AMERICAN FORK — Nikki Casassa’s website Melonheadzillustrating.blogspot.com began as an answer to prayer.
“Like many others, our family struggles financially,” said Casassa, who is a member of the American Fork LDS 6th Ward. “My husband and I asked our bishop to pray with us so that we could find a way to be more self-sufficient. He asked that we be guided in a way that we could find others who could help us and to know what direction to take.
“The next day the idea for the blog came, and I couldn't get rid of it," she said. "In a way I guess you could call it my ‘service’ to others. Sometimes we can't afford to pay for an image to use on a card or handout. I can provide a means for others to create a keepsake for someone they love."
Casassa provides downloadable hand-drawn illustrations from her blog site. Melonheadz Illustrating, which went online in January, boasts more than 175 posts, many of which have multiple illustrations. While some of these are for sale, she has an entire section — 143 posts and counting — dedicated to “Freebies.” Additionally, she has more than 50 free LDS-theme illustrations.
The visitors continue to pour in, averaging between 850–1,200 per day. Casassa has also donated images to Operation Write Home for others to make cards and send to the troops.
So what's her favorite post?
“I really like the one I did about my dad, and the most recent one that I posted about my mom's death. So many people related to them,” Casassa said. "Since Mother's Day is just around the corner, and I can't see my mother smile, I wanted to post (these illustrations) just in case someone might want to use the idea for their own mothers. My mom would be so happy to know that we could help to bring a smile to someone else."
