Guest Designer: Giovana Smith

Please help me give a warm welcome ot my newest guest designer, Giovana Smith! Giovana caught my eye months ago with all the amazing cards she was creating with "A Year of Flowers", so I knew my "Buds and Vases" companion set when I was ready to release it would be right up her alley! She has a such a clean and classic style, terrific eye for color, and obviously REALLY loves flowers. (think she may be one of the current record for most times to use the rose, LOL! Be sure to check out her beautiful work with that set as well.) lt the magic begin! her first card uses the vase and roses spray, she actually cut the flowers and stamped the jar onot a piece of acetate to layer over them. Attaching acetate to a card can be tricky, but she cleverly hid her glue dots under the circle tag, hee! Way to work it AND create a beautiufl layout in the process!

And don't thes ecolors just sizzle?! Love how delicate eerythign is here, the sewing and petite pattern, the little ribbon tag with button are all such sweet touches that complement the little branch.

And now a little more about Giovana (I learned a lot , including how to correctly pronounce her hame!!)

Tell us about yourself!

Hi, I am Giovana Smith, (sounds like: yo-va-nah). I am Peruvian, born and raised in my pretty small South American country. My first language is Spanish and I am proud to say I now speak English too :) I moved to America after I married my husband David in 2002. We have a daughter, her name is Rebecca and she loves to stamp with me and on occassion 'play' with mommy stuff. We don't own any pets, my husband and I have asthma problems and my daughter has several allergy reactions, so pets are not in our plans, however, little Rebecca has a snail she just named "Nelly", LOL.
We live in Washington State, in a very country area, we are surrounded by the most beautiful farms.
I am a SAHM, homeschool my daughter and also work at home as a baby-sitter.

Describe your style/what you think you do best: My style is pretty classy. Love everything elegant and sometimes a little bit vintage. I love layers and layers :)

FAVORITE TECHNIQUE: Love sponging and embossing.

COLORS/COLOR COMBO: My favorite colors are pink/brown, red/white, just plain white.

FAVORITE EMBELLISHMENTS: Ribbons, pearls, rhinestones.

FAVORITE GINA K SET BY MELANIE: It has to be "A Year of Flowers", that was my first set I got from Gina K. and I love it very much.

FAVORITE GINA K SETS (FROM ANY ILLUSTRATOR): I love "Botanicals", "Blessed is the Season"

CRAFT SUPPLIES I CAN’T LIVE WITHOUT: Pure Luxury Cardstock, Scor-buddy, Paper cutter, glue dots, foam tape, etc.

I’VE BEEN STAMPING FOR (HOW LONG): 4 years.

I GET MY INSPIRATION FROM: It comes from blogs, magazines, TV, my daugter's outfits, my dreams, :)

Tell us about your FIRST stamping experience: Not too good. I tried to CASE a card I saw online and it didn't turn out the way I wanted, it was really bad, LOL, but after so many mistakes I learned so much.

Tell us about your most MEMORABLE stamping experience! When a lady over at SCS asked me if she could CASE one of my cards, it was an awesome feeling :)
THE MOST IMPORTANT THINGS I’VE LEARNED ABOUT STAMPING/CARDMAKING ARE: A handmade card always brings a smile, on you because you love your project and in other because that is something

SOME OF MY STAMPING/CRAFTING GOALS ARE: Learn how to color with Copic Markers, I just got few markers and sometimes it is frustrating not to get the results I want. I need more time practicing and more markers too, LOL

ADVICE FOR BEGINNERS: Always try your best, don't be afraid to try new techniques and never give up.

FAVORITE THING TO MAKE THAT AREN’T CARDS: Tags and boxes.

SOME OF MY STAMPING/CRAFTING ACCOMPLISHMENTS: Being part of several Design Teams. Being invited by Gina to be part of Center Stage Spotlight and also be published on Paper Craft Magazine and soon in a Swedish Magazine !!!

CHALLENGES I LIKE TO PARTICIPATE IN: I like the challenges from Stamp TV, CardPatterns, 2S4U, Stamping Sisters in Christ .

TELL US SOMETHING ABOUT YOURSELF THAT MIGHT SUPRPISE US! I was an OB/GYN in Peru, now just a mommy who loves to make cards, and love it very much.

WHAT I DO WHEN I’M NOT STAMPING: Watch TV, play with my daughter and bake cookies, now I found a new love, my "Treadmill" :)

A FAVORITE QUOTE: "Never say I can't, because I know you can do it"

Please go visit Giovana today and leave her some love!