This year, International Scrapbooking Day is going to take place on May 1st (International Scrapbooking Day is an annual event transpires on the first Saturday of May).
This fact got me thinking about something that has crossed my mind many times over the years and which has continued to pop up in my thoughts all the more since launching Witchcrafted Life last year: Why are there no Pagan-specific paper crafting brands or even Pagan/witchery related product lines from mainstream companies?
There are a lot of factors that lead to the creation of this blog. One of the most important of which is that I wanted to give a voice to, and inspiring platform for, those of us in the paper crafting world who may feel left out, overlooked, marginalized, or even discriminated against by the mainstream paper crafting community and industry.
Now, I should state for the record that, to date, I have never personally felt discriminated against in the paper crafting world. As well, I do not like to approach topics from a victim mindset and am not looking to foster one here.
However, I am the first to acknowledge that some of us have experienced negatives due to the fact that we are not well represented in this sizable crafting industry.
A very brief history of the modern memory keeping industry and community
Chances are, if you’ve been into the paper crafting scene for more than a few minutes, you quickly picked up on the fact that there is a sometimes subtle, sometimes overt, undercurrent of Christianity at play throughout the industry.
I am speaking very broadly here of course and cannot, emphatically, overstate how much I am not, at any point in this post, intentionally saying anything negative against those of a Christian faith or approaching this topic from an “us vs them” sort of perspective.
Please, really and truly, keep this in mind.
While I am a Pagan witch, I generally embrace something of an omnist-like mindset in regards to religion/spirituality, and actively try to respect, learn from, and find inspiration (as well as common ground) in the beliefs and traditions of others.
While the concept of scrapbooking itself has roots stretching back many centuries, modern-day scrapbooking and paper crafting in general got its start in the 1970s and 80s, rapidly gaining momentum and advancing in myriad ways throughout the 1990s onward.
Memory keeping and preserving is something with universal appeal. However, members of certain faiths, especially those such as Mormonism, which place a particular emphasis on genealogy and family history, were a driving force in cementing the modern scrapbooking (and by extension, broader paper crafting) industry and community.
Indeed, some of the most successful paper crafting companies and magazines (i.e., the once hugely popular, now retired Creating Keepsakes magazine, which was started by Becky Higgins) were founded by Mormons in the state of Utah (which has the highest concentration of Mormons in the world).
One of the pioneers of modern-day memory keeping was a woman named Marielen Wadley Christensen from the state of Utah. She took the classic hobbies of memory books, collages and earlier styles of “books of scraps” and developed them into the prototypes of today’s styles of scrapbook pages.
Marielen placed her completed pages into letter-sized (8.5” x 11”) clear plastic sheet (page) protectors, used archival-safe materials, and stored them in 3-ring binders (keep in mind, this was before pre-made scrapbook albums were available).
In the early 1980s, Marlielen was invited to show off her family-focused scrapbook pages at the World Conference of Records, a Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints event, in Salt Lake City.
Her pages were a big hit and found favour with many visitors who were keen to try their hand at this fresh, beautiful, creative, and handy way of preserving their own family photos, memories, and stories.
The following year, Marielen and her husband teamed up to release one of the very first how-to booklets on scrapbooking: “Keeping Memories Alive”.
They then went on to open an eponymously named scrapbooking store, located in Spanish Fork, Utah.
Throughout the 1980s, and especially during the 1990s and 2000s, scrapbooking took off like wildfire. Its popularity soared and a thriving industry quickly sprung up catering to the needs of passionate memory keepers everywhere.
From local scrapbooking stores (affectionally known as LSSs) to the first scrapbooking, card making, stamping and related paper crafting websites, a plethora of book on the topic, demonstration based brands sold at in-home events (such as Stampin’ Up, Close to My Heart, and Creative Memories) to big box and nationwide craft supply chains getting in on the trend, these years were something of the glory days for scrapbookers and the industry that helped to support their creative projects.
The rise of modern paper crafting coincided with that of the internet – a fortuitous happening for both.
Once the world wide web had been established and personal websites sprung up, it wasn’t long before scrapbookers, card makers, stampers, mixed media artists, and others of the paper crafting persuasion were creating websites, blogs, forums, chat groups, online shops, and later, social media accounts devoted to the love of paper crafting.
Like many creative folks, paper crafters often enjoy connecting with one another, sharing their work, teaching, inspiring and talking shop. This led to the invention of social events for the purpose of paper crafting in the company of others which quickly became known as “crops”.
Over the past four decades or so, the scrapbooking industry has evolved, expanded, changed, and involved in a vast number of ways.
Ever-present over the years has been both a number of products and types of paper crafting (for example, the highly popular art form known as bible journaling) aimed specifically at Christian paper crafters.
Of course, there are also many products on the market which are secular or in no way directly related to any form of religion or spirituality.
However, the widespread adoption of paper crafting by many in the Christian sphere (please note, I’m using this word in its broadest sense to encompass all those who follow a faith that involves a belief in Christ) has helped to ensure that the aforementioned undercurrent of Christianity amongst the industry has continued to jump from strength to strength.
Is the paper crafting industry more Christian than other crafting communities?
This is a tricky question to answer in some respects, as it’s fair to say that there are crafters of a wide range of faiths, beliefs and spiritual paths to be found in the vast majority of crafting communities around the world.
From personal experience, I can tell you that I have seen and felt less of a Christian overtone in other crafting communities that I’ve been involved with over the years.
These include communities pertaining to cross stitching, beading and jewelry making, and sewing (I should note, I’m not much of a sewer, but I do hugely admire the art and those who excel at it).
And I have, accordingly, noticed a more widespread and widely accepted presence of Christian products, and projects, magazine articles (the popular Canadian publication, Creative Scrapbooker Magazine, for example, includes an article on bible journaling in each of their quarterly publications, with many more articles on the topic to be found on their website) in the paper crafting world.
I cannot speak for all types of crafting, however, and would be curious to know how other non-Christians feel regarding this subject.
To circle back to the question at hand, I’m inclined to say “yes”, in some respects, but again, suspect that many of us will have our own views on this subject, which may be influenced by our own spiritual or religious path.
Why are Pagans and many others of non-Judeo-Christian faiths not represented in the paper crafting industry?
The reasons for this are many and will no doubt include some that are not listed here. The following are some of the main reasons why I believe such is the case:
–American is a highly Christian country. Christianity is the most prevalent religion in America, the country that can largely be credited with giving rise to the modern paper crafting industry.
In 1990s, polls showed that 81.6% of Americans identified as Christians. By 2019, this number had dropped to 65%. Even with this decline, America has the largest Christian population of any country in the world, with some 240 million individuals identifying as being Christians.
As modern memory keeping and the industry that supports it got much of its start in America, including in an extremely religious state (Utah), it is no surprise that Christianity would become commonplace in the scope of this popular hobby.
And that, by the same token, companies would (and do) cater to Christian scrapbookers. While one does see a modest number of products designed specifically for Jewish crafters, which is wonderful, the percentage of such items is significantly smaller than their Christian counterparts.
Proportionally, this does make sense, especially from a business standpoint, as – in recent years – the percentage of Americans who identify as Jewish is about 1.7 – 2.6% of the US population, according to 2012 statistics.
(And, of course, it’s important to keep in mind that not everyone who identifies as being culturally Jewish, actively practices the Jewish faith. But we’d be veering rather off topic if we delved further into that subject here in this post.)
While some estimate that the Muslim population will surpass that of the Jewish population in the next few decades, presently it is smaller and there are exceedingly few paper crafting products, in Western countries at least, which cater to Islamic crafters.
The same is true for those of all other faiths as well. Including, but in no way limited to, Hindus, Sikhs, Jainists, Shinotists, Buddhists, Taoists, Zoroastrians, Wiccans, Neo-Pagans, Heathens, those of First Nations/Native American faiths, traditional African religion practitioners, and individuals who do not identify as belonging to specific religions or being religious at all, such as atheists.
–Paganism and Wicca don’t exactly jive with Christianity. At least not broadly speaking. While views are starting to change in some respects and the widespread acceptance of people who practice Witchcraft, Paganism, Wicca and similar earth-based paths is gradually increasing throughout mainstream (Western) society, it comes as no surprise to me that an industry with strong Christian roots wouldn’t rush to create products specifically for Pagans and witches.
–There are fewer non-Christian paper crafters. To the best of my knowledge, there are no official stats on the faiths of paper crafters.
However, if we assess the statistical data on religions in countries such as America, Canada, the UK, France, Australia, and New Zealand, for example, it’s easy to see that Pagans, Wiccans and similar folks make up a relatively small percentage of the population. Objectively, this is true worldwide, though many sources report that our numbers are on the rise.
Still, we’re unlikely to hold the lion’s share of the faith/spirituality pie chart anytime soon. Therefore, it does objectively make sense that there are so few paper crafting products on the market that pertain to these spiritual paths.
–We’re a very diverse group. Most faiths have different branches, denominations, and fractions. Paganism and Wicca are no exception. Just as there are countless different types of witchcraft and witches.
(Note: Witchcraft unto itself is an act/practice, not a faith or religion and is practiced by many who follow various faiths, as well as by plenty of people who are areligious. The latter group generally includes those who identify as secular witches.)
While certain symbols, themes and subject matter could be used to broadly cover our community as a whole, the fact that we’re so diverse may also play a role in why so few Pagan and Wiccan paper crafting products exist.
–We’re not a huge group. There are definitely other Pagan/witchy paper crafters besides myself out there in the world (*a warm hello and merry met to all those reading this post*), but objectively, we’re not a giant group by any means.
However, it should be noted that while there may not presently be a ton of Pagan, Wiccan, and witchy paper crafters, a decent percentage of people in this broad community do engage in creating and keeping some form of a magickally and/or spirituality related journal, grimoire, or Book of Shadow.
I believe that there would be a ready market for paper crafting products aimed at these types of handmade books.
Happily, there are some indie sellers and companies that produce a small number of products for these purposes, many of which can be found on Etsy, as well as through various Pagan, witchcraft and Wiccan online shops.
Such products are not released by mainstream paper crafting companies, however, and many – though not all – of these items are digital products that require one to print them at home.
–There hasn’t been a big public demand for Pagan paper crafting products. Companies, be they indie operations or industry-leading behemoths typically put out products in relation to the perceived or established demand, need for, and interest in certain items.
If Pagans, Wiccans, and witches are not actively requesting products tailored to their beliefs and/or forming visible public groups, blogging up a storm, or popping up frequently on social media, it is logical that companies haven’t exactly rushed to put out a slew of Pagan and witchy paper crafting products.
Have recent trends and changes in the paper crafting industry helped or hurt non-Christian paper crafters?
The paper crafting world has changed a fair bit in the past two decades. Plenty of what could now be called older or more traditional approaches and products do still exist.
However, newer trends, economic factors, and a decline in the overall number of active paper crafters (along with various other factors) have all influenced and shaped the paper crafting industry as it presently sits.
From the immense rise and widespread adoption of digital photography to the explosion in popularity of artistry and creativity in the fields of journaling, planner keeping, and travel notebook keeping to the continued popularity of digital scrapbooking, paper crafting has gone through various transformations in recent years and will most likely continue to evolve as time goes on.
In some respects, I think that these changes have helped Pagan paper crafters – at least a small bit, as there is a handful of indie sellers who produce witchy themed day planner, bullet journaling (bojo), and similar products (most are to be found on Etsy).
Yet, by and large, I don’t think these changes and forms of growth in the industry made too much of an impact either way so far.
In a sense, this is surprising – especially given that Paganism, Wicca, other forms of less-mainstream spirituality are finding favour with more and more people these days. Yet, at the same time, it is not entirely surprising, for all of the reasons covered throughout this post.
Has a mainstream paper crafting company ever released a dedicated Pagan or witchcraft-related product line?
Short answer, to the best of my knowledge as someone who has been an avid paper crafter for over a decade now, no.
In recent years, we’ve seen various brands, such as Prima Marketing, Photo Play, and Hero Arts flirt with somewhat witchy and/or Pagan-y looking subject matter.
This is due at least in part to the rise in things such as modern boho trends, concepts like “good vibes” and one’s “tribe”, and the general witchy aesthetic which have all been having recent mainstream moments.
Again, however, I am not aware of any mainstream brand that has specifically released a Pagan or witchcraft-focused line (the closest many brands may ever come is in respect to certain fall and Halloween releases).
What can Pagan and witchy paper crafters do to get around the lack of items designed specifically for us?
While you might not be able to run out to your nearest LLS or favourite online scrapbooking store and order up a bunch of Ostara, Mabon, lunar cycle, handfasting, tarot card or ancestor work specific products, thankfully there are still options available to help us create Pagan/witchery related projects.
When shopping for paper crafting items, keep an eye out for the following types of products:
–Holidays and special events. From wreaths and pine trees for Yule to eggs and bunnies for Ostara, pumpkins and fall leaves at Mabon to darker fall and death related imagery for Samhain, there are tons of seasonal and holiday-related products that can easily be used in your Pagan paper crafts (as well as BOS, grimoires, planners, and journals).
Whenever possible, I try to stock up on autumn and Halloween-related paper crafting items come the fall time. Doing so not only for seasonal sabbat projects, but for a wide range of other paper crafting creations all year round. I find the earthy/witchy/darker themes and nature of these items are a perfect fit for my spirituality and paper crafting style alike. (Very much including my #MakeHalloween365 creations!)
–Nature and animals. Thankfully there is a vast abundance of nature and animal-related paper crafting items. From flowers to trees and leaves, birds to fish, cats to dogs, llamas to dolphins, the sky is pretty much the limit, and there’s likely to be at least one or two items on the market for many types of animals, plants and flowers (as well as fungi).
These can be awesome for everything from seasonal and sabbat related makes to creations pertaining to spirit animal guides and familiars, favourite outdoor settings, gardening, and so much more.
–Stars, moons and other astrological bodies. Let’s face it, a good many of us witches and Pagans really, really love (and often venerate) the stars, moons, planets and other heavenly bodies.
If you’re keen to put items related to these celestial beauties to work in your paper crafting projects, there are many different products – from stamps to washi tape to stickers – available that will enable you to just that.
–Faeries, gnomes and other similar entities. Numerous companies have produced fairy, gnome and similar wee folk themed paper crafting products over the years. In particular, check out brands such as Lawn Fawn, Doodlebug Designs, Art Impressions, Reminisce, Pink Ink Designs, Sunny Studio Stamps, Tonic Studios, Sizzix, Prima, Penny Black, Kaisercraft, Stampendous, Creative Expressions, and Hunkydory Crafts, to name but a few.
–Mythical creatures. Much as with gnomes and fairies, various brands routinely release mythical creature themed paper crafting products as well. Unicorns, mermaids, dragons are the most common, but I’ve spotted others over the years, too, such as griffins. As both unicorns and mermaids have been trending big time in recent years, there is currently more crafting products than ever on the market pertaining to these beautiful beings.
–Food and cooking. Oodles of scrapbooking, card making, journaling and similar products exist that pertain to food. From birthday cakes to pumpkin pies, fruit and veg to glasses of wine, there’s a vast array of culinary-related paper crafting items on the market, some of which might be a great fit for your witchy creations. And don’t forget about kitchen tool, BBQ, and even campfire cooking themed items as well.
–Shapes and geomatic designs. Perfect to use as is, combine to make different shapes, layer, utilize in art journals and mixed media projects, you name it! Shapes and geometric designs are versatile, fun and easy to get creative with in a snap.
–Alphabets, words and numbers. No “Blessed Be”, “Happy Litha”, or “Congratulations on your handfasting” stamp, sticker or premade die cut to be had? Fear not! Alphabet, word, and number themed products are here to help you create just the card greeting, layout title, planner heading or other type of sentiment that you need.
These are just some of the possible themes and types of items that you can use to help you create Pagan and witchy related projects.
The sky is truly the limit and I wholeheartedly encourage you to get (all the more) creative and look for lots of different ways to utilize the paper crafting products that are on the market today.
Other places to source images to use on your Pagan and witchy related projects include free clip art (the web is rife with such, thankfully!), public domain photos and images, copyright-free books and images, old magazines and calendars, digital scrapbooking products (again, Etsy to the rescue!), product packaging, and even photos you’ve taken yourself (can’t find a pentacle image you like? Why not take a photo of one yourself and size/edit it as needed for your project?).
While the archival-safe properties of such will vary, as will the length they’re apt to realistically last, you may also wish to employ the use of ethically sourced natural materials in your projects.
This could include things such as dried/pressed flowers and leaves, small sticks, tree bark, dried seeds and seed pods, dried ferns and moss, seashells and real sand, dried herbs and spices, small stones and crystals, and feathers.
In addition, those who do digital scrapbooking, hybrid scrapbooking, and/or own digital die cutting machines (as well, to a degree, as traditional die cutting machines that use metal dies) have a vast number of pre-existing options, in addition to those that you may be able to create yourself, that can work well for Pagan/witchy related projects.
And lastly, if one had the means, skills, time and abilities required, you could always consider launching your own indie line of Pagan or witchery related paper crafting products.
That said, I wholeheartedly realize that doing so is not possible for, or desired by, most people. However, if your heart feels a strong pull in that direction, it may be worth pursuing (please let me know if you do – I’d love to support your line!).
How can Pagan and all non-Christian paper crafters help to make our presence known?
I realize and sincerely respect that this isn’t as straightforward an answer as it might seem on the surface.
Plenty of witches, Pagans and Wiccans opt to keep their beliefs/ways of life under wraps. Some live, either by choice or circumstance, in the proverbial broom closet, and may have zero desire to let it be known far and wide that they’re a witch, Wiccan, or Pagan.
However, for those who are comfortable sharing about their spirituality publicly, one of the best ways to help let the paper crafting industry known that we exist is to share what we create online.
This can be through blogs, websites, YouTube, or social media. If you’re a Pagan/witchy crafter, tag the brands whose products you’ve used when you share your projects.
And in the same vein, use hashtags, such as #paganpapercrafter #witchcraftedlife #MakeHalloween365 and #witchcrafters to help grow and foster the online witchy/Pagan crafting community.
Write to brands! It is possible that many, if not most brands, haven’t even thought about the idea of launching Pagan/witchy related paper crafting items.
If more of us speak up and request these kinds of items, there is a somewhat greater chance that at least one company will be willing to step up, take the lead and launch the first mainstream line of Pagan related scrapbooking, card making and stamping items.
As well, if you make projects relating to your spirituality, and which you are comfortable sharing publicly (i.e., a Yule card or Beltane themed scrapbook page) consider submitting them for publication to a paper crafting magazine.
Non-Christian religions, faiths and spiritual beliefs are staggeringly underrepresented in the paper crafting world. This is only apt to change if we ourselves, as crafters, take the lead and make our presence and our creations publicly known.
Why the paper crafting industry needs to become much more inclusive in general
This post has focused on the lack of Pagan and witchery-specific products in the paper crafting industry. However, the fact of the matter is that despite the global scale, widespread popularity, and continued interest in this hobby, the products that exist for it remain somewhat homogenized and status quo.
There is an emphasis on standard holidays, common themes, familiar concepts, and even certain colour palettes. These things tend to sell, and companies know that. It is important, of course, to produce products with wide appeal and creative possibilities, but it would also behoove brands to think outside of the box at times.
While some certainly are, not every paper crafter is a cis-gendered, middle to upper-class Caucasian woman who is married with kids.
Where are the paper crafting products pertaining to the LGBT+ community? To single parents? To those living with mental health issues, chronic illnesses, or disabilities? How about the immigrant experience or feminism or life on the spectrum? What about Black Lives Matter?
(Note: Very gradually we are starting to see a small number of mainstream brands release LGBT+ related products, such as Paper House Production’s Diversity Pride stickers. This is awesome and long overdue! Hopefully, we will continue to witness a much broader range of diversity represented in the paper crafting world as time goes on.)
As well, we need more products that address not only the cheerful, positive times in life, but also the rougher, harder, darker, and more difficult ones as well. (A great example of one such product that tackles paper crafting for challenging times is Whimsy Stamp’s heart-touching Life Goes On stamp set.)
There are many individuals and groups who are not represented in the mainstream paper crafting product world. I realize that it would be virtually impossible to cover every person and group and do not expect the industry to do so.
I think, however, that as we step ever further into the second decade of the 21st century, there is ample room – and need – for brands to expand the subject matter that their products cover.
The more that people can easily find products that relate to who they are and what their life is like, the more apt they are to buy, create, and publicly share their finished products, thoughts on certain brands, and ideas to help inspire others to design their own projects as well.
Far from hurting many brands, I believe that greater diversity + inclusivity will help to make companies appear more conscious, caring, understanding, and, at the end of the day, even on trend.
The paper crafting world should always feel like, and be, a welcoming creative sphere for those from all walks of life, beliefs and creative approaches.
Let us hope that as this century progresses further, we will see more brands helping to make this a stronger reality. ❤️
I find this is true in therms of publishing children’s books as well. I’ve had to spend hours searching for quality books and I wrote some too ( the feedback keeps saying well done but not enough market) Unfortunately, the two places that are known for witchy stuff ( Llewelyn and Rockport) don’t take children’s books.
Oh my goodness- creative memories! I used to own all that stuff in the 90s! And have 3 books for my kids from the end movement on it.
My BOS is now my outlet and I find all my stuff on Etsy.
Christianity is complex. I live in a Christian town and still most of one side of my group is that way. The readers of my blog are predominantly Christian and I try to speak their language while also opening up possibilities or warmth towards some of my stuff – it’s not an easy line.
I was completely an atheist before pagan and now I’m feeling that I’m witchy but still love the concept of Jesus … and some Christian concepts – they have been marred by people … i have a complex relationship with it. We were deeply wounded by Christians and the church on one hand – but some of the pagan community did the same in other areas… I think people are just people and fallible. I wish we could just be inclusive but honour all the beautiful parts of each belief practice …. sigh. I talk about Christianity a lot as it’s a predominant aspect of my life where I live and in my family. I have to take it slow – very slow. Like it’s been years but my mom is just coming around to the fact o have oracle cards. We call them “ inspirational cards” and I mainly call them that on my blog and they still had a tough time wrapping their brain around it due to the ridiculous stigma of anything that way.
Fundamentalism and biblical literalism is the problem. I’ve often wondered if you can be a witchy Christian but it seems like a contradiction… yet sometimes I feel I have aspects of both. It’s complex. The only place I could be more vocal about my interests besides my home was my private Instagram you were part of but alas social media is no longer for me even tho I miss some aspects. I have to walk that thin line on my blog and in my life. I used to find that frustrating but now I’m making peace with it as both sides can teach me both good and bad examples of life and both keep me a bit more balanced ( hopefully) and I’m grateful so much for both types of people. It’s an honour to know you.
That said – I love my witchy papers and I’ll definitely be checking out this stuff! Thank you! I do wish there was more witchy representation in beautiful things. Halloween is when I tend to find them other than Etsy!:)
Oh and yea I grew up literally in a Christian K-12 school and college so was fully immersed. It’s amazing I found pagan books and witchy things – and even tho I’m not the Christian girl I was in high school – I still love some of the culture ( songs from Michael w smith/ the Chosen) and I find actually that surprisingly both Wicca and Christianity have a lot of parallels when boiled down to it tho both sides would be horrified of me saying that – I’ve read the many Christian and pagan books and Christianity was built on paganism in many ways but there are also current pagan beliefs that have many aspects of worship, ritual and harming none that could be thrown into the other mix… it would take too long to get into here but I wish both sides would be like the Dar Song “ Christians and the pagans” I have both in my life and love them both dearly.
I’ll carry both till I die due to my upbringing and feel constantly torn … it’s so complicated!🧡♥️✨ (And yeah, I know multiple Christians would be the first to come after me if they knew everything yet I hope that the ones I’ve worked hard with would stick up for me … and I find the pagans are the first to drop out if I say anything Christian or from my past and call me conservative which is ironic just because I like some aspects … although generally at least they leave quietly for the most part which doesn’t feel nicer but at least I’m not as worried for my physical safety! Again so complex!!!)
Thank you very much, dear Kmarie, for speaking so openly, earnestly, and at length about this topic. I really appreciate you sharing both your time and some of your own personal experiences + insights with me.
I’m deeply sorry that you’ve not been able to find a publisher for your children’s stories. Awesome job on creating them! You are an expressive, terrific writer and deserve to be published (self-publishing is a much more viable and, in some ways at least, accessible option these days if publishers aren’t seeing the worth of your work, and is something I’ve toyed with at times for various projects myself – perhaps one day!).
You are absolutely right regarding the complexities and challenges that can come with writing, even on a site that is 100% your own in every possible way, about your own faith and spirituality when it differs from that of most/many of your readers.
Prior to launching this site, I thought that a larger percentage of my audience would come (and hopefully stay) for my Pagan/witchy/spirituality-related content than what has thus far materialized. It has been very interesting then to see the paper crafting side of things prove to so popular and to know that many of my readers (by their own public admission on their respective sites/SM) are Christians.
Fortunately, and very thankfully, most people who comment here and on my IG are kind, open-hearted, accepting folks and I’ve not yet run into many hurtful, unkind, or disrespectful comments pertaining to my own personal spiritual path.
It’s beautiful that you are able to connect with elements of both Christianity and Paganism. While in no way a Christian myself, I sincerely appreciate certain messages, teachings, and traditions of this global faith and both have had, and currently have, many Christian friends (and relatives) throughout my life.
I knew going into this post that it was unlikely to receive many comments and that it might even cost me some readers. It was not, and is not, my intent to say anything negative against Christians here (or in general – I am a huge believer in live and let live, and to each their own on the spirituality front), but rather to explore a topic that I have never seen anyone in either the paper crafting or Pagan/witchy world discuss before.
Thank you again very much for taking the time to share all that you did and for feeling comfortable with discussing areas pertaining to your own path here on my blog.
♥ Autumn
Another interesting post Autumn, I think what you say is very true but perhaps less so in the UK, I don’t think we express our beliefs, religious or otherwise as much as Americans. We do seem to be seeing more LGBT images and some depicting disabilities, mainly physical disabilities though.
It’s a good job we are good at searching out the things we want and manage to find ways to adapt what we have.
Pauline – Crafting with Cotnob
x
Thank you very much, Pauline. I sincerely appreciate your comment and perspectives on this topic.
While, by and large, I would say that Canada falls somewhere between the US and UK on that front, there is still not (IMO) the same degree of church and state here as in the UK.
I lived in Ireland (ROI) for two years at the state of my twenties and while religion is, unquestionably an important, very historically centred and meaningful part of that nation, interestingly, I didn’t generally feel its undertones in some areas of daily life to the same degree as here in North America.
It’s fantastic that, little by little, we’re starting to see more crafting products hitting the market pertaining to areas like LGBT+ and disabilities (agreed; it would be excellent to see more that pertain not only to physical health challenges, but to mental ones as well). Hopefully, the numbers in both of those areas will continue to grow with each passing year.
I knew going into it that this post wouldn’t likely be the most commented upon ever and that t might even cost me some readers (I hope not, of course, but I’m nothing if not a realist), so really must thank you again for weighing in on this subject.
♥ Autumn
Re to your comment Autumn ;
Honestly I didn’t find anything insulting to Christians as people on this post so worry not. 🧡I thought it was well balanced but you are right that any topic that’s in that vein can be tricky ( I know this from the many posts o wrote on controversial subjects and I’ve definitely lost readers!;) but you are always wonderfully compassionate 🧡✨
And thank you for the idea of self publishing- that’s an excellent idea ! I think you’d be good at that too! ✨
Hello sweet soul, many thanks in turn for your reply as well. Across the blogging sphere, it tends to be the exception, not the norm, for folks to swap back and forth (especially animble ones!) in the comment section of blog posts.
I’m very appreciative to you for letting me know that nothing rubbed you the wrong way in this post. I cannot stress again how much it was not my intent to say anything against Christians here, and really do hope that most folks who read this entry understood as much and were not put off by my discussing the prevalence of Christianity in the paper crafting world.
Aww! Thank you so much! I think you’d make for an excellent self-published author as well. If you opt to go down that path, please be sure to let me know when your first title is released. I’d love to support your book writing however I possibly can.
Wishing you a safe, serene, and very enjoyable April-into-May!
♥ Autumn
Thank you, Autumn, for this in-depth post.
I have always felt I need to keep my spiritual choices to myself especially in the crafting community primarily because it is so predominately Christian.
While I don’t announce my path in most situations, I also don’t conform to any social situations to blend. I am always the weirdo. I make a conscious effort to create based on my path but accommodate the recipients’ beliefs by remaining flexible.
All that said. I know of a fantastic stamp maker on eBay who has a great selection of pagan and other non-christian stamps. Pretty sure I got my Blessed Be and Have a Cool Yule stamps from him.
I loved so many, I reached out and I was able to buy an entire sheet of all the great stamps I desired.
Check out Amazing Arts: https://www.ebay.com/usr/amazing_arts?_trksid=p2047675.l2559
I also lean heavily on Halloween themed products, and I find Harry Potter themed paper crafting goodies to be a good fit as well.
Thanks so much for all the bloggy love. Rest assured I read yours, I just don’t have much time to comment. But I just had to let you and your pagan readers know about Amazing Arts!
(Just found the set with all the great sentiments at a very reasonable price! https://www.ebay.com/itm/202630744421?hash=item2f2dbbc965:g:C2YAAOSwA3dYMTkN)
Hello lovely Alicia, thank you wholeheartedly for your immensely kind comment and the fantastic eBay resources you included with it.
Discovering your awesome blog a few months ago, I suspected based on its name and the background graphics used that you were a fellow witch/Pagan.
I have a strict persoinal policy of respecting people’s privacy and not asking them outright about their faith/beliefs though (especially since plenty of us are not out of the broom closet), so didn’t want to ask you directly about it. Learning now that you are indeed a fellow witch/Pagan makes my heart do backflips of happiness!
While we’re not the only two Pagan/Wiccan/witchy paper crafters out there, of course, as a collective whole, we aren’t exactly the largest bunch and getting to connect directly with a fellow witchy crafter is such a blessing.
Please, really and truly, do not worry for a nanosecond regarding if you’re able to comment or not. I totally understand (goodness knows there are only so many hours in the day!) and am grateful for the support of your readership.
Just as I am for those fab links!
As a future follow-up to this post, I’m thinking that an entry focused squarely on indie Pagan and witchy paper crafting sellers would be a logical way to go (and hopefully help others like us who are seeking these kinds of products out).
The links you shared will be a perfect inclusion for that post. Thank you again for sharing them!
May you have a serene, sunny, abundantly blessed and wonderfully happy Beltane season!
♥ Autumn
Such an interesting post with lots to mull and think over. As one who identifies as Christian, please know that your post was in no way offensive or taken as “us vs. them”. I know that’s important to you and I imagine you reviewed and edited to say what is in your heart and mind in a loving, caring, accepting and inclusive manner. We don’t need to practice our faith/spirituality in the same ways to love others and be loved in return. In fact, it’s in communicating with others who share different views that we can reflect critically on our own belief systems.
As an Accessibility Advisor, I work extensively with individuals with disabilities. Many of my students are marginalized in other ways as well. Communication is the key to education and we cannot advocate for change if voices are silenced (or too afraid to speak up in the first place).
I do feel that the digitalization of our craft opens more doors and allows more smaller entrepreneurs, artists and businesses to delve into new territories with limited costs while reaching greater audiences. Supporting those who distribute items that work for you (and that includes anything – spirituality, favourite flowers, colours, etc.) will hopefully increase ongoing production of those items.
I noticed in your last post (which is actually your newest but I’m working backwards!), you used letter tiles to create your own sentiment. I’ve always loved papercrafting for the ability to do just that – take what I’ve got to make what I want/need. With a few tools and some creativity, we can fill in the gaps that are missing while we wait for the industry to catch up in certain areas.
Thanks for opening my eyes to an area of crafting (or, in this case, a neglected area). I always feel so educated and enlightened when I pop by to visit you – and I love that!!
Dear Kate, I want to sincerely thank you for your comment and for seeing that I did not in any way wish to cause offence to my Christian readers. Please know that I appreciate these things tremendously.
Thankfully, I have not (yet?) received any comments or emails from readers who were off-put, but I am almost certain I lost at least a few as a result of this post. I assumed that would be the case going into it, but didn’t feel that risk was reason enough to not speak objectively about this interesting and important topic.
I concur completely with what you said regarding the importance of loving/respecting and learning from people of different spiritual paths than our own. I strive to live my life in the same way and am grateful for each person I’ve encountered over the years who has broadened my knowledge and understanding of spirituality + the world in general care of their own belief systems.
Likewise, I nodded in agreement regarding what you said about digital products. The scope and span of options and diversity that digitally delivered goods opens up is pretty much limitless and I sense we’ll gradually see more and more representation (across a wide spectrum of areas) here as the years roll on. I really hope that will be the case and welcome it big time.
Really, thank you again, Kate, for your reassurance, support, and kindness.
Abundant hugs & sunny April-into-May wishes coming your way!
♥ Autumn
PS: A very big thanks as well for your lovely feedback about my Springoween card. Absolutely! With a few basic items and some creative thinking, it’s incredible just how many occasions we can come up with amply suitable paper crafting projects for. Love that! 🥰
Gurl! You are making me want to go buy scrapbooking paper again and I just got rid of it all by sending it to you! My addiction!! haha!
Aww! That is one seriously sweet compliment, dear Willow. Thank you very much!
The blessing of your immense generosity and kindness is one that I will never forget or cease to be grateful for. 🙏
IMO, there’s no reason one couldn’t start up a paper crafting stash again, if so desired. 😃
I have noticed that for many paper crafters, once this particular passion takes hold, it never leaves. We may step away from paper crafting either by choice or circumstance for a while, but ultimately, its enchanting siren’s song beckons us back and, with paper trimmer and adhesive in hand, we happily give in to it.
♥ Autumn
I would love so much to be able to find a die that says Blessed Solstice or Blessed Yule or even the less pagan-esque Yuletide Wishes. There’s nothing. I have found a few odd stamps but no dies and dies are easier for me as I have a disabled hand.
I’ve searched everywhere. Can’t wait to find something suitable for those for whom I make Solstice cards every winter.