Turning Scraps Into Stories: The Magic of Ephemera in Art Journaling

I can’t remember the exact moment I fell in love with collecting little treasures and memories. Maybe it’s because I’m a child of the ’90s. When I was growing up, we passed notes in class, scribbled in diaries, and kept shoeboxes full of cards, letters, movie and concert ticket stubs, and other secret keepsakes tucked under our beds. I also lived for the thrill of dropping off a roll of film and getting to relive every moment the second those glossy photos came back from the developer.

Later, when I started making jewelry, I was captivated all over again, by the sparkle of gemstones, the shine of enamel, the cool weight of metal. The same thing happened with fabrics, even before I really tried my hand at sewing: I couldn’t resist bringing home fun patterns and textures, even if I had no project in mind.

And when I began exploring my family history, I found myself drawn to old photographs and fragile papers. There was something about holding those pieces—knowing they had survived across decades—that felt like touching the past.

What is Ephemera?

There’s a name for these scraps and fragments that weren’t meant to last: ephemera. Merriam-Webster defines it as paper items (such as posters, broadsides, and tickets) that were originally meant to be discarded after use but have since become collectibles.

But I like to think of ephemera in a broader way. Of course, I save the ephemera from my day-to-day life, the patterned napkin from a dinner that felt special, the flyer from an art show I loved, or the receipt from a road trip snack stop that turned into a memory. And I love scoring a great vintage ephemera find from old train tickets to vintage advertisements. But I also enjoy rescuing the forgotten items that weren’t ever meant to be discarded, at least not originally. The old family photos, the high school yearbooks, the things people truly cherished but somehow ended up looking for a new home.

What makes ephemera so magical is the way it anchors us to both the past and the present. Repurposing these little scraps gives them a second life. Each one tells a story of who you were with, what you felt in the moment, or even just the delight of discovering beauty in something ordinary.

That’s what elevates these items, whether they’re pulled from a thrift shop bin, an antique drawer, or your bag after a fun weekend. Ephemera connects us to memory, to history, and to the everyday magic of living a human life.

Creative Play with Ephemera: Collage, Layers, and Memory Keeping

Ephemera really shines when it becomes part of creative play. In art journaling, these scraps can be layered, collaged, or pieced together in unexpected ways. Placing different elements side by side often creates surprising beauty.

The magic is in the transformation. A receipt, a flyer, or a snippet of patterned paper may not feel like much on its own, but once it’s glued down and surrounded by your marks, words, or doodles, it becomes part of a story. What was once “nothing special” turns into something deeply personal and meaningful.

Using ephemera is also an invitation to play without pressure. Instead of starting with a blank page, you let the scraps guide you. A colorful wrapper might spark a palette. A postcard might inspire you to sketch a memory from that trip. The fragments become little doorways into creativity.

Here are a few simple ways to start:

• Collect from daily life. Save that coffee sleeve with a cool design or the paper bag from your favorite shop. Even small things can spark inspiration later.
• Mix old with new. Pair a vintage postcard or old photo with something fresh, like a concert ticket or movie stub. This creates a collage of memories across time.
• Play with texture. Ephemera isn’t always flat! Lace trim, fabric scraps, or pressed flowers can add dimension to your journal.
• Use as prompts. Let a piece guide your page. Maybe you journal about the day tied to a ticket stub or sketch around the patterns on a scrap of wrapping paper.

Art journaling with ephemera is a way to honor both big milestones and everyday beauty. It’s proof that the things we might normally toss aside can become keepsakes when paired with intention and creativity.

How Collecting Ephemera Keeps Me Creative and Inspired

For me, collecting and using ephemera keeps me curious, playful, and grounded in the small details of life. It reminds me that creativity doesn’t always need to be polished or perfect—it can simply be about noticing and honoring what already surrounds me.

Over the years, I’ve kept all sorts of little treasures: branded hotel key holders and notepad paper from favorite trips, maps from state parks I explored, and even playful cocktail picks that brought back memories of nights out with friends. On the flip side, I’ve also hunted down old printed shopping catalogs for their illustrations, antique cabinet cards, and even someone else’s journal from decades ago. Each piece carries its own weight of story, memory, and possibility.

These collections remind me that creativity is everywhere, waiting in the most ordinary places. All it asks is that we pause long enough to see it.

How to Start Your Own Ephemera Collection for Art Journaling

I’d love to invite you to start noticing the scraps you’re already drawn to—ticket stubs, notes, packaging, leaves you tuck in a book, or even the junk mail with a color or pattern that catches your eye. Keep a small box, envelope, or folder where you can gather them. I personally keep a binder full of ephemera, and I carry a notebook with a little pocket to hold any new treasure from my day-to-day.

Because in the end, the beauty of ephemera is that it reminds us the little things matter. The scraps we keep tell the story of our lives, one fragment at a time.