
While all three overlap, each tends to have its own vibe. Let’s break it down:
Junk Journaling
Focus: Repurposed & vintage materials
Aesthetic: Rustic, layered, eclectic
Materials: Ephemera, found objects, etc.
Scrapbooking
Focus: Photos & memorabilia
Aesthetic: Polished, coordinated layouts
Materials: Photo-safe papers & embellishments
Art Journaling
Focus: Self-expression through art
Aesthetic: Experimental
Materials: Paint, drawing pens & pencils, collage, etc.
That said, these styles blend beautifully! You can easily include scrapbook elements in a junk journal, or mix art journaling techniques like painting and drawing into your spreads.
Try This: Use one page to layer ephemera and another to splash watercolors. There's no need to stick to just one style!
Tickets/Labels
Getting Started With Junk Journaling
New to junk journaling? Here’s how to begin without overthinking it.
Basic Supplies:
Scissors, glue (I prefer brushing on PVA glue over glue sticks. I find it to be more durable), and washi tape (for adding accents)
Blank sketchbook or repurposed book
A stash of printables or found papers
Easy Starter Ideas:
Gratitude pages: Add a bit of paper ephemera and write down three things you’re thankful for.
Themed spreads: Try a “botanical” page using floral printables, or a “Victorian” spread using some of my Victorian-era printables.
Collaged quotes: Select a favorite quote and build a visual story around it using your scraps.
Free Resources to Kickstart Your Junk Journal
You don’t need to spend a fortune to make something beautiful. That’s the heart of junk journaling and exactly why I created The Art Scavenger.
Here are some of the most loved free printables on the site:
All of these are high-resolution and ready to print for your journals.
Conclusion: There’s No Wrong Way to Junk Journal
Junk journaling is all about honoring your creative instincts, telling visual stories, and finding joy in the mess. Whether you’re building a deeply personal diary or simply layering beautiful papers for the fun of it, your journal is a unique reflection of you.
So grab your scissors, pour a cup of tea, and give yourself permission to explore.
2” Circles
Love These? 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.
