There’s something magical about printable ephemera—those little scraps of vintage text, antique labels, moody florals, or mystical symbols that bring your pages to life. At Fleur & Folio, I design printable pieces to spark that magic, whether you're building a layered junk journal or just want to add a touch of charm to your daily planner.
If you’re wondering how to actually use all those beautiful printables, here are five of my favorite ways to work with ephemera in craft projects:
1. Layering in Junk Journals
Ephemera is the soul of a junk journal spread. Tear the edges, ink the sides, and tuck pieces behind larger elements to create dimension. Try layering a vintage receipt beneath a flower cutout or a moody moth over an old dictionary snippet for contrast and intrigue.
Pro tip: Use foam tape or glue dots on just part of the ephemera to lift it off the page slightly—it creates a lovely shadowed effect.
2. Making Tags and Labels
Printables make perfect embellishments for tags, gift toppers, or journal inserts. Add a ribbon, an eyelet, or even a wax seal to give it a handmade feel. I like backing my tags with neutral cardstock or tea-dyed paper to give them extra weight.
3. Decorating Happy Mail or Pen Pal Letters
A little ephemera goes a long way in making your mail feel special. Add printed stamps, faux tickets, or romantic frames to your envelope or stationery. It's a beautiful way to turn even a simple letter into something worth keeping.
4. Creating Collage Art or Vision Boards
If you’re into slow crafting or creative self-expression, printable ephemera is perfect for collage art. Use them in vision boards, mood pages, or even in altered books. Themes like gothic, fairycore, or dark academia can really come to life with the right mix of imagery.
5. Decorating Planners or Notebooks
If you love a bit of beauty in your everyday life, ephemera can make your planner or notebooks feel personal and artful. Add a label to your cover, tuck a floral card into the pocket, or use cut-out journaling spots to mark pages.
Should You Print on the Back of Your Fussy Cuts?
It depends on how you plan to use them:
- Print Single-Sided if you’re gluing your pieces down or layering them into spreads where the back won’t be seen. This saves ink and paper—and for most junk journal uses, it’s all you need.
- Print Double-Sided if your fussy cuts will be tucked into pockets, used as tags, or shown from both sides. It adds a polished finish and makes your pieces feel more like authentic vintage ephemera.
Tip: A subtle tea-stained texture or neutral vintage backing sheet works beautifully and won’t clash with the front design.