Vintage Christmas Ephemera Printables
The vintage Christmas images on these ephemera printables come from Christmas Postcards from the early 20th century. They include an assortment of Christmas imagery, such as elves, sleighs, a gift, and even a festive cat.
Scroll down, and you’ll find a sheet of 2.5” x 3” journal cards and a sheet of 3” circles. Both sheets make great embellishments for junk journaling, art journaling, scrapbooking, and DIY Christmas card making. I think the circles would also be nice printed on thick card stock, so you can use them as gift tags or Christmas tree ornaments.
Make sure you also visit the Christmas Section of my library for more free Christmas ephemera sheets like these vintage Christmas printables, these angel ephemera printables, or these old-fashioned Christmas ephemera sheets. And if you enjoy these free printables, be sure to follow me on Instagram and Pinterest, so you’ll see when I post new ones.
2.5” x 3” Journal Cards
In the early 20th century, Christmas imagery in media and advertising underwent a transformative evolution, expanding beyond traditional motifs to include a diverse array of symbols that contributed to the festive spirit. Elves became endearing figures, often depicted as Santa's industrious helpers. These whimsical creatures captured the imagination of audiences and were featured prominently in advertisements that emphasized the magic and enchantment associated with the holiday season. The playful and mischievous nature of elves added a touch of fantasy to Christmas imagery, creating a lasting cultural fascination.
Cats and dogs emerged as charming additions to Christmas scenes, symbolizing companionship and familial warmth. Artistic depictions showcased these beloved pets adorned with festive bows or engaging in playful activities amidst the holiday decorations. Advertisers recognized the emotional appeal of these images, using them to evoke a sense of coziness and love.
Holly, with its vibrant red berries and lush green leaves, became a ubiquitous symbol of Christmas in the early 20th century. Widely featured in decorations, advertisements, and festive illustrations, holly represented both the beauty of nature during winter and the traditional color palette of Christmas. Its inclusion in imagery conveyed a sense of time-honored customs and added a visually striking element to the holiday aesthetic.
Sleighs, often associated with the magical transportation of Santa Claus, played a central role in Christmas imagery of the early 20th century. Sleighs laden with gifts, being pulled through snowy landscapes by reindeer were frequently featured. This imagery not only reinforced the fantastical narrative of Santa's journey but also created a sense of anticipation and excitement, encouraging consumers to associate their holiday purchases with the joyous act of gift-giving.
The iconic imagery that emerged during this time continues to shape our contemporary understanding and celebration of Christmas, illustrating the enduring power of visual storytelling in capturing the essence of the holiday season. I hope these images make a nice addition to your Christmas mixed-media projects and crafts.
3” Circles
Use these vintage printables in your art journaling, junk journaling, bullet journaling, collage, artist trading cards (ATCs), scrapbooking, and other mixed media artwork and crafts.
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.
