This post is also available in Українською мовою
Hello and welcome! I am Yana Smakula and I am thrilled you decided to stop by and look around.
Here’s a little bit about me:
I come from a small town in western Ukraine – Ternopil. Right now my hubby (Oles or Lesyk as friends call him) and I live in sunny Phoenix, Arizona.
I love to travel, I love to blog, I enjoy photography and (shhhh!) online games. I also like to read detective stories.
I used to live in USA (in Las Vegas, NV) when I was teen and I fell in love with this country (I was a foreign exchange high school student, this is where I learned a lot of my English, although I studied it since the 1st grade).
I love to make cards and enjoy trying new products and techniques, experimenting and creating in different styles. My other passion is scrapbooking and I mostly scrapbook about our travels (I often take long pauses from scrapbooking when I have no new travel photos to scrapbook).
You can find me online here:
Susie Lessard
January 21, 2017Yana, I knew there was a reason I loved you! Our home state is Arizona even though we live in Charleston, SC. My husband is a retired naval officer. I was born in Southern California (San Diego) and my parents moved to Phoenix in 1965 (yep, I’m an old gal!) My husband’s parents moved to Phoenix in 1959 (he’s old too *haha*) from Wisconsin. We were high school sweethearts. We’ve been married for 48 years this past October. In fact, we fly home for two weeks for our Anniversary. I still have a sister and my husband, a brother living in Phoenix. The second year of our marriage we moved to Europe (northernGermany and then very northern Scotland) for 5 1/2 years. What an adventure for two young people from the west valley of Phoenix! Our youngest was born overseas. It’s a small world, Yana, and I’m so glad I’ve been able to enjoy your wonderful artist talent. The next time we’re in Phoenix I’d love to meet you. Enjoy CHA this year, I look forward to seeing the new trends through your eyes. And by the way, I’m a Dirty Dozen Designer Alumni with Splitcoaststampers (2014).
Sincerely,
Susie ~
Instagram: Sincerely_Susie
Terri Salvador
January 22, 2017Hi Yana – I Love your cards and enjoy watching your videos – I have learned a lot! I live in Las Vegas and wish you still lived here as I would love to meet you and welcome the opportunity to learn more – Simon Says Stamp has become one of my favorite places to shop – Thanks to you and all the wonderful cards you make using their products!
Hugs -Terri
Diane
October 23, 2017Hi Yana, I am a second generation Ukrainian Canadian, with roots in, you guessed it, Ternopil Ukraine. I still have extended family their. Who knows, maybe they were your neighbors.
I would love to make cards to send them with Ukrainian sayings. Do you know if stamps like these exist.
I love your stamping style.
Diane, Дануся
Sandra Wingate
March 20, 2018Yana, good luck with your move. I’m so impressed with how organized you are with your packing. I’ve always enjoyed your cards and your tips and look forward to your videos in the future.
Are you moving back to the Ukraine? I sincerely hope the move goes smoothly for you and that you back up and running as quickly as you hope.
Sherry B
May 5, 2018Hello, Yana,
Many good wishes for your relocation, but I must confess that I am worried that I will stop getting your emails which I so look forward to receiving. Will your blog remain active once you’re settled in? You’ve been such an inspiration to my art that I sure hope so.
amy sumida
July 22, 2018Hi Yana
I was watching on YOUTUBE called Monochromatic Stamped Floral Patterns Card.
It just so beautiful cards. I try went online Simon Says Stamp to look for this particular Floral stamp. It looks like discontinued? I just love that colors. To me is like pastel colors, but look soft colors.
Will you able to tell me if there is available in Simon Says Stamp may have or not. Like I said my by discontinued or gone.
Please advise
thanks
amy
Yana Smakula
July 26, 2018Amy, thank you!
This stamp set is still available, it’s called Oh Happy Day – http://shrsl.com/?drnj
Cindy DeVries
August 20, 2019Yana it’s so nice that you posted a little about yourself! I have family in the Ukraine that I have never met! We do talk through Facebook! Arizona is one of my favorite states! I love seeing the magic you create with paper! Thank you for your inspiration!
Betty
September 2, 2019Hi Yana – I am on the A Blog Named Hero FB design team and an upcoming challenge is “Inspired By…” – I would like to use you as my inspiration since you are a Hero Arts designer. May I have your permission to use one of your cards as my inspiration and post a photo of that card on my blog? The card I would use is from your recent post for Tonic Studios. My email is ejkeefe at me dot com. Always am so inspired by your cards – thank you. Betty Keefe
http://www.createdbybjk.blogspot.com
Vicki Rivera
January 3, 2020Yana! Love love Olive those lips! My favorite? Must I choose? Each are fantastic. I really like how huge these stamps are too. Tfs and best wishes.
Vennese
January 7, 2020Recently found you and live what I see especially the card with the huge lips! How can I get to your blog?
Polly
June 8, 2020My most beloved Papa came from Vilna when he was a very little boy in 1913.
Juliane
October 3, 2020Hi Yana, I am new to your Blog, but I have to day I really like it. Your art is Amazing and I like your personality. I hope you stay save. Best wishes.
Barbara A Clinton
March 2, 2022Yana, Thank you for alerting us to another way to help Ukraine by making purchases using the links you provided. I look forward to getting the new supplies soon. We have people in Ukraine now as well.
Janet Ingraham
March 4, 2022I have followed your card making for many years. It’s always beautiful and interesting. I just realized where you live. Had to look on a map. I see you are about 50 miles from Lviv. I hope you are not hearing and seeing the war. Many prayers for you and those you live.
Pamela Ernest
March 10, 2022Have subscribed and watched your YouTubes for some time. Love them. Am praying for you. I sent a cash contribution to your email through PayPal … it was returned to me. Is there another way to get it to you?
Maureen
March 19, 2022I have given money to Catholic Relief Services, World Wide Kitchens, and I am not sure how to donate to you.
phyl
March 20, 2022I think you can send an email to denzilquick@gmail.com and he will send you instructions….That is how I got in touch with him. He will tell you how to donate…..
Geri S
June 14, 2022The site Denzil created is freeukraine2022.wordpress.com