5 Ways To Use The Free Faux Fabric Printables

Today, we're talking about something that makes my little artsy heart go pitter-patter—faux fabric ephemera sheets! You know, those magical printable pretties that LOOK like fabric (complete with texture-y vibes!) but cut simply and glue down like a dream? Yep. THOSE ones!

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I printed out two sets: the floral collection (soft, romantic, and vintage-perfect) and the retro set (think groovy patterns with a bold twist). And let me tell you, I am in LOVE! I used these in my journals and smash books and just HAD to share five fab ways you can use them too!

Ready to get inspired? Let’s go full-on ephemera extra.

Full Walkthrough Faux Fabric Video

PRODUCTS USED IN THIS VIDEO

1. Backgrounds & Banners: The Easiest Win Ever

Let’s start with the no-brainer, shall we? One of the easiest ways to use these faux fabric sheets is to just… cut ‘em out and slap them on the page. That’s it. Instant texture, instant charm!

Use them as banners or background anchors behind photos, quotes, or journaling blocks. They add that layered, “I’m-an-artsy-genius” look with literally no effort.

I personally love using them to carve out little “sections” on a page—like a cozy corner for a sticker cluster or a cute spot to plop down a label. Think of them as the cozy rug your journal didn’t know it needed!

1. Backgrounds & Banners: The Easiest Win Ever

2. Fabulous Faux Borders

I took a bunch of coordinating pieces, snipped them into rectangles and squares, and started lining them around a journal page to make a whole dang border. YES MA’AM, it was giving mixed-media quilt and I was NOT mad about it!

PRO TIP: Try to stick with a similar color palette to keep it cohesive, or go full rainbow explosion—your vibe, your rules. Round the corners or leave them sharp. Layer them. Doodle around them. MAKE IT A WHOLE MOOD!

3. Faux Fabric Tags & Ephemera Accents

Okay. You know those cute little die-cut tags we all hoard but rarely use? TIME TO MAKE YOUR OWN!

I glued two diamond shapes back-to-back, punched a hole, and popped in a brad or eyelet. Just like that… boom, adorable tag. It looks like it came from a boutique Etsy shop, but YOU made it from paper. And it has that fabric look that makes it feel sooooo luxe!

If you're feeling fancy, slap on some crystal glaze or glossy accents and let it dry overnight. It’ll look enamelled, shiny, and basically like you spent money at Anthropologie when you actually used free printables. (The dream, right?!?!)

4. DIY Paper “Ribbons”

I folded a long strip of faux fabric ephemera in half, glued it, and voilà—instant paper ribbon! You can even rough it up a bit to give it that fabric-y texture. Perfect for looping through tags, wrapping around journal spines, or tying around literally anything that needs a little flair.

Pro tip: Let the glue dry fully before you try threading it through anything. Ask me how I know!!!

5. Die Cuts & Shapes That Pop

You already KNOW I had to bust out the die cutting machine for this one. These sheets are MADE for intricate little shapes—flowers, letters, leaves, you name it!

I cut out my granddaughter’s name (Skye, hi girlie!) and made the cutest personalized embellishments. I even added some floral die-cuts and glued them into my journal like little paper accents.

PRO TIP: You can also use the negative space (aka the leftover bit from the die cut) as a stencil or background. Waste nothing, friend. We are eco-friendly queens in this house!

Final Thoughts: Faux Real, This is Fun

Whether you're layering borders, making tags, or creating die-cut magic, faux fabric ephemera is seriously the unsung hero of the journaling world. It gives you all the texture with none of the fray—and it’s SO much easier to work with than real fabric (no offense to my sewing machine, but we’re on a break).

These cuties are free on my website (you're welcome), so go print yourself some, grab those scissors, and let’s get crafty!

And hey, if you try any of these five ideas—or come up with your own—tag me on socials or drop a comment! I want to see your glorious faux-fab creations in all their patterned glory!

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