Swaps for Our Girl Scouts Camping Trip

Photo © Melissa Camacho

I'm gearing up for a camping trip with my oldest girl for our Girl Scout Troop. One of the traditions in the camping trip is to create a little souvenir (ideally something you can do with your child) that you exchange with other girl scouts who are also attending the trip. These little charms are called "swaps". If you want to check out the many cute ideas of these little charms, search the web with "girl scout swaps". We have to make between 50-60 and this is my work in progress. I was laying these petals out on my work table to make sure that I had enough to swap. I liked how they looked . So here it is on my blog. LOL! Will share my final creations soon.

Color Story from My Home to Yours

Photo © Melissa Camacho

I like to surround myself with color and pattern. Sometimes you can find inspiration for color combos in your own home. Here is a photo of a vibrant coral hued gerber daisy from a bouquet I got from my friends when I was recovering from surgery. I have it on top of this cobalt blue and taupe batik tablecloth that my mom gave me from the Philippines. Saw this unexpected color combo and had to take a pic. Hope to use this color combo on a surface pattern someday and maybe you like it too and use for a creative project.

New Graduation Design at Tiny Prints

Design © Melissa Camacho

Know anyone graduating this year? I have this new collection exclusive for Tiny Prints available. It was fun developing this design and making the damask feel like a chalkboard illustration. It's a technique I did in Adobe Photoshop using the eraser tool with a texture brush and randomly erased areas of the damask. Then I placed the file into Adobe Illustrator over a chalkboard texture. This collection is available in other colors. It's a perfect look for your artistic or girlie girl grads.

Books worth reading or creating or to be inspired

Photo @ Melissa Camacho

Hello there. Sorry long time no post. I had a pretty rough winter dealing with some health issues. Now, things are better. With Spring in the air and a new beginning, I am feeling good and full of energy. I hope to post more on a regular basis.

I wanted to share with you some recent books a I purchased from Amazon. I highly recommend all that you see. I tried a couple of Lidia's dishes and it turned out yummy. Easy to do. And I have been reading the illustrated books to my girls which they love to hear about. Very inspiring drawings and great stories. The book, Secret Garden, I had to get a couple. One for myself to "ooh" and "ahh" and the other to color with my girls. I have to try the crafts from the book Rosette Art by Cathe Holden who has a site called, justsomethingimade.com. The projects in the book look so pretty. Great ideas for gifts and home decor.

Follow Me @ Instagram

Photo © Melissa Camacho

I hope you had a nice Thanksgiving weekend. I am starting to decorate around the house for the holidays and having fun taking pics. I finally have an Iphone! I was living in the stone ages for quite some time. Anyhow, I am very excited to set up an Instagram account. Stop by time to time to see what I am photographing and hope you find some inspirations.

The photo I took above is a recent purchase from Tinsel Trading. They carry a line of Wendy Addison products for the holidays.  I am a big fan of her art and the materials she uses. It feels so magical and dreamy. 

Happy Thanksgiving

Artwork © Melissa Camacho

Here is a design I have up at Tiny Prints for Turkey Day. Hope you and your family have a wonderful Thanksgiving! Enjoy the time.

I Heart My Mom!

Artwork & Photo © Melissa Camacho

Artwork & Photo © Melissa Camacho

Artwork & Photo © Melissa Camacho

As a mom to young kids, it makes me so happy when they would create something and give it to me as a gift...from paper cuttings to drawings. It made me realize it has been a long time since I made or painted something for my mom. So for her 70th birthday which was yesterday, one of the gifts I had for her was this painting I did with flowers in her favorite colors and of course in a heart shape to express my love.

The painting was done in various acrylic paints I had from Liquitex to Martha Stewarts craft paints. The material I painted on is actually primed canvas sheets that you can purchase a pad of them in various sizes at the art store. What's great about painting on this canvas sheet, it's easy to roll up and mail.