Christmas Ephemera Printables
The illustrations on these free Christmas ephemera sheets are made up of vintage Christmas Postcard images from the early 1900s. Most of them feature a version of Santa carrying out his Christmas duties. Although, my favorite is the one of Santa taking a nap on a park bench.
Scroll down, and you’ll find a sheet of 2.5” x 4.25” journal cards and a sheet of 3.5” x 2” journal cards.
Make sure you also visit the Christmas Section of my library for more free Christmas ephemera sheets like these vintage Christmas collage sheets, these pinecone collage sheets, 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 4.25”
In the early 20th century, postcards featuring Santa Claus were vibrant and diverse in their portrayal of this iconic figure. The illustrations of Santa commonly depicted him adorned in his traditional red suit, albeit with variations in the shades of red due to the printing techniques of the time. Alongside his distinctive attire, Santa was often portrayed with a long, flowing white beard and his clothing trimmed with fur, evoking a cozy and wintery aesthetic.
What was consistent across these postcards was the jovial and kindly appearance of Santa. Artists depicted him as a cheerful, rosy-cheeked figure, often wearing a friendly smile with a twinkle in his eye. Santa was commonly illustrated carrying a large sack of toys, gifts, or sometimes a Christmas tree, emphasizing the spirit of generosity and giving associated with the holiday season. These postcards frequently showcased wintry scenes, often featuring snow-covered landscapes, chimneys, reindeer, and other festive elements, creating a magical and enchanting atmosphere.
Artists and illustrators of the time brought their own unique styles and interpretations to these Santa Claus postcards. Some chose to portray Santa in a more realistic light, capturing detailed features and expressions, while others leaned toward whimsical or folkloric representations, adding charm and imaginative elements to their artwork. The blend of hand-drawn and printed designs allowed for a wide array of visual styles, contributing to the diversity of these early 20th-century Santa postcards.
What united these postcards was their message of warmth and holiday greetings. They served as a means to spread joy and cheer during the festive season, carrying sentiments of goodwill and well-wishes to friends and loved ones. These early depictions of Santa Claus played a crucial role in solidifying the enduring image of this benevolent figure as a symbol of the Christmas spirit, embodying the joy, generosity, and magic of the season, a representation that has continued to endure through the years.
3.5” x 2”
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.
