Dragonflies are a whimsical and colorful insect in nature.
A dragonfly is a symbol of renewal and the power of life.
As one who flies on the wind, the dragonfly represents change.
As an insect that comes from the water a dragonfly is a reminder of our dreams.
The dragonfly also represents good luck, prosperity, strength, peace, harmony and purity.
Since the dragonfly represents so many things, it is easy to imagine a host of creative ideas that can apply in your scrapbooking hobby.
Images can be easily made and produced with your clear rubber stamps.
A dragonfly clear rubber stamp can remind you of time spent near a lake, pond or swamp.
A dragonfly might remind you of a place you have visited, a movie you have watched, a walk in the garden or summer days.
There are a host of ideas that can assist you as you incorporate a dragonfly into your scrapbook designs.
Begin by designing two scrapbook pages that will lie side by side in your album.
Choose colors that reflect the same hue of colors found in dragonflies.
Scrapbooking is about memories so be sure to choose an event, photo, poem, or saying that will add to your memory when you look back through your scrapbook.
A good title will assist you.
Some ideas include: Chasing Dragonflies; Dragonflies in the Rain; Dragonfly Dance; Dragonfly Dreams; Good Luck Charms; Happy-Go-Lucky; Creatures of the Water; Deep in Thought etc.
Background or pattern papers can be made simply with your clear rubber stamps by stamping your favorite dragonfly over the page.
To maintain consistency be sure that the image is stamped not only as a whole image, but it should be stamped with portions of it extending over the edge of the page.
To add depth to the page, stamp at least twice before re-inking your clear rubber stamps.
Dragonflies can be used as enchanting embellishments in borders and around photos in a number of ways.
The most basic would be to stamp the image with your clear rubber stamps onto white or light colored cardstock.
Color the image as desired and cut it out close to the lines and secure it to the page with a pop up dot to make it stand out.
Another technique for using a clear dragonfly rubber stamp, which is a little more time consuming but very rewarding, uses two stamping mediums - white cardstock and white vellum paper.
Stamp the dragonfly once on the cardstock, then after cleaning the clear stamp, ink it in a permanent ink and stamp the design onto the vellum paper.
Clean your clear rubber stamps immediately.
Once the ink is completely dry cut out both images close to the edges.
Cut the wings off of the design stamped onto the cardstock leaving just the body of the dragonfly.
Color the body as desired.
You may even wish to emboss it.
Secure the body to the vellum image by placing the stamped dragonfly body directly over the body portion of the vellum image.
If you wish you can curl some shiny wire to create antennae and secure it between the layers of paper.
To make your dragonfly shimmer spray it lightly with glimmer mist in any color (Glimmer mist can be purchased at your local scrapbook store).
Secure your finished dragonfly to your scrapbook pages with a glue dots.
If you have a small dragonfly clear rubber stamp, you will discover it can make fabulous borders for scrapbook pages.
Depending on how formal you wish your page to be you may stamp each dragonfly head to tail, or tilt each image as you stamp it to create a more whimsical border.
You may wish to space the dragonflies or keep them in a tight line.
If you have small square, circle, star or heart clear stamps they can become fabulous spacers between each dragonfly in your border.
Choose stamping ink that will enhance your pages.
You may wish a rainbow effect, with each dragonfly stamped in a different color, or a more classic look with only one color.
Dragonfly rubber stamps are a lot of fun to use with ink pads that feature a rainbow of colors, with the result being a multicolored image.
Dragonfly designs can be enhanced with glitter, sequins, embossing powder and glimmer mist.
Regardless of how you choose to add a dragonfly to your stimulating scrapbook art projects always remember that scrapbooking is a document of your memory.
Be sure to leave space in your scrapbook art project for journaling.
Journaling gives breathe and life to your scrapbook designs so they can be cherished by future generations.
It is the best way to protect and preserve that memory for the years to come.