If you've got a deck of playing cards lying around — maybe one that's missing a few, or one you finished and never got around to tossing — this tutorial shows exactly what to do with them. Part 5 of my Ephemera Making Series, it covers how I turn ordinary (and yes, very shiny) playing cards into vintage-looking pieces for junk journals, with no sanding and no gesso required. Just two layers, a bit of patience while things dry, and you end up with a whole deck of ready-to-use ephemera.
What we cover
How to alter playing cards using old book pages, PVA glue, and dried tea bags — including placement tips for a natural vintage look, edge inking for distressing, and a handful of ideas for how to actually use the finished cards in your journals. I also show how to sew three cards together into a small booklet at the end, which came together in a way I wasn't expecting when I started.
What you'll learn
How to apply book pages to playing cards without sanding or gesso — even on surfaces that are completely glossy. The PVA and tea bag layer bonds to the card directly, and once it's dry it won't peel.
Placement strategy for book page fragments — the difference between laying a strip across the middle of a card versus anchoring it to the sides is subtle but real. Centered book page pulls the eye and can look a bit accidental; placed at the edges it reads as intentional and vintage. I show examples of both — including a few early cards where I got it wrong — so you can see the difference clearly.
How to mix and apply a PVA glue solution, including:
- Three parts PVA to one part water as a working ratio
- Why spreadability matters more than the specific brand — Mod Podge works just as well
- Covering the whole card surface before laying the tea bag, then going over it again on top
How to use dried tea bags as a decoupage layer, including:
- Why tea bags hold up better than tissue paper during application — they're made to stay intact in water, so they don't rip as easily
- How to lay the tea bag over the glued card and work it flat without tearing
- Making sure the edges of the tea bag fold fully over the card edge so nothing lifts when dry
How to cut and distress the finished card — once dry, you trim along the card edge, which lifts the excess cleanly. Then optional edge inking; I usually reach for brown, but in this video I used a purplish tone and liked how it deepened the vintage feel.
Ways to use finished cards in junk journal projects, including:
- Loose ephemera dropped into pockets or used as tags with a ribbon
- Focal points on covers, envelopes, or pouches — with lace underneath or a word sentiment added on top
- Journaling spots made by gluing or sewing a stamped book page onto the back and lining with tea-dyed paper
- Artists trading card swaps
- Theme-based journals — an Alice in Wonderland journal came to mind immediately, but the same idea works for any theme by adding a printed image or quote specific to that theme
How to sew three altered cards into a small booklet, including:
- Punching binding holes and sewing a simple binding with thread
- Adding a small clasp and sticker to finish the cover
- Using a torn scrap of book page to soften the hard rectangular edges of the closure — because a perfectly straight rectangle next to a precise round sticker needs something to break it up
Tips & gotchas
The shiny surface isn't a problem. I used a deck that had been played through completely — very glossy — and did nothing to prep the surface beforehand. The PVA and tea bag layer adheres and stays put. Don't waste time sanding or applying gesso.
Book page placement matters more than coverage. My early cards had strips right across the middle, and they look noticeably less polished than the ones where I placed the fragment along one side or a corner. You can also skip the book page entirely — some of my cards have none and they still read as vintage once the tea bag layer goes on.
Be gentle with the tea bag. If you're using tissue paper instead, be even more careful — a rip during application can cause peeling later. Tea bags are more forgiving, but still work from the center outward and don't rush. Make sure the edges fold fully over the card before you leave it to dry.
No bubbles, no creases. Once the tea bag is down and glued, take a moment to press everything flat. Bubbles and creases that dry in will show — smooth them out while the glue is still wet.
Work in batches. I do the book page step across all the cards on one day, then come back the next day just to do the inking. It sounds like it might take longer, but it actually goes faster because you're not switching between steps constantly. Before long you've got a full deck of finished cards ready to go.
Make your binding holes small. When I sewed the three-card booklet, I made my holes too large and the book doesn't open as flat as I'd like. Small holes let the pages lie open properly. Something I'll do differently next time — worth knowing before you start rather than after.
Having them made in advance rather than making them as you need them changes how freely you can use them, because the decision is already done. The mini booklet idea at the end of this tutorial is one direction to take them; a pullout journaling spot is another. There are a lot of quiet hours of making in a single deck of cards.
