E is for Ephemera

April 5, 2020
A - to - Z Challenge

E is for Ephemera

In March 2020, I decided to participate in the A - to - Z Challenge that was going to begin on April 1st. Being new to blogging since January, I thought this would give me the opportunity of honing in on my writing skills, share my passions and meet other bloggers that I could connect with. 

Since becoming a blogger, (honestly - something I've done for a long time, just didn't realize I was doing it LOL) I have met some wonderful people and have read many wonderful posts. All with their own, unique writing styles. Often, I wonder how many people stop and take the time to read my posts or even follow me, critique my writings in their heads. Although it really doesn't matter since it's my personal views, thoughts, and style but I am curious. 

While I was pondering what theme, I'd like to write about for the A - to - Z blog, I had several different ideas swirling around in my head. Being a paper crafter, I decided to stay in my lane and write about something I enjoy doing. This would also give me the opportunity of sharing some of my personal creations with others. 

Before the challenge started, I planned out what I'd write about each day with each letter. I didn't have the content laid out yet, other than the topic for the corresponding letter. 

E is for Ephemera

EPHEMERA - something I have a great deal of in my crafting room. In my stuff, one might find a tag from this and tags from that, might see a random plane ticket from my daughter's travels. There may be a few movie theatre ticket stubs, or you could find many postcards that have been collected over the years. There may even be old postage stamps, envelopes, and a few library cards in my stash too. If you were to open that drawer of mine, you will see business cards that I've collected over the years. Old letters and greeting cards could be used as ephemera. In that box on the other side of the room, are color-coordinated paint chip cards that I've picked up as well. In the filing cabinet, one would see playbills of musicals, as well as different receipts for many different purchases, too.  I also vintage books where the pages could also be considered ephemera. Have you figured out what ephemera is yet? 

DEFINITION: 

Ephemera - items of collectible memorabilia, typically written or printed ones, that were originally expected to have only short-term usefulness or popularity 

Where can one find Ephemera? Browsing the local thrift stores, second-hand shops, libraries, and flea markets and maybe even garage sales would be a great place to start. 

Look through Encyclopedias, Newspapers, Old Books, and old maps for images that can be cut out and placed in glassine bags or other archival protection sleeves to use in crafting projects. With a quick stitch around the edges, one can turn those old images into ephemera pieces.

How many of you have old boxes or trunks tucked away in the garage, basement or attic? I bet it's safe to say if you were to look through them - there would be many wonderful things that are considered ephemera. Things like old letters, envelopes, stamps, and even a postcard or two. There may even be old school records in there or other artifacts from school days from yesterday. I'm sure those things have been there for years on end. 

I have things that have been inherited that I can't seem to bring myself to use in my vintage crafting although that was the purpose of it being given to me. For me, those times are changing...I'll be using them (copying and scanning of course too) But, I may just use the originals since no one in my family is interested in any of it. I'll use these items in vintage journals and possibly scrapbook albums.

I'll give you an example - a few years ago, I received a large box from a cousin. The contents of this box blew me away...there were Time Magazines from the late 1930s. There were Sunday School lesson books from the 1940s and in these books were handwritten notes that my Aunt had written. There were old pattern packages. There were also a few handwritten letters from my aunt to her mother, my grandmother. I picked up another Time magazine and under it was an envelope filled with old postage stamps that had been cut off letters. The postmarks on these dated back to the early 1900s. There were even some old photographs (I have no idea who is in them, but I'm sure they are family since the box came from a cousin). All these things are considered ephemera pieces. I often time wonder if anything is of value -some of the things are damaged, but still usable. I preserve them as much as I can by placing them in archival sleeves or sheet protectors. 

Now that I've described what ephemera looks like, how many of you have any of these lying around in a box tucked away in an attic or the top of the closet, in a trunk out in the garage or storage shed? 

I remember a while back; I had visited a little shop not far from where I live, I walked down an aisle and a young man was sitting on the floor with vintage photos scattered all about. My heart jumped with joy for several different reasons. One as a paper crafter and the other the family genealogist. I so wanted to snatch those photos up and say - - NO, please don't destroy them (coming from the genealogist side of me) while on the other hand, the paper crafter was saying, 'oh to use those on tags, or in other crafting projects would be amazing).  So, you see, I am constantly having this mental battle where some items are concerned when it comes to ephemera. 

E is for Ephemera. I'll leave you with images of ephemera I have tucked away in my crafting room. 

I'm always on the hunt for ephemera items that can be used in my vintage journals or scrapbook layouts. 

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