Dragonfly Frame Art

I love frames and this is my latest:

This morning I'm sharing a guest post I did for my friend Natalie at NorthShore Days.  She is an awesome blogger who lives on the ocean in New Zealand. (So jealous!)  She makes some great projects like this:

and some really awesome jewelry, like this:

So if you haven't already met Natalie, go here and browse a while. 

 

But first, let me show you how to make a fun dragonfly picture to frame.  This is the easiest framed project I have ever done.  It took me less than an hour and it was so much fun!! 

I don't know why I like making my own framed stuff.  Maybe it's because sometimes I come across something and think it would be cute in a frame.  

Once, it was an old key......

Valentine Key to My Heart Frame Up

 

Once, it was a picture in a children's book....

Peter Rabbit Frame Up

Once, it was a fabric butterfly....

Butterfly Frame

And even a scrap piece of burlap that I found....

Burlap Bird Silhouette Frame

This time, it was all inspired by an inexpensive foam stamp...

I don't have fancy rubber stamps and lots of pretty inks.  What I do have is cheap foam stamps and some kids washable markers in gorgeous colors!

Let me tell you how I made that pretty Dragonfly frame. First, I cut a piece of fabric from an old canvas curtain and using double-stick tape, I fastened it to a piece of cardboard that was cut to size so it would fit in my frame.  

I selected a blue marker for the body of the dragonfly and a grey one for the wings.  I colored directly on those parts of the foam stamp.

Don't worry about the fact that it looks dark. Although you want to get this part done quickly, I promise that you'll have more time than you think.  You will want to color over the stamp rather heavily, as foam wants to absorb the marker.  Here is the best trick about stamping with this method.....after you have your stamp colored and are ready to push it onto the fabric, hold up to your mouth and breath on it a coule of times.  I know that sounds strange, but the warm moisture from your breath will help reactivate the marker on the stamp.  Now, press the stamp onto the fabric.

How cool is that??!!!

Next, I selected several shades of green and one bright scarlet color for the grass and flowers.  Now, I am NO artist, so I practiced a few strokes on some scrap fabric for the grass blades and the very simple flower.

After I was satisfied with my colors and design (which was about 2 minutes), I drew them onto the bottom of my fabric, below the dragonflies.

Like I said, I'm no artist, but I was pretty happy with the way it turned out. 

I put it in my frame, which I painted in a summery shade of green, and this summer frame up project is finished.

Not bad for using kids foam stamps and washable markers, right?  Oh, and I forgot one thing!  Just in case you were wondering, I washed that stamp with some warm soap water and it came clean and looked as good as new! (The Grandkids will never know I played with their stuff while they were gone!)  Now.....go play!

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