Hi Everybody,
This is a really difficult blog post to write and I have been putting it off for a long time but here goes and I hope you will understand my position. I have just had another birthday making me well into my seventies, and I need to do something with my time that doesn't involve concepts, deadlines and schedules, and there by remove the pressure.
I have decided to retire and so my time will be more my own, rather than concentrating on work and the stress involved.
I am making some big changes in my life at present and they will also reflect in my work load as the months go on. I have started to make some of these changes to the blog already. I have removed a lot of old videos from both the blog and YouTube as they are out of date, and the items that they refer to are probably no longer available.
At the end of April I will no longer have the website Card Making Magic. and as a result of this my email address will change ... should you wish to contact me.
It takes a lot of time to keep it going and I have other things that I want to do.
I will no longer be designing for Practical Publishing.
The brand will be still around but I will no longer be a part of it.
I will be continuing to write my BLOG and be adding new cards and inspiration every day so I hope you will continue to visit me.
I will still be doing the Friday Freebie on the blog as I have lots of things to give way.
I will add my new email address so that you can still claim your prize in the Friday Freebie draw.
I will still be adding videos to YOUTUBE and hopefully replacing the older videos that I have removed with newer stuff. And this will be stuff that I want to do.
I will be using all the Card Making Magic dies that I have in my collection and showing you the cards that I make with them, though as time goes on they will be changed by newer stuff.
I can also use other items/brands too.
I will still link to Craft Stash as this is one of the best places to get any of your crafting supplies at a good price and the links will be at the end of the posts.
I will still be filling my charity box and taking it to the shop as it fills up with cards.
and most importantly
I will need some time to sort all these changes out on the blog.
The Friday Freebie is scheduled for the next few weeks already and that will stay as it is but the blog posts may be a bit hit and miss for while as I get everything sorted out to help me work smarter and not harder.
So as things stand you will probably not notice much difference in the running of the blog.
I do hope that you will continue to visit the blog and participate in what ever I have going on.
Thank you for all your support in the past and here's to new beginnings ...
Big Hugs
Christina xx
Well good for you. All good things must come to an end at some point. I hope you enjoy your “retirement “ although it sounds to me that you will still be pretty busy. Count me in, I will still be visiting your blog daily - I look forward to it. Janet Boyne
ReplyDeleteI can understand you wanting to retire, Christina, but I'm really going to miss you. I will try to find the blog, so I can see your in your new venture. Best of luck.............Sherry Hay
ReplyDeleteHi Christina,
ReplyDeleteBeing well into my 70’s too I fully understand and appreciate your wish to take things easier! Thanks for all the inspiration you have given so many of us on such a regular basis and also for the Friday Freebie’s. Enjoy your ‘retirement’!
Hugs,
Maggie Coleman.
Well done, Christina! Just slow down and and enjoy with no deadlines and outside
ReplyDeletepressures ! Let those deadlines and pressures be of your making, not someone elses!
Sharon Brand
Hi Christina, I too am in my seventies and I can honestly say I don’t know how you have managed everything you have done day in day out for us. We are all so grateful but completely understand you need time to do the things you want to do. Thanks for everything Christina I have had some lovely gifts from you and lovely pokey tools. I will still be visiting everyday. Lots of love Anne Owens ❤️❤️
ReplyDeleteHi Christina, I do so hope you get to do more of what you want to do as well as your beautiful cards. I wish you all the luck in the world. I will still keep following your blog and anything else that you do. Its time to take it a little easier- sending big hugs
ReplyDeleteJenny C xxx
ReplyDeleteWishing you a long and happy retirement. You have achieved so much, of which you should be proud. As we age so do our priorities and putting yourself under stress isn't one.
Hi Christina, being 80 I can understand your need to retire. You have done well to keep going for so long. I will continue to follow your blog , I wish you well and hope you enjoy doing what suits you without any pressure. Thanks for giving us so much pleasure for so long.
ReplyDeleteJoyce x
Bless your heart, Christina. You deserve to 'retire' as you are a whirlwind when it comes to crafting. I shall keep on following your blog. I know I don't comment on all of them but I do follow you. I'm sure that you will still find yourself really busy but I'm thinking more walks on the beach with Ruby. I wish I lived closer as then I could join you with Ben. It's sad that you'll not be designing any new die sets, I just hope that I can save up enough to get a nice bunch of them.
ReplyDeleteThanks for all the wonderful blogs, videos and Friday Freebies. I shall treasure my wonderful Pokey Tool.
Love from Bejay in Truro x
Hi Christina. Have followed you for a long long time and want to thank you for all the inspiration and tuition that you have given me. Also thanks for the Friday Freebies and pokey tool that I have received. Love them. I have quite a few of your stamps and dies and love having the box sets as it makes it so much easier when gifting bulky cards. Wishing you a very happy retirement. Enjoy doing what you want to do, not what you have to do. All the best. Ruth Scott
ReplyDeleteBig congratulations on your retirement! I always look forward to seeing your posts and your beautiful creations here on your blog! I'm glad that I am signed up to follow you so I can keep up when you post!
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on your retirement Christina! I wish you all the best in retirement and am looking forward to your continued posts!
ReplyDeleteHi! Congrats on your decision to retire but you may find you have even less time than you did before. The difference is now you get to pick and choose what project is to be done. By the sounds of things you are still going to be pretty busy. Good luck. Marilyn Coombs
ReplyDeleteIt makes sense that you slow down and enjoy what you like to do at your own pace. I am retired and enjoy everyday. It is a lot of fun. You have a lot of fans that will follow you at your own pace and we will enjoy anything you want to share with us.
ReplyDeleteThank you for letting us know of your plans and I wish you all the joy you richly deserve.
Much love
Christine Cloutier
Thank you Christina for the welcome inspiration you have given us . Best wishes for retirement, we all.must slow down myself hate the dead lines we are given. The best of luck for the future, with your puppies ad the changes you make
ReplyDeleteThank you Christina. You have made an amazing difference to paper crafting for many of us. Your retirement is very sad for us, but you definitely deserve a less stressful life, and time to focus on what you want.
ReplyDeleteI am thankful that you plan to continue your blog for now.
Best wishes for the future.
MarieQ
Life moves on. It is brave but exciting to move on. It will be good to be able to do the things you WANT to and not HAVE to. Enjoy YOUR time xx love Jen
ReplyDeleteBless you Christina, I am of a similar age, so I know how you feel, all be it mine is not so busy. You have sure given out plenty inspiration over the years, but I do follow your blog so will continue to gather it, as and when. You will enjoy making time for yourself not getting so stressed having to work to deadlines, and as and when you feel like it. Enjoy your retirement….lots of love and good wishes…Ursula 😘 xx
ReplyDeleteThank you for all the lovely cards...ideas...and inspiration you give to all of us. Thank you too for being such a wonderful owner to Ruby and your kitty. Best of luck.
ReplyDeleteEnjoy your retirement it's well deserved. I look forward to seeing your new videos etc. Take care. Lynn x
ReplyDeleteGood decision, hoping you have a long & crafty retirement.
ReplyDeleteMichele
CONGRATULATIONS Christina!!!! SO VERY HAPPY for YOU!!!
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing your talents with all of us for as long as you have.
I will be checking your blog and looking forward to any other correspondence you choose to provide!!
Welcome to your new world!!
Sit back and smell the roses and the coffee. Time to do things at a better pace. Hugs
ReplyDeleteI admire you. Enjoy your retirement, it is well deserved. I will be visiting your blog and YouTube. Crafty hugs xx
ReplyDeleteHi Christina, I hope you have a relaxing retirement, you deserve it. You were one of the first people I subscribed to on youtube when I first started card making and I have many of your CMM products and use them all the time. Thank you for helping me on my card making journey!
ReplyDeleteBest wishes for the future
Samantha Dawkins
Wishing you a very long and happy retirement Christina. So good to read you are continuing with your blog and Friday posts which we all love reading.
ReplyDeleteGood wishes for the future xx
Betty McAlister
I can only imagine this may have been a hard decision to make but good for you to add less stress to your life and simply enjoy creating and your life and let things go as they may, no need to have pressures at this time in your life, simply enjoy!
ReplyDeleteI can totally understand your decision to retire I think you totally deserve to have some well deserved time for yourself, you can do without pressure so enjoy your retirement and do things that you really want to do. Thank you for bringing all of the Card Making Magic products and for all of your inspiration, thank you for keeping the blog going and the Friday freebies.
ReplyDeleteTake care Christina love Sue xx
I'm happy for you Christine... your decision to retire is very understandable--my brother just told me a week ago that he was retiring and "doing more of what he wanted to do and enjoy" so I'm sure you're in a similar boat, but I must let you know, I'm such a big Card Making Magic Fan from the USA and that your line of dies, stamps and folders were the main reason I even found Craft Stash.. so I could buy them the moment they arrived online!! I've loved and watched many of your videos on how to use the dies and make beautiful cards with them. But I'm also happy you're going to keep in touch with us on your blog, etc. and I'll still be reading and I'm sure learning some new techniques from you every month! Bless You Christine and here's to "Keeping in Touch" Hugs from deborah in TN-USA
ReplyDelete