We All Have Baggage Collection Introduction With Sheri Ballantyne
Hi crafty friends! I’m Sheri Ballantyne, creator and long-time craft store owner of The Papercrafter’s Workshop in Whitby, Ontario in Canada. I’m so excited to get to share my new collection, We All Have Baggage, with you.
Life is not simple. We all have things that we carry around with us, things we face every day. Studies report that 1 in 4 women will experience symptoms of anxiety or depression in their lifetime. The challenges are real, and as a papercrafting retail store owner, I have seen it firsthand with many customers in our crafting community.
That’s why my first collection with Spellbinders was created around “baggage” – the emotional baggage we carry, represented by actual baggage. It’s designed to be a reminder to each of us that we all have baggage – but we aren’t alone. When the bags get too heavy, we have friends to help us carry them, and we can help our friends carry theirs in return. One thing that I have seen again and again in my 20 years in the industry is that crafters show up to lift each other up and help carry the load, no matter what.
RETRO SUITCASE DIE AND SENTIMENT STAMPS
Because this collection is about things we carry and the places we go to deal with it all, naturally, the cornerstone would be a suitcase, which can be personalized with paper, stencils and more.
The “suitcase stickers” show the positive things we’ve tried that have helped to make the journey easier – peace, love, happiness, tranquility. They can be used with the Retro Suitcase or on their own. Finish your creation off with sentiments that provide heartfelt words of encouragement, connection and support.
ROLLING CRAFT TOTE DIE
For many, crafting is a social activity. Whether in-person or online, we love to share ideas and engage with each other, providing much-needed support and connection. The Rolling Craft Tote represents getting together at crops, classes and crafting events and connecting. This helps reduce the sense of loneliness that we can feel and can make us feel like we belong.
Have fun playing with this die set, which features 2 options for the handle – either up for transportation and using this tote in motion, or down for when it’s standing still. Plus, you can embellish with petite patterned paper or stamp sets to give your tote some fashionable flair.
With this Rolling Craft Tote, we learn to help each other “roll with it” and carry on.
DESIGNER PURSE DIE
Crafting can be considered a form of meditation. Through repetitive, focused actions of cutting, arranging and designing, we create a flow state that helps to ease stress and anxiety. The Designer Purse die allows you to tap into that flow state and feel like a fashion designer.
Mix and match the various purse tops, clasps and handles for different looks. Choose bold colours, softer shades or even metallics to give your purse an everyday or upscale finish. The main panel also works well with detailed embossing folders!
Design, play, and assemble while you tap into your Zen of creating … then share your creations with a special friend.
KEEP CALM SENTIMENT STAMPS
During the Pandemic and in the years that have followed, women have experienced a disproportionately greater impact on their mental health. Being in caregiver roles, facing family changes, career shifts, and more, we all look for calming, hands-on activities that will help us feel positive, productive and connected.
This stamp set, designed by Hero Arts to make a wonderful collaboration between brands, was created to coordinate specifically with the Rolling Craft Tote and Designer Purse dies, but can be used with any of the pieces in the collection. The sentiments were created to inspire lighthearted fun and work well to lift the mood of both the cardmaker and the recipient.
AWARENESS RIBBON DIE AND SENTIMENT STAMPS
Few other icons bring awareness to a cause like a Ribbon. It is also an excellent icon to show your support and encouragement when someone is going through a difficult time.
The Awareness Ribbon die was beautifully designed to be used on its own, or mixed and matched with the “Strength” and “Hope” inserts for added messaging. Make the meaning personal with the colour of ribbon you choose to create.
GREEN = Mental Health
PINK = Breast Cancer
YELLOW = Sarcoma and Bone Cancer
RED = Heart Disease
PURPLE = Alzheimer’s Disease
The sentiment stamp set that comes with this die is filled with words of encouragement and strength. Choose your favourite message or combine them outside and inside your card. There is also a small ribbon that can be stamped, and when fussy cut, fits beautifully on the Retro Suitcase, Rolling Craft Tote and Purse.
Our mental health is so important. Now, more than ever, we need to make time to craft and play with pretty things – it truly is a form of self-care. So is connecting with our friends, sharing our emotional challenges, and make sense of the lives we’re living. I wish you much joy when creating with the “We All Have Baggage” collection – may it lighten your load and help you lift the spirits of others.
One Comment
Joyce Ryan
The “We All Have Baggage” dies and stamp set is very purposeful. As a retired Human Resources Director for a national mental health organization every sentiment in the sets are important reminders for us all. Connections made when we design and craft not only help the creator but a card you send might just change a cloudy day for the recipient!