Free Sewing Ephemera
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These aren’t the first free sewing-themed Victorian trade card ephemera printables I’ve posted. You might remember this sewing ephemera sheet. I also talk more about the history of Victorian trade cards and how they were used for product advertising in that post. This is an entirely new batch of cards for you to add to your junk journal, vintage scrapbook, DIY book, or other mixed media journal or craft. I’ll talk a little more below about creating a sewing-themed journal and provide some ideas.
Scroll down, and you’ll find three different sheets of mixed-sized trade cards. The first two have completely different images. The third one uses some of those images but made into gift tags.
If you are looking for more free sewing ephemera, check out the sewing section of my library of free printables. You’ll find this collage sheet of tailor shop fixtures from a vintage catalog, these sewing diagrams, and these sewing supply catalog ephemera sheets.
If you enjoy these free printables, be sure to follow me on Instagram and Pinterest, so you’ll see when I post new ones.
Sewing is a great theme for a junk journal or vintage scrapbook because it beautifully combines creativity, nostalgia, and practicality. Sewing, with its rich history and intricate craftsmanship, offers a ton of visually appealing materials such as vintage patterns, buttons, lace, and ephemera that can transform a simple journal into a beautiful keepsake. Plus, including Victorian trade card ephemera with vintage sewing imagery adds a historical dimension, making the journal a fun blend of past and present. Whether you are an avid sewer or just appreciate the artistry of sewing, a sewing-themed junk journal provides a good way to celebrate and share your passion.
Here are some creative ideas to get you started:
Cover Design
Fabric Cover: Use a piece of vintage fabric or a fabric with a vintage print as the cover. You can add padding beneath the fabric for a quilted look.
Embellishments: Decorate the cover with old buttons, lace, and embroidered patches. You could also use a vintage sewing pattern as a cover slip.
Incorporating Victorian Trade Cards
Pockets and Tucks: Create pockets and tuck spots using Victorian trade cards. These can hold additional ephemera, tags, or small notes.
Focal Points: Use trade cards as focal points on certain pages. Frame them with coordinating papers or fabrics.
Interactive Elements: Incorporate flaps, fold-outs, or hidden journaling spots using trade cards to make your journal interactive and engaging.
Pages and Layouts
Patterned Papers: Use papers with sewing-themed prints such as buttons, spools, sewing machines, and patterns as backgrounds for your pages.
Sewing Ephemera: Incorporate vintage sewing patterns, instruction sheets, and advertisements. These can be used as whole pages or cut into smaller pieces for embellishments.
Textured Pages: Add texture by sewing fabric scraps or lace directly onto your pages. You can also use zigzag stitches or other decorative stitches to add interest.
Embellishments and Details
Buttons and Notions: Attach buttons, snaps, and other sewing notions throughout your journal. These can be used to decorate page edges, hold photos, or embellish tags.
Thread and Ribbon: Use vintage lace or ribbon to create page tabs or to tie elements together. Embellish the edges of pages or tags with hand-stitched borders.
Fabric Swatches: Include small fabric swatches as decorative elements or journaling spots. You can glue them down or attach them with sewing pins or clips.
Tags and Journaling Cards
Themed Tags: Create tags from vintage sewing ephemera or patterned paper. Add eyelets and tie them with embroidery floss or ribbon.
Journaling Prompts: Use Victorian trade cards as inspiration for journaling prompts. For example, a card depicting a sewing scene could prompt a story about a family member who sewed.
Mini Booklets: Make mini booklets from ephemera sheets and attach them to pages with washi tape. These can be used for additional journaling space or hidden notes.
Finishing Touches
Vintage Photographs: Add old photographs to your pages. These can be framed with lace or fabric.
Stamping and Stenciling: Use sewing-themed stamps and stencils to add interest to your pages. You can create patterns or add small decorative elements.
Aged Effects: Give your journal an aged look by distressing the edges of papers with distress ink or using tea staining techniques.
Creating a sewing-themed junk journal or vintage scrapbook is a wonderful way to combine your love of sewing with a passion for vintage aesthetics. By using vintage sewing ephemera and Victorian trade cards, you can craft a unique and personal keepsake that celebrates the history and art of sewing. Whether you’re documenting your sewing projects, preserving memories of a loved one who sewed, or simply indulging in a creative hobby, this project is sure to be a rewarding experience.
Add this free vintage ephemera to your supplies for 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.
