If you’re anything like me, you probably have a collection of vintage ephemera—old letters, postcards, book pages, receipts, or even brown paper bags—waiting to be transformed into art. In this post, I’ll walk you through a step-by-step process of how I turn these nostalgic pieces into expressive, colorful collage papers using acrylic paints and energetic mark making techniques.
Whether you’re a mixed media artist, art journaler, or collage enthusiast, this technique will add a beautiful layer of color and energy to your stash of old papers.
And don’t worry if you don’t have your own collection—I’ve created a free downloadable set of printable vintage ephemera including postcards, letters, and more, so you can follow along!
Why Add Marks to Vintage Ephemera?
Vintage papers already carry a charm of their own—but adding thoughtless, intuitive marks on top of them brings in an extra layer of texture, color, and expression. It makes the papers even more unique and personal, ready to use in your art journals, collages, or layered mixed media pieces.
Supplies You’ll Need
Vintage ephemera (download my free printable set or use your own)
Old book pages, brown paper bags
Acrylic paints
Brushes – flat and round
India ink (black)
Protective surface or underpaper
If you enjoy experimenting with mixed media techniques like me, I have a collection of creative projects for you! From abstract mark making to textured collages and art journaling, explore a variety of tutorials that will spark your creativity.
Set 1 – Earthy Greens & Vintage Browns
This first set uses a palette that feels earthy, muted, and timeless—perfect for vintage vibes.
1. Choose your papers
I started with a mix of old letters, book pages, and brown paper bags—anything that already had a bit of age and texture.
2. Mix your colors
My base color was sap green, which I modified by mixing with:
Burnt Umber
Burnt Sienna
Raw Umber
Lots of white
This gave me a beautiful range of olive green shades with subtle variation—perfect for that aged, natural look.
3. Make your marks
Using a flat brush, I made broad, gestural strokes across the pages. Then with a round brush, I added thinner, more fluid lines. These are intuitive, expressive marks—don’t overthink them! Let your hand move freely.
4. Add black splatters
Once the paint dried, I took black India ink and splattered it across the surface for contrast and drama. You can use a brush or a toothbrush for this.
Set 2 – Warm Ochres & Pinks
This second set has a slightly warmer, rosier feel—great for softer collages or botanical backgrounds.
1. Mix your warm tones
The colors I used for this set:
Yellow Ochre
Burnt Sienna
Portrait Pink
These blended together beautifully into warm, dusty tones that still feel vintage but have a slightly romantic edge.
2. Play with movement
Using a small brush, I created quick, freeform lines—scribbles, loops, hatching, wavy lines—just letting my hand move with the energy of the moment.
Ideas for Mark Making
Don’t be afraid to experiment! Here are some mark making ideas you can try:
Cross-hatching
Scribbles or asemic writing
Zigzags or jagged lines
Repeating shapes like circles or squares
Dots or dashes with the tip of a brush
Stamping with found objects (bottle caps, cardboard, mesh)
The goal is to add energy without control—let the marks be messy, raw, and real.
Use Them in Your Art
These energetic, hand-marked vintage papers are perfect for:
Collage backgrounds
Art journaling layers
Die cuts or torn accents
Bookmaking and zines
Tags and pockets for junk journals
They bring a pop of color and personality that plain vintage ephemera often lacks.
Download My Free Vintage Ephemera Pack
Don’t have your own ephemera stash yet? I’ve got you covered!
Download my free printable set of vintage letters, postcards, and ephemeras here.
Print them on regular paper or thin cardstock and start making your own custom collage sheets today.
Final Thoughts
This simple but powerful process of energetic mark making on vintage papers can turn everyday scraps into bold, expressive collage elements. It’s a way to connect your hand and energy to the materials before they even hit the page.
So go ahead—pull out those old book pages, make a mess, and let the marks lead the way.
