What is an Ephemera Kit?

A Vintage Imagination Ephemera Kit is a carefully curated and assembled collection of paper and treasures designed to inspire artists, journal makers, and creative explorers. You will find layers of history, texture, color, and story waiting to be incorporated into your own creative projects:

• Art and Junk Journals
• Mixed Media Artwork
• Collage and Scrapbooking
• Card making
• Creative Workshops and Art Classes
• Creative Play

A Creative Collaboration

Vintage Imagination's Ephemera Kits are not meant to be perfectly curated collections or carefully themed sets where every piece must be used. Instead, they provide a wide palette of textures, colors, and imagery meant to spark imagination and experimentation.

Each eclectic assortment includes authentic vintage materials, contemporary papers, and one-of-a-kind hand-painted pieces created in my studio. Beyond that, they are intentionally varied and full of surprises and may include:

• Vintage Book Pages and Reference Materials
• Sheet Music and Maps
• Magazine Imagery and Graphic Elements
• Flash Cards and Educational Materials
• Sewing Patterns and Instructions
• Postcards and Greeting Cards
• Old receipts and Tickets
• Postage Stamps and Postal Fragments
• Lace, Fabric, Doilies, and Sewing Notions
• Decorative Scrapbook Papers
• Unique Paper Cutouts and Embellishments

You may also discover unexpected little treasures tucked inside each packet, such as matchbook covers, small tags, paper clips, charms, or other interesting bits perfect for layering and collage.

A Note About Vintage Materials

Genuine vintage paper goods may show signs of age. These characteristics are part of the charm and authenticity of working with vintage materials. 

• Wrinkles or folds
• Small tears or worn edges
• Faded ink or handwriting
• Light discoloration
• A subtle old-paper scent

Original Hand-Painted Paper Pieces

Many kits also include original hand-painted papers created in the Vintage Imagination studio.

These pieces are created using layered mixed-media techniques applied to recycled and reclaimed paper materials, such as vintage books, sheet music, magazines, packaging, journals, and other rescued papers.

Each piece is unique and may include techniques such as:

• Acrylic layering and glazing
• Ink splattering and paint pen work
• Gelli printing
• Stenciling and textured marks
• Marbling or experimental paint techniques

In many cases, you will see hints of the original text or imagery beneath the layers of paint, adding depth and story to the piece. Edges may be torn, asymmetrical, or textured, and some pieces may be painted on both sides.

These are original art surfaces, not prints or reproductions.

The Joy of the Mystery

Every ephemera kit is intentionally assembled as a mystery assortment. No two kits are identical. The contents will vary in color, size, shape, paper weight, texture, age, origin of materials, and types of imagery and graphics.