FAQs

What sort of materials can I expect in my pack?

An eclectic, honest lucky dip of paper gathered for cutting, pasting, and journaling.

We don't claim to have museum-grade rare antiquities, and that isn't our goal. Great junk journals and collages thrive on contrasting aged, weathered text with vibrant, modern visual punch. Every parcel contains 60 to 100 hand-curated pieces from across the decades:

  • Authentic Vintage Paper: Aged book pages, yellowed dictionary sheets, retro photographs, vintage postage stamps, and genuine photographic film negatives.

  • Modern Ephemera & Graphic Clippings: Bold cutouts from modern fashion and art magazines, contemporary stickers, bright illustrations, and salvaged modern storybooks.

  • Everyday Printed Oddities: Scratch-off lottery tickets, game cards, packaging clippings, labels, and receipts that bring color, texture, and everyday nostalgia to your spreads.

  • Foundation Sheets: Full-sized vintage or salvaged pages (up to 7x9 inches) to serve as backgrounds, journal pockets, or bases.

If you are looking strictly for 100-year-old parchment, this pack isn't for you. But if you want a playful, colorful, hand-trimmed stash of real paper that skips digital reprints entirely, you'll feel right at home.

 

Where do you source your materials from?

First and foremost, we are paper salvagers. Our absolute favorite source is the damaged, unwanted paper that society is ready to toss in the recycling bin: a discarded elementary school workbook, a beloved picture book with a dog-chewed corner, or a volume left out on a porch in light rain. Finding the beauty in "ruined" books and rescuing them from the landfill is goal number one.

When we attend local estate sales and garage sales, we don't just shop, we connect with the hosts and ask to adopt whatever paper, cards, or books are left over when the sale wraps up so they don't end up hauled to the dump.

Actually buying books off a shelf is our absolute last resort. We only shop for paper when a batch needs a very specific vintage punch, like 50+ year-old ledger sheets or antique typography that couldn't be salvaged organically.

Rescuing, preserving, and repurposing will always be the heart of The Paper Parcel. Every piece you paste into your journal is paper that was given a second life.


When is the next Paper Parcel drop?

The Paper Parcel is released in limited, small-batch drops rather than keeping permanent inventory.

Because every single piece of paper is scavenged from authentic vintage finds, hand-trimmed, and curated to postal weight limits, assembling each batch takes time. Once a drop sells out, the shop closes until the next collection is salvaged and packed.

Our very first drop (001-limited to 25 packs), lands on Sunday, October 18, at 7:00 PM CST.

To make sure you don't miss launch day, enter your email on our homepage to get notified the second the vault opens, and follow our daily sourcing behind-the-scenes on Instagram and TikTok.

 

Do you ship internationally?

At this time, The Paper Parcel only ships within the United States.

To ensure every delicate vintage relic arrives safely at your craft desk, all US orders ship completely free in sturdy 7x9 rigid stay-flat mailers with tracking included.

We would love to send rescued paper overseas in the future! We are keeping our early drops domestic as we grow. If you are an international crafter, be sure to sign up with your email and follow us on Instagram and TikTok so you'll be the first to know!

 

Why does every Paper Parcel look different?

Because no two parcels are ever identical! Every pack is a one-of-a-kind curation!

Rather than relying on modern mass reprints, we curate using a cross-era blend. That means every pack pairs genuine vintage history (50+ year-old book pages, antique ephemera, vintage stamps, and real film negatives) alongside modern graphic gems (bold editorial cutouts, quirky contemporary illustrations, retro finds, and salvaged picture books).

We salvage real paper from all eras, your pack is an authentic lucky dip of textures, weights, and time periods. Some vintage pieces might carry aged patina, soft creases, or sunned edges from decades past, while modern pieces bring crisp lines and vibrant ink.

Those imperfections aren't flaws, they’re genuine character you just don't get with digital printouts.

 

Are these real vintage papers or mass-produced reprints?

Every vintage item is 100% authentic salvaged history, never photocopies, digital printouts, or mass-produced craft-store knockoffs. We intentionally pair genuine 50+ year-old book pages, vintage postage, and real photographic film alongside curated modern graphics for high-contrast collage work.

 

How do you keep the papers from bending during transit?

Every Paper Parcel is secured under a protective belly band and shipped inside a heavy-duty 7x9 rigid stay-flat cardboard mailer. This prevents postal handlers from folding or creasing your paper, ensuring your packs will land on your desk looking like they just left mine.

 

How fast will my order ship after launch day?

Orders begin dispatching within 2 to 3 business days following the launch. Tracking information is emailed to you the moment your shipping label prints.

 

Is shipping really free?

Yes. Standard domestic shipping with USPS tracking is 100% free for all US orders. No hidden checkout fees or handling surcharges.

 

What is your return policy?

Due to the one-of-a-kind, limited nature of curated paper packs, all sales are final once shipped. However, if your rigid mailer arrives damaged or compromised by the carrier, reach out through our Contact page immediately with a photo of the envelope and we will make it right.