What Is Ephemera? A Junk Journal Guide
Ephemera is paper made for short-term use: tickets, receipts, labels, postcards, tags, stamps. In junk journaling, the word means any small paper piece you layer onto a page, whether you found it or bought it as a printed pack. A few pieces, overlapped and taped down, turn a plain page into a collected one.
If you've scrolled through junk journal pages and wondered where all those little paper pieces come from, they have a name. Ephemera is what makes a junk journal look gathered rather than designed. The good news is that you already own some, and you don't need much to begin.
What does "ephemera" mean?
The word comes from the Greek for "lasting a day". In the paper world, it means printed things that were never meant to be kept: a train ticket, a shop receipt, a seed packet, a museum map. Collectors have saved this kind of paper for a long time because it captures ordinary moments.
What is ephemera in junk journaling?
In a junk journal, ephemera is the small, top layer of a page. It's the pieces you glue, tape, tuck or clip on, over a background paper. Most junk journalers use the word broadly: found paper, printed packs, tags, diecuts, journaling cards and pockets all count.
What are the types of junk journal ephemera?
| Type | Examples | Where it comes from |
|---|---|---|
| Found ephemera | Tickets, receipts, envelopes, labels, maps, tea wrappers, postcards | Everyday life, mail, travel |
| Printed ephemera packs | Illustrated cards, labels, frames, word pieces, motifs | Bought as a coordinated set |
| Diecuts | Pre-cut printed shapes such as moons, books, flowers | Bought as a set |
| Tags and journaling spots | Pre-punched tags, journaling cards | Bought or handmade |
| Small extras | Tassels, confetti, ribbon | Bought or saved |
Found or printed: which is better? Neither. Found pieces make a journal personal. Printed packs give you coordinated colors and motifs, so pages come together faster. Many journalers mix the two: one or two found pieces with a few printed ones.
How do you use ephemera on a journal page?
A "cluster" is a small, layered group of pieces, and it's the easiest way to start. Here's a calm, five-step version:
- Choose a background. Glue in a sheet of patterned paper, or start on a plain page.
- Lay down a large base piece, such as a postcard, a label or a piece cut from patterned paper.
- Add a medium piece, slightly offset, such as a tag or an illustrated card. Let it overlap the base rather than sit beside it.
- Finish with one small accent: a diecut, a word piece or a single motif.
- Anchor it with glue or a strip of washi tape, then add a date or a line of writing.
Composition tips
- Odd numbers. Groups of three or five usually look more natural than two or four.
- Overlap. Tucking one piece half under another looks found. Pieces side by side look arranged.
- Repeat one color. Mismatched pieces read as a set when one color shows up in each.
- Leave space to write. A junk journal is still a journal.
Go deeper in How to Build a Junk Journal Cluster (Step by Step).
Where do you find ephemera for free?
Start with what's already in your home:
- Mail: envelopes, stamps (used, cut from envelopes), patterned security linings.
- Shopping: receipts, paper bags, swing tags, tea and chocolate wrappers.
- Days out: tickets, maps, leaflets, menus, coasters.
- Old paper: book pages from damaged books, calendars, magazines, greeting cards.
Collecting your own makes a journal feel like a record of your life. It's also a gentle answer to the "do I need to buy more supplies?" question that comes up often in journaling communities. You don't, unless you want to.
When does a printed ephemera pack help?
A printed pack is useful when you want pages to coordinate by theme or color without hunting for pieces, or when you're making a themed journal (reading, celestial, garden) and found paper doesn't fit.
Crafii's ephemera packs are each 50 printed paper pieces:
- Celestial Paper Ephemera · 50 Pieces: suns, moons, crystals, moths and dreamy scene details, with decorative frames and word pieces.
- Zodiac Paper Ephemera · 50 Pieces: zodiac symbols, constellation cards, zodiac wheels and illustrated labels in pink, orange, blue and green.
- Book Lovers Paper Ephemera · 50 Pieces: book stacks, open books, bookshops, plants, cups and reading-themed phrases.
- Floral Paper Ephemera · 50 Pieces: floral motifs, leaves, a wreath, decorative stamp shapes and illustrated cards. The postage-inspired designs are decorative and are not valid postage.
To add shape and dimension, Crafii diecut sets are 20 printed paper pieces each. Two examples:
- Watercolor Moon & Sun Diecuts · 20 Pieces: 12 crescent moons, 4 full moons and 4 suns.
- Book Lovers Diecuts · 20 Pieces: closed-cover, open-book and book-spine illustrations.
Paper tag sets are 12 pre-punched tags (4 designs, 3 of each), for example Celestial Paper Tags · Set of 12. For a finishing touch, Colorful Floss Tassels – Set of 6 loop through a tag hole. Find them all in Craft Supplies and Stationery & Journaling.
What else do you need to start a junk journal?
Keep it short:
- A journal or notebook you're happy to fill.
- Background paper. A small pad goes a long way. For example, Blue Meadow Paper comes in 6 x 8.5 in or 12 x 12 in, 36 sheets / 18 designs, 200 GSM, double-sided. Preorder · Estimated delivery around November 15, 2026. (More on sizes in 6x8 and 6x8.5 Paper Pads Explained.)
- Ephemera: your found pieces, plus a printed pack if you like.
- Something to stick with: a glue stick or your preferred craft adhesive, and washi tape. For example, Painters Summer Washi Tape — Botanical Postage is 9 rolls, 5 yd each, in mixed widths. Preorder · Estimated delivery around November 15, 2026. New to washi? See How to Use Washi Tape: A Calm Beginner's Guide.
- Scissors and a pen.
If you'd rather start with a themed set, the Garden Paper Studio Value Pack brings together two 6 x 8.5 in floral pads, Botanical Postage washi (9 rolls), Floral Paper Ephemera (50 pieces) and Floral & Leaf Stencils (set of 2). It comes with 15% off the complete pack applied automatically in cart, and cannot be combined with WELCOME10. Preorder · Estimated delivery around November 15, 2026.
A fuller list is coming in Junk Journal Supplies for Beginners: A Short, Honest List.
How do you store ephemera so you actually use it?
- Keep it flat and visible. Use envelopes, clear sleeves or a shallow box. If you can't see a piece, you're unlikely to use it.
- Sort by mood or theme, for example "celestial", "garden", "reading", "cozy". You reach for a feeling when you make a page, not a category.
- Keep one small working envelope of favorites next to your journal, and refill it now and then.
- Use the special pieces. A piece saved for "the right page" often never gets used. If parting with it is hard, photocopy it and use the copy.
Ephemera FAQ
What is ephemera in junk journaling?
Any small paper piece you layer onto a junk journal page: found items like tickets and receipts, or printed pieces like cards, labels, tags and diecuts.
Is ephemera the same as scrapbook embellishments?
They overlap. "Embellishments" is the broader scrapbooking term (stickers, chipboard, ribbon and so on). "Ephemera" usually means flat paper pieces, especially ones that look found or collected.
How many pieces come in a Crafii ephemera pack?
50 printed paper pieces per pack. Diecut sets have 20 pieces, and tag sets have 12 pre-punched tags in 4 designs.
Can I use the floral postage designs as real stamps?
No. The postage-inspired designs in Crafii's floral ephemera and diecuts are decorative and are not valid postage.
What glue should I use for ephemera?
Use your preferred craft adhesive, or washi tape for a softer, layered look. Papers and adhesives vary, so try a combination on a scrap first.
Do I need to buy ephemera to start?
No. Found paper from everyday life is enough. Printed packs are optional, for when you want a coordinated theme.