If you’re like me and you love using rainbows in your artwork—but with a vintage twist—then you’re going to adore this new freebie! These Vintage Rainbow Background Papers are filled with rich retro colors, fun patterns, and that textured, slightly grungy finish we all love for mixed media, junk journals, and scrapbook pages!
All Free Printables in One Place
I know I like to see all the free printables before scrolling down to find out more! Here are these amazing fun retro rainbow pages!
- Striped Retro Rainbow - Bold, linear stripes in dusty jewel tones—perfect for backgrounds, covers, or layered paper strips in mixed media.
- Vintage Block Numbers - Think schoolhouse chic meets playful color grids. These chunky numbers are great for date clusters, layering, or cutting into number tickets.
- Grunge Polka Dot Patterns - Multi-color polka dots on distressed cream backgrounds. Use them whole or punch them up with stamps and stitching!
- Diamond Gradient Pattern - A harlequin-inspired grid in rainbow gradient—from burnt orange to teal to plum. It’s eye candy and texture all in one.
- Retro Sunburst Page - This one pops! Concentric sunbursts in rich rainbow shades—absolutely perfect as a full-page journal feature or cut into wild shapes for collages.
Video Walkthrough Using These Backgrounds!
Why Did I Make These?
Okay, confession time: I’ve been in a rainbow phase lately—but I didn’t want the usual bright and shiny kind. I wanted a set that felt like a well-loved vintage textbook, or a mid-century quilt pulled from an attic trunk. That kind of nostalgic, muted-but-still-vibrant rainbow vibe. So I made it!
These are perfect for layering, background building, or even chopping up into tags and ephemera. I’ll definitely be using them in my art journal, some fun scrapbook spreads, and probably a couple collage cards too!
I made these completely from scratch using Kittl.com!
Why Are They Free?
Because creativity should be joyful and accessible. Whether you're a seasoned junk journaler or just getting started, I love making high-quality printables that help you express your style—without the price tag. Enjoy, my artsy friend!
How to Print Them Out
Here are a few tips for getting the most out of these pages:
- Paper: Use matte cardstock for durability or regular paper if you’re collaging.
- Size: These are 8.5x11 inches, but you can scale them down in your printer settings for smaller projects.
- Ideas: Use as scrapbook paper, journal page backgrounds, envelope liners, or cut them into strips, tags, and die cuts!
Commercial License for Printing
There is a commercial license for these freebies as long as you print them out first! Feel free to use them in junk journals for sale on Etsy, use them in scrapbook pages for sale at a craft fair or even sell the sheets whole. There is no license to distribute these digitally.
How to Download the Free Printable
You can get all of these awesome printables in the freebie library! Just click here or the image below to get your password (if you don’t have it already). If you already have the password, you can enter the freebie library and download hundreds of printables for free!
Wrap-Up
These background pages are playful, punchy, and packed with personality. I had so much fun designing them—and I hope you’ll have even more fun using them. Whether you’re scrapping, layering, or journaling your heart out, these vintage rainbow papers are ready to shine in your next project!
Here are some more fun printables you might love:
- 5 Romantic Junk Journal Page Printables
- 5 Faux Flower Fabric Freebies – Vintage Ephemera
- How To Make Vintage Collage Paper Backgrounds
