Vintage Christmas Postcard Ephemera
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Create a Christmas-Themed Art Journal with Free Vintage Christmas Postcard Printables
The holiday season is coming in hot, and it's the perfect time to create something special that captures the magic of this festive time of year. If you’re a fan of journaling, scrapbooking, or junk journaling, you’ll love the free printable collage sheets I’m sharing today! These gorgeous printables feature vintage Christmas postcard images, which you can download and use to design your own unique Christmas-themed art journal.
Not only do these printables offer a glimpse into the charm and nostalgia of a vintage Christmas, but they’re also versatile enough to be used in a variety of creative projects. Keep reading for more details about the printables, ideas on how to use them, and tips for building a beautiful Christmas art journal that you'll treasure for years to come.
About the Free Vintage Christmas Postcard Printables
The vintage postcard images included in these free printables embody all the warmth and nostalgia of a classic Christmas. Each image is rich with detail: children in cozy winter attire, Santa in his traditional (and in some cases green or purple) suit, golden bells ringing with holiday cheer, and angels standing near twinkling Christmas trees. The colors and themes in these designs bring a historic elegance to your journal.
To give you maximum flexibility, these printables come in two sizes:
2.5" x 4.25": Perfect for larger projects, cover images, page pockets, and standalone cards.
2" x 3": Ideal for smaller embellishments, tags, and layered collages within your journal.
Each collage sheet is packed with images, so you’ll have plenty to work with for your holiday crafting projects.
Ideas for Using the Christmas Postcard Printables in Your Art Journal
An art journal is a fantastic way to celebrate the season and document your memories. Whether you're creating a personal keepsake or a thoughtful gift, these printables will add a vintage touch to your project. Here are some ways to incorporate them into your journal:
Cover Decoration
Your art journal cover sets the tone for what’s inside. Use one of the larger postcard images to decorate the front or back cover. Enhance it with gold foil accents, lace trim, or glitter for a festive look. You can even layer it over a textured background like burlap or kraft paper for a rustic vintage aesthetic.
Backgrounds for Journal Pages
Print the postcards on lightweight paper and use them as backgrounds for your journal pages. Pair them with handwritten holiday quotes, vintage-style stamps, or washi tape to create layered, dimensional pages. For added variety, you can mix these postcards with patterned scrapbook paper or distressed coffee-stained pages.
Create Pockets and Flip-Outs
Turn your vintage postcards into interactive elements within your journal.
Pockets: Glue three edges of the postcard onto your page to create a pocket where you can tuck smaller notes, tickets, or photos.
Flip-Outs: Attach one edge of the postcard with a piece of washi tape, allowing it to flip open and reveal hidden journaling space underneath.
Handmade Gift Tags
These postcards can also be trimmed into smaller shapes to make gift tags. Add a hole at the top, string them with twine, and write your holiday greetings on the back. They’ll add a unique, handmade touch to your wrapped presents.
Layered Collages
Combine the postcards with other printables available on The Art Scavenger, such as:
Pine Cone Collage Sheets: The earthy tones of these contrast beautifully with the wintery palette of the postcards.
Vintage Photos: Layer the Christmas ephemera with some black and white and sepia-toned portraits for a rich, vintage vibe.
Millinery/hat ephemera: These images add quirky charm when paired with holiday elements.
Journaling Prompts and Photos
Use the postcard images as a backdrop for your journaling prompts. For example:
Reflect on your favorite holiday traditions or memories.
Write about your favorite winter activities or Christmas songs.
Include printed family photos and layer them over the postcard images for a nostalgic scrapbook effect.
2.5” x 4.25” Journal Cards
Build a Complete Christmas-Themed Art Journal
To make your journal truly memorable, consider incorporating these sections:
Introduction: A page dedicated to why you’re creating the journal and what Christmas means to you.
Traditions: Use the postcards to highlight your favorite holiday traditions, such as decorating the tree or baking cookies.
Memories: Include photos, ticket stubs, or handwritten notes about past Christmas celebrations.
Goals: Use a page to reflect on what you’re grateful for this season and set intentions for the coming year.
Extras: Add fun elements like wish lists, recipes, or even a countdown to Christmas.
Additional Supplies to Enhance Your Journal
To make your art journal truly special, consider combining the vintage Christmas postcard ephemera with these additional supplies:
Vintage-Inspired Ephemera
Use free printables from The Art Scavenger, such as these fun in the snow images or French postcard ephemera for interesting visual contrasts. Adding these unique pieces will make your art journal stand out.
Textured Paper and Ribbons
Incorporate specialty papers, such as embossed cardstock or vellum/tracing paper to create layers and texture. Satin or grosgrain ribbons in holiday colors like red, green, and gold can also be used as page markers or decorative borders.
Handwritten Details
For a personal touch, write out Christmas carol lyrics or classic holiday quotes. You can use calligraphy pens, metallic gel pens, or even faux “typewriter” fonts for an authentic vintage feel.
Stamps and Stickers
Holiday-themed stamps (e.g., snowflakes, holly, reindeer) and stickers can help tie your journal pages together. Consider using metallic ink pads for stamping to match the postcard’s festive tones.
Fabric and Lace
Add tactile elements like lace trims or small pieces of fabric to enhance the vintage charm of your journal. You could also sew or glue on small buttons, sequins, or charms for a multi-dimensional effect.
Other Creative Ways to Use These Printables
While these vintage postcard images are ideal for art journaling, there are plenty of other ways to use them:
Christmas cards: Glue a postcard image to a blank card base, then embellish it with glitter or embossing powder for a handmade holiday card.
Gift wrapping: Wrap your package in brown or white craft paper, and glue these postcard images on as accents.
Ornaments: Print the images on cardstock, punch a hole at the top, add a ribbon or string, and hang them on your tree as unique vintage-style ornaments.
Table décor: Place them on plates as part of your holiday table settings, or use them as placeholders by writing guests’ names on them.
I hope these printables bring joy and inspiration to your Christmas projects. Stay tuned for more free seasonal goodies, and as always, happy crafting!
2” x 3” Journal Tags
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.
