Goodbye from Gini

Today is a sad day for me, as it's my last time posting for the Beary Scrap. I've been lucky enough to design for the Beary Scrap for almost 2 years, and it's been so fun. The team has been like a family (well actually our only new member, Lori - is family - LOL). Big thanks to Kimm for her generosity throughout my terms. I wish you nothing but the best for the future! Susan, thank you for your hard work as the Design Team leader. Your gorgeous projects have always inspired me - and your love for vintage has always thrilled me. Patricia, you are the girl that knows how to rock the tear critters. I have enjoyed watching your style develop into one that is truly your own, and have enjoyed your sweet personality. Jamie, you are always such an upbeat and positive person. Your thoughtfulness has been appreciated so many times. I always look forward to seeing your projects, because even after two years, I'm surprised at some of the amazingly creative ideas you come up with! Lori, I'm so glad we got to work on this team together, even if it was for a short period. You know those Williams Sisters can get into all kinds of crafty trouble together! I've loved watching you evolve as an artist - and I think you are uber talented! Thanks to all of the fans of the Beary Scrap for all of our challenges that you entered, the sweet comments that you made, and the purchases bought from the Beary Scrap. We will miss you!

Paper: Authentique - Uncommon
Seam Binding
Chipboard: Dusty Attic
Paints: Creative Inspirations ( Antique Silver,Rose Quartz, Silver Frost, Coal)

Our Beary Best - Week 3

It's time for another installment of the Beary's Scraps' Beary Best! I really enjoy making all kinds of cards - some the focus is coloring, others it may be all about the die-cuts - but for this one it's all about collage. This is a petite card - just barely over 4 inches, but it packs a powerful impact.

My papers are from Authentique's Splendid collection. It's really a fun and eclectic mix of patterns. After layering my papers, I added a Vintage Setting from Epiphany Crafts - with my custom epoxy. And I added a little touch of Twinery Baker's Twine.

I think this turned out really fun!

Tis The Season

Can you believe, it's really time for Tis the Season? The whole Christmas season is one of my favorite times of the year - so I hope you enjoy this card!

I have really enjoyed using the 12 Days of Christmas papers from My Mind's Eye, this year. It's bright and fun with a fun retro twist to it. To make my dimensional wreath, I used the Boxwood Vine Wreath die from Cottage Cutz. (I also used the Holiday Doily die from them as well).

I cut my dies using white cardstock, but then colored them using Creative Inspirations Paints, before a punched them away from the paper. For the bottom layer of the wreath, I used Emerald, for my shadows, and for the top layers, I used the lighter Evergreen. For my reds, I used used Garnet and Rustic Red.

Don't forget, you have all month to play along with the Beary Scrap's Beary Best Challenge (and you can enter as many times as you like!)

Our Beary Best

It's time for our new challenge at the Beary Scrap - and we just want to see your Beary Best!

I hope you will enjoy the card that I've made for you today!



Papers: Authentique - Glowing; Splendid
Stamps: JustRite - Friendship Blooms; Fancy Labels
Dies: Spellbinders - Labels 18
Pearls: Kaisercraft
Ribbon: May Arts
Embossing Powder: Lindy's Stamp Gang

Seeing Double

Are you still seeing double at the Beary Scrap? That's because our Double or Nothing Challenge is still going on! I've got a whimsical Christmas Card to share with you today. Don't you think the 12 Days of Christmas papers from My Mind's Eye need to be used for this kind of holiday fun? My adorable Santa 's Truck with Tree die is from the very newest release from Cottage Cutz Dies. It was so fun to add some of the patterned papers to my truck's piecing. And with a little ingenuity, I used the Holiday Doily die to add a border to my circle. Finally, a "borrowed" the sentiment stamp from the Boxwood Vine Wreath set, so I could wish you Merry Christmas!

Double or Nothing with The Beary Scrap

Please scroll down to see the winners of our Beary Sweet "Free For (f)All" Challenge!

---

We've got our new challenge at the Beary Scrap - and the theme is Double or Nothing (use two of something on your design - no more, no less).

For my "double" I used two designer papers - both from the MME 12 Days of Christmas Collection. Although it's Christmas paper, there are many designs in this collection that can be used any time of the year. For my image, I die cut the shape using a Spellbinders label, then sprinkled Ultrafine Art Glitter over the area, and let it dry. Then I stamped a design from Flourishes over the top. I painted the roses with watercolors. To finish everything off, I added some Kaisercraft pearls and Seam Binding Ribbon.

We hope that you will take your chances and play along with us!

Boo to You!

We are continuing with our Anything Goes theme at the Beary Scrap this week. So you have no excuse not to play along with us, for your chance to win a $20 gift certificate!

I chose to make a Halloween card this week, using papers from Authentique's Glowing line. I had some really funky, vintage, sequined fabric that I used to cut my bats out with the Spellbinder's bat dies. I used Authentiques letter stickers and the Epiphany Crafts Studio Tool Round 14 to make my epoxy title.

Thanks for looking!

Vintage Christmas

I know, I know...it's too early to be thinking about Christmas, but I wanted to make a card to show off some of the great Christmas papers that Kimm has gotten in at the Beary Scrap. For the next two weeks, our challenge is really easy - anything goes! So we would love to have you join in, and have your chance to win a $20 gift certificate to the Beary Scrap!

My card was made using the gorgeous and vintage My Mind's Eye Lost and Found Christmas paper pack. You know, I am a huge fan of the Lost and Found line - and this newest addition will not disappoint. I inked the edges with my trusty Distress ink. I added Epiphany Crafts 25 round epoxies to either side of my die cut to balance everything - and tied it all off with a seam binding bow. My ruffes were made with Tim Holtz tissue tape, and really added some nice dimension.

Can't wait to see what you will come up with for our challenge!

So Long Summer!

A couple of weeks ago, we took one final trip for the summer. It was a beautiful, warm weekend - and we finished it off with a paddle boat ride. I'm actually glad this summer is over - and am looking forward to many wonderful things this fall and beyond!

I used the Mischevious Papers from My Mind's Eye (although this certainly isn't a Halloween layout!) I inked all of the papers with Distress Ink. My flowers were stamped on vellum with the Sweet William set from Our Daily Bread Designs. Then I lightly sprayed them with Helmar Vellum Adhesive, and sprinkled them with glitter. My epoxies were all made with the Epiphany Crafts Studio, so that they matched my patterned papers.

Thanks for stopping by!

Happy Fall Y'all from Gini

I think it's really here! Fall, that is! My very favorite time of the year. I haven't seen any leaves turning yet, but the air is crisp, and has that wonderful fall smell to it.

If you love fall like I do, then our current Beary Scrap challenge is an easy one for you. We want to see your autumn inspired projects. Easy, huh? And one lucky winner will walk away with a $20 gift certificate to the Beary Scrap!

Salt Air by Cosmo Cricket, doesn't really sound like it would lend itself to fall projects, but when I started looking at it - it really was full of rich oranges, reds and green - perfect for this time of year. I inked the edges of all of my papers with a little distress ink ( Rusty Hinge). My flower was stamped from the Sweet Williams set from Our Daily Bread Designs. And I had a cute little button in my very special button drawer, just waiting to be my flower center.

I hope you will come play along with us! You have until the end of the month to upload your creation.

All Things Grow Better With Love

You've just a few days left to play along with the September version of the Beary Scrap sketch challenge. This week, the designers are adding their favorite embellishments to their creations as well as using the sketch. I had to use handmade flowers, pearls, die cuts and ribbon! You know I couldn't get by with just one! The papers and stickers are from Echo Park's Victoria Gardens. I added some Viva Decor Pearls around the sticker, to jazz it up a little. The Pine Needles Distress Ink, was the perfect shade to ink my paper edges.

So what do you think our new challenge will be on the 15th? Any guesses? I know it's one you will have fun with!

Thinking of You

It's time for our latest sketch challenge at the Beary Scrap, and I think you are going to like it! It's not a complicated sketch - just one that is open to so many possibilities.


I decided to go all out Shabby Chic for today. So of course, that calls for some wonderful, weathered pink papers. Authentique's Uncommon line was just perfect! Awhile back, I had bought some printed muslin, that looked like it had been stamped with vintage writings. I used a square of this, after fraying the edges for one of the components of the sketch. I gathered crepe paper on my sewing machine, and added a little seam binding over the top, for another layer. The bow is a 5-loop bow, with a snippet of antique lace, and a reclaimed button. I stamped my sentiment from Vintage Floral Labels from JustRite, using black Memento ink. Then I stamped the pattern from Friendship Blooms over the top, with Versamark Ink, and embossed it. Then I misted over the entire thing. I used a wonderful frame from Melissa Frances (that I distressed a bit), to set the whole thing off.

I hope you get a chance to play along with our sketch. One lucky winner always walks away with a $20 gift certificate to the Beary Scrap!

Silly Ice Cream

We hope that you have had fun playing along with the Beary Scrap Gals with our Tic Tac Toe challenge. It's about to wind down (you have until the 31st to get your entry in, if you haven't yet!)

I've got a layout to share with you today, that uses one of my all time favorite papers from Echo Park - For the Record. It is just a great collection for vintage projects. And although there are plenty of sweet girly prints, this works great for boy layouts too. Just add a little distressing and you are good to go! I stamped the ice cream cone border with a design from Unity, and then added Stickles to the cones.

We will have a new challenge for you on the first, but in the mean time, get those entries in!

Send Fall My Way!

Hi! It's Gini back with another round of tic-tac-toe. For today's card, I have played it across the top row with Lace, Distress and Glitter. I am so excited that fall is just around the corner, so to get ready for the season, I made a pumpkin card. I'm in love with the Authentique papers, and used the Glowing Collection. It's a really gorgeous set of papers. My pumpkin is a die-cut from CottageCutz' Spooky Treats. After I cut it out, I shaded the edges and the details with Distress Ink. Next, I added a thick layer of Crystal Lacquer. I sprinkled a little glitter on the pumpkin, while it was still wet. I used Scor-tape to add my lace (it's the easiest, non-messy way to add your ribbons and lace!)

So how about you....? Are you longing for fall to get here, or are you clinging to the last bit of summer?

Tic Tac Toe

We just started a new challenge at the Beary Scrap - a tic-tac-toe challenge, where you get to chose 3 embellishments/techniques in a row - to use on your project. For my card, I used the lace (although it's paper lace), emboss and a pearl. I am absolutely smitten with the new Authentique paper that I used for this card! This is from the Blissful pad. I think the colors are just so sophisticated and gorgeous! And there is such a great mix of pattern - it really makes for a very interesting project.

I know you will have fun playing along with us! You have until the end of the month to get your entry in.

New Ways to Look at a Sketch

I always love the sketches from the Beary Scrap, but I think it's fun to remember that this sketch is not only great for cards! Jaimie always does a fantastic job of using the sketch for layouts, but you can think smaller too - like this tag that I made. Sure, I took a little artistic license, but, hey, that's what it's all about. Here's the sketch - See how I just squished everything in a little?

I pulled out some of the My Minds Eye Lost and Found/ Market Street collection. I always forget how beautiful this paper is, until I bring it out. I cut the tag with the Tim Holtz Tag die, and covered the patterned paper with Golden's Acrylic Medium and put a layer of tissue paper. Then I inked over some of the wrinkles using Distress Ink in Pumice Stone. You can still see the lovely paper, but it just makes it a little dreamy. I inked all of the edges of my papers with Crushed Olive. The bird and borders were cut from the paper. For final embellies, I added mulberry paper roses, Kaisercraft rhinestones, and seam binding.

Do you always follow a sketch to a "T"? or do you use it as a starting point? I hope you will play along with us, however you decide to interpret the sketch!

Just Hangin' Out

I always look forward to the monthly sketch at the Beary Scrap - and this is another winner! Since we are in full swing of summer, I used the Country Drive papers from Echo Park. I love how cheerful they are. Even my mini-alpha stickers that I used for the sentiment is from this collection. I inked the edges of the paper with Distress Ink in Victorian Velvet, which just matches perfectly. I paper pieced the Laundry Line with a die from CottageCutz. My finishing embellies were a lovely seam binding bow, and some metallic pink Dew Drops.

Thanks for stopping by! I hope you will play along with our sketch challenge, for your chance to win some Beary Scrap goodies!

My closet, or yours?

Hi! It's Gini back again today. Well, you've had a week to discover that the Beary Scrap's Challenge is to be inspired by something in your closet. This week, I got my new Echo Park Country Drive collection, and I loved it so much, I knew I had to make it work for this week's challenge. As many of you know, my sweet sister Lori has moved right next door to me - and one of the perks that comes with that, is that we can now share what's in our closets! This is a picture of Lori and our Mom, taken a couple of years ago, at the Teacher's Luncheon, that Lori hosted. The theme was bees - and thus you can see the inspiration for today's project.

Don't you just love all of those bees?!!! I used a new stamp from Layers of Color Art stamps, and first colored it with Copics. I cut and colored and shaped a 2nd image of the bee and flowers, and highlighted them with Sakura Crystal 3-D Lacquer. I used a large Martha Stewart punch, and of course, had to add some Seam Binding ribbon.



Thanks for buzzing by today!

Favorite Blue Jeans

Hi! It's Gini with my new card for the Beary Scrap, and I have to admit, this challenge was my idea. Look in your closet and find some inspiration for your project, from one of your favorite things to wear. This can be clothes, jewelry, accessories - you name it! If you can wear it, let it be your inspiration.

I love embellished jeans, so I added a ribbon of old denim, with a strip of paper, and Dew Drops over it. I adhered the denim with Scor-tape which held it perfectly. The papers are from Prima's Sweet Fairy line, (including the cute tickets that I cut from one of the pages.) The stamps/dies are from Prickley Pear.

Bottle of Blessings

Are you having a great summer? It seems to be going by way too fast! My nephew starts Kindergarten today (he's in year-round-school). If it's too hot to play outside, then maybe you should pull out your scrappy stash and make something beautiful!

This is week two for the sketch challenge at the Beary Scrap - and my card today highlights Bo Bunny's Gabrielle Collection. This is my favorite Bo Bunny line ever! My stamp is Message on a Bottle from Crafty Secrets, and I colored it with Copics, and fussy cut it out. I added some Dew Drops from the Robin's Nest. All of the paper edges are inked with Distress Ink. Finally, I finished it off with some seam binding ribbon.

There are a few days left to play along with our challenge, and we have a great prize up for grabs!