Free Vintage Flower Image Printables
Free Flower Image Printables + Affordable and Free Ways to Build an Ephemera Collection
There’s a special kind of joy in flipping through a well-loved junk journal or art journal full of vintage florals, handwritten notes, book pages, and vintage paper scraps. It’s like holding a pocket-sized time capsule in your hands. But let’s be honest, curating a collection of beautiful vintage ephemera can get pricey fast. If you can afford antique ephemera and digital kits, go for it. You are often supporting a small business. But for many of us, that ideal ephemera stash doesn’t always align with our budgets. The good news? You can build a stunning supply of journal-worthy pieces without breaking the bank.
There are so many clever, low-cost (or totally free!) ways to collect beautiful materials for your mixed media projects. In this post, I’m sharing my favorite budget-friendly tips for adding to your ephemera stash without breaking the bank. PLUS, I’ve got a gorgeous free printable vintage flower image set for you to download!
1. Take Advantage of Free Printables
Let’s start with one of the easiest and most accessible ways to build your ephemera collection: free printables.
Here at TheArtScavenger.com, I share a growing library of high-resolution vintage printables—from floral illustrations and old postcards to antique labels, children’s book illustrations, and vintage photographs. They’re all designed with journalers and mixed-media artists in mind, and best of all, they’re totally free to download and print as many times as you’d like.
New printables are added regularly, so check back often or follow me on Instagram, Facebook, or Pinterest so you never miss a new set.
Printing Tips:
Try printing on cream cardstock, kraft paper, or parchment paper for a vintage feel.
Use tea-dyeing, distress inks, or sandpaper to add texture and age.
Print in different sizes to suit pockets, tags, or full-page spreads.
Freebie Alert: Speaking of free ephemera, download the set of Vintage Floral Printables I'm giving away in this post.
To get you started on your budget-friendly ephemera journey, I’ve created a set of free printable vintage flower images that are perfect for layering, cutting out, or tucking into your journal spreads.
This set includes:
One sheet of nine gift tags
Five full-page collage sheets of gorgeous vintage botanical illustrations that can be used as backgrounds, or cut out the individual images to add as collage elements.
Aged backgrounds for that antique look, without any tea staining required!
Be sure to scroll all the way to the bottom of this post to see all six sheets.
Gift Tags
2. Repurpose Everyday Paper Goods
You’d be amazed at how many “throwaway” paper items around the house can become treasures in your art journal.
Here are some items to keep an eye out for:
Junk mail envelopes (especially ones with cool patterns or windows)
Paper bags
Used postage stamps
Receipts & tickets
Clothing price tags (collage over these to make journal tags)
Scrap pieces from packaging or wrapping paper
Old calendars or planners
Grocery lists and handwritten notes
Organizing Tip:
Set up a small “ephemera catch-all” box in your workspace. Every time you get a cool receipt or bit of packaging, toss it in. When you're crafting, go treasure hunting through your own box!
3. Thrift Stores, Estate Sales, and Flea Markets
This one is a classic because it works. Secondhand shops and sales are goldmines for vintage paper.
Look for:
Tattered books with lovely typography
Sheet music
Vintage postcards and greeting cards
Sewing patterns
Old dictionaries or encyclopedias
Photo albums
Smart Shopping Tips:
Don’t overlook damaged or coverless books—they’re often cheaper and perfect for tearing apart.
Bring cash to estate sales and flea markets and don't be afraid to haggle.
4. Trade with Other Creatives
Swapping ephemera is not only budget-friendly—it’s fun, inspiring, and a great way to connect with other makers. Consider putting a call out on social media to other creators who would like to exchange ephemera, painted papers, collage fodder, etc.
Hosting a Swap:
Start small. Invite a few friends or fellow crafters to do a themed swap. You could focus on florals, travel, vintage photos, etc.. Package your extras with love and create a mini experience for your recipient.
5. Hunt for Hidden Gems in Free or Cheap Books
Another budget-friendly way to build your ephemera stash? Old books—and lots of them. Libraries, thrift stores, and neighborhood swap spots are full of overlooked treasures just waiting to be turned into journal magic.
Where to Look:
Library Book Sales: Many libraries host monthly, annual or seasonal sales, with vintage and damaged books often priced at $1 or less. Look for old atlases, botany books, field guides (plants, birds, etc.), dictionaries, and kids’ books. Sometimes the last day of the sale will be a “fill-a-bag.”
Free Carts & Discard Bins: Some libraries or bookstores have carts or bins of books they’re giving away for free. Don't skip these! Torn pages, aged paper, and scribbled margins are gold in the junk journaling world.
Little Free Libraries: Those cute community book exchange boxes can be a fun way to find interesting covers, aged pages, and unusual content. Plus, you can give some love back by leaving a few books you no longer need.
Used Bookstores & Thrift Shops: These are great places to look for vintage encyclopedias, sheet music, and older foreign language books—often at bargain prices.
What to Look For:
Aged or yellowed pages (perfect for layering)
Unique fonts and type styles
Handwritten notes or dedications
Illustrations, maps, or diagrams
Interesting covers or endpapers (for altered book projects)
Repurposing old books is not only affordable—it’s eco-friendly and endlessly inspiring.
6. Scan and Reuse Your Finds Digitally
Once you’ve gathered a few vintage treasures, why not scan and reprint your favorites? This lets you use the same pieces again and again, or even manipulate them digitally to create brand-new collage sheets.
How to Digitize Your Ephemera:
Using a flatbed scanner will give you the best quality, but snapping a picture with your cell phone will do the trick too. Afterall, ephemera doesn't have to be perfect. Flaws can often add charm and character.
Save images in high-resolution (at least 300 dpi).
Organize your files into themed folders (florals, labels, text, backgrounds, etc.)
Final Thoughts: Your Ephemera Stash, Your Way
Building a beautiful, inspiring collection of ephemera doesn’t have to mean expensive Amazon or Temu hauls. With a little creativity and some scavenger spirit, you can create your own dreamy stash on a dime.
Try mixing free printables with thrifted book pages. Scan your own treasures. Repurpose everyday paper. And most of all—make it yours. Your journal tells your story, and every little paper scrap is a piece of it.
If this post helped you, or if you enjoyed the free printables, I’d love it if you shared it or pinned it for later. And be sure to explore more free downloads here at The Art Scavenger. There’s a world of ephemera waiting for you.
Happy journaling!
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.
