Get in Shape!

Hi! This week at the Beary Scrap we decided no squares or rectangles! There are lots of other shapes out there - and we would like to see them. Whether it be a card, layout or altered project - show us some shapes!

I decided to try something new, and made a bottle tag. With the holidays quickly approaching, this makes a perfect little present a hostess gift. I used papers from MME - Laundry Line and found a vintage wine label on line. I used Spellbinders Labels to add some shape to my edges - and finally added an adorable Norma Fickel image - Wee and Drum.

I hope that you enjoy seeing the Beary Scrappy Gals get out of our boxes this week! and we hope we inspire you to do the same.

We're In Great Shape!

Please click HERE to go straight to our current Beary Sweet Challenge!

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Hello friends! Hope everyone had a great weekend. We had bee-you-ti-ful weather once again. Ah, September! I love September for a lot of reasons - one of which is today is my 13th wedding anniversary. Husband and I started dating in 1992, married in '97 and here we are 13 years later, still laughing at with each other. *wink*

As you know, the design team has a new challenge every week to help introduce products available at The Beary Scrap. We do this in addition to our twice-monthly Beary Sweet Challenge - open to everyone on the 1st and 15th of every month. Our current BSC is a Vintage theme - check out our posting for all the info and some easy vintage suggestions in case you need 'em to play along. We hope you can join us before the 30th!

Ok, so this week the DT is experimenting with shapes. We challenged each other to make projects that are anything other than the standard square or rectangle.

I've had bird houses on the brain lately, and wanted to make a bird house card... major failure. HOWEVER, I've also been noodling the idea to update a stocking stuffer calendar I made last year for a craft fair. Since I have my 2011 calendars on hand, now is the perfect time to play around with design, right?

This is both very simple and very fun, especially with Echo Park's whimsical Life is Good. I dusted off my Cricut and used 2 cartridges - "Stretch Your Imagination" for the bird house and "Storybook" for the birdie and leaves. A little FYI to the Cricut folks - I cut the regular-sized bird house and it's layers at 5.5" (I have the original Cricut, hence the dust...), but I made my own template to make it a little longer. Both the birdie and branches are cut at 2".

Here's a rear view. This striped paper is a separate layer that allowed me to sandwich the branch ends. Even though the calendar will hang on someone's cubicle wall or refrigerator, I wanted it to look "finished" on the back (and you can see the bow in this photo, too).

I like how this turned out, although I definitely consider it a "prototype" that needs a few tweaks. Here's a link to the original calendar stocking stuffer, in case you're interested. It's one of a bunch of designs sold at the craft show last year.

Card Recipe

• Paper: Echo Park's Life is Good paper pack
• Medium: Glimmer Mist - Pearl on the birdie; Stickles Diamond on the embossed dots; Distress Stickles Walnut on the roof edges and around the hole; Color Box Fluid Chalk in Chestnut Roan for all the edges
• Embellishments: Bazzill Tulle Ribbon to hang; Kaisercraft Pearl in Latte for the eye; calendar and hook from stash
• Tools: Cuttlebug Embossing folders (bird and bird house)

Thanks for visiting!

Cheers,
Susan

Pretty n' Pink Vintage

I love old stuff, that must go along with loving history, so that should mean that I am totally into vintage scrapbook stuff. However, vintage has never really been my scrapping style so this week was a challenge for me (though I promise I wasn't kicking and screaming, just a little stumped). After changing my mind several times, I finally dug out some old pictures of me when I was a baby (a vintage page should have some older pictures, right?) and some of the fabulous new paper from My Mind's Eye that is IN STOCK NOW at The Beary Scrap.



These gorgeous papers are from the Lost & Found line, Market Street papers. If you haven't checked out these papers, pull up a comfortable chair and spend some time browsing through Kimm's inventory-- it's going to take you awhile because this line is huge and you'll want it all! There are four different sub groups-- Market Street, Union Square, Portobello Road and Madison Avenue. They are amazing! Glitter, vintage, sophisticated and all kinds of beautiful embellishments! The papers are double sided which I love because it gives you more choices-- I even used the tab with the bar code on it-- see that scrolly edge of paper sticking out from behind my photo on the right hand side? Yep, that is the bar code from the die cut glittered flower paper-- instead of throwing it away, I flipped it over and used it too!


The edges of my paper are sewn and distressed with the Zutter Distress-It-All-- did I mention last week how much I love that new tool? I thought I would give you one more side view of what that little tool can do ---


Then lace, lace and more lace, including some awesome hand-crocheted flowers made especially for The Beary Scrap (the green ones)-- these aren't online but email Kimm to see what she has in the store. All the flowers are spritzed with Tattered Angels Glimmer Mist in Pearl. The cream colored flowers are by Prima and all the buttons and centers are My Mind's Eye from the Market Street line.



Well, there is my spin on going vintage and now it's your turn. Please join us in our Beary Sweet Challenge #10 and make your own vintage project. Post it by 11:59 EST on Septmber 30th for your chance to win a Beary Scrap Voucher! Good Luck!

BSC #9 Winners!

Hello friends! We want to extend a heartfelt "Thank You!" to everyone who played along with our last challenge! We really enjoyed visiting your blogs and definitely appreciate your support.

Our winner of the $20 gift voucher to The Beary Scrap is...

# 3: Crafting Cathy!

Congratulations, Cathy! Please email Kimm and she'll set you up with a voucher to go shoppin'!

We would also like to congratulate our Beary Sweet Top 3:

#4 - Theresa P
#11 - Elise
#6 - Lori Leng

Ladies - thank you so much for joining us! Here's a fun badge to display on your blogs:

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Our Beary Sweet Challenge #10 is "Go Vintage" and going on now through September 30th. Not sure about vintage? Pop on over and check out our suggestions - you just might be surprised how easy it is!

Cheers,
Susan, Gini, Patricia, Jamie and Kimm

Beary Sweet Challenge #10: Vintage

Please scroll down for Patricia's vintage twist!

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Welcome to our Beary Sweet Challenge #10

The design team sends out HUGE WHOPPING BIG thanks to everyone who joined our BSC #9 - we are so thrilled to see each and every one of you! We'll announce winners on Friday, September 17th. Thank you!

It's the 15th of the month, which means it's time for a new challenge:

Go Vintage!

What makes a project vintage, you ask? Here are some ideas to get your creative juices flowin': distressing - either with ink or frayed edges... lace, crocheted lace, satin ribbon... faux or real stitching... crumpled up elements or curled edges. Think of that dollar bill you found in your jeans pocket after a washer & dryer "treatment".

It's totally up to you!

This challenge runs through September 30th at 11:59pm EDT. The prize winner will be chosen by random.org and will be announced along with our "Beary Sweet Top 3" on October 3rd.

The random winner will receive a $20 voucher for The Beary Scrap! Whoo hoo!

Here are the "rules" to play - PLEASE READ:

• Become a follower if you aren't already (don't forget this one - it's disqualified a few folks already!);
• Link your blog post (not your blog "home page") or your online gallery submission with our Inlinkz frog below.
• Link back to this posting on your blog; tag your online gallery post with BSC#9;
• Please, only one (1) entry per person. Links to projects/cards posted before September 1st will not be eligible for the prize draw.

Additional information:

• Feel free to combine with other challenges;
• All NEW project types are welcome as long as they follow this technique challenge (cards, scrapbook layouts, etc.);
• International crafters can play, too!

Thanks for playing along with our challenges - we really appreciate you!

Cheers and smooches,

Susan, Gini, Patricia, Jamie and Kimm

Patricia's Attempt at Vintage

This weeks challenge at The Beary Scrap is Vintage.

Did you hear me scream at this challenge. I have to say my style is not vintage at all and this was a true challenge for me. But I think I pulled this one off. I'm really stuck in the Halloween theme this month, I love it. So I Googled vintage Halloween images and came up this this little cutie.

Now I feel guilty that this wasnt something I colored but I really liked the picture.

My flower on here was orginally solid white and I sprayed it with Glimmer Mist, I have to say I really need to play with the Gilmmer Mist more because the flower came out so pretty.

My card recipe:

Google Image

My Little Yellow Bicycle Frightful Halloween Pumpkin/Motif
Glimmer Mist- Used to color Prima Flower
Prima Flowers - Trellis Roses
Robins Nest Dew Drops
Doilie
BoBunny Buttons
Stickles
Spellbinders
Hand stitching - I used Brazzill in Stitch'z Piercing Mat (on clearance) and the Beary Creative Tool to piece my holes. 
Misc Lace
Black and Orange Card Stock.

Thanks for looking.
~Patricia~

Who loves Vintage?

Hi! Today is my first day of Tuesday postings for the Beary Scrap! And I am getting to share one of my favorite styles of cards - Vintage! For you to understand how much I love vintage, you have to realize that before I was even 10 years old, I had an amazing collection of vintage clothes. I loved all of the gorgeous laces and handiwork - and I was absolutely over the moon for beaded purses and flapper dresses. So now, are you beginning to understand some of the influences in my work?

I used a stamp by Stampavie and papers by MME Laundry Line. (Can't you just see those papers being reminiscent of an old beaded evening gown?). After I colored my stamp with copics, I did the Cracked Glass technique over the top, to give a really aged look. I used Distress Ink over the top to get down into the cracks. Finally, to make it authentically vintage - I added a piece of antique lace and a mother of pearl button.

Thanks for looking!

Gini

Waiting For Santa, Vintage Style

Hello hello! I hope you had a great weekend. the Husband and I took a little road trip on Saturday and hid indoors Sunday for the first rainy day in ages. It was nice to wake up to the sound of soft rain - especially since it was falling straight down and not into any of the windows left open overnight. Temps were in the 50's, so after Finnegan went out for a quick wee, we all snuggled tighter under the covers and slept in. I love the cooler temps paired with cozy blankies and warm snuggly bodies in the bed... have I mentioned that our dog sleeps under the covers? He curls his 95lbs up at our feet every night. It's cute!

It's Monday again, which brings a new project from me. *waves* This week we will also see a new Beary Sweet Challenge starting on Wednesday, so the design team is using that theme to inspire you. This week we decided to go down my favorite path:

Vintage

Ok, so *I* decided to take the design team down this path kicking and screaming. I had to duck from a few well-thrown old shoes... but I'm still excited to see what they come up with when truly challenged!

Here's another in my Vintage Christmas Series. Haha! I just made that up as an excuse for my 2 Christmas cards in a row here at TBS. I'm on a mission to avoid the Great Frenzy of 2009, which had me scrambling and working through the night weeks before a craft show. Oh, it was awful even for this procrastinator.

So, about this card: I used the yummy delicious My Minds Eye Laundry Line/Flirty Collection. The design is called "Pretty Coat" and boy is it fabulous! The tag in the upper left corner is also MME and available at the store. On my vintage postcard image I've added white Flower Soft for snow and as decoration on Santa's coat. Star Dust Stickles found its way on the little girl's coat and the star, and Frosted Ice around the edges.

The MME tag was trimmed and crushed into a ball, then the edges and random creased were inked up before it got a Pearl Glimmer Mist squirt. The flowers were white before being misted with Vanilla Glimmer Mist. I'm really pleased with the subtle color!

Card Recipe

• Image: Vintage postcard printed on Neenah Classic Crest
• Paper: Bazzill Basics Mud Pie and Ruby Slipper; My Mind's Eye: Laundry Line - Flirty
• Medium: Flower Soft in Polar White; Glimmer Mist Pearl and Vanilla; Stickles Frosted Ice and Star Dust; Glossy Accents (avail. at the store)
• Embellishments: Mulberry Paper Roses; pins, pearls and lace from stash
• Adhesive: Scor-Tape; Fabri-Tac; sewing machine (haha!)

Thanks for stopping in today. Gini will be here tomorrow with her vintage-y goodness. Don't forget that the Beary Sweet Challenge #9 is open until Tuesday night - there's still time to whip something up with our sketch!

Cheers,
Susan

Cream and Gold and...Rosy Red

Hi, and happy Saturday! I hope that you have enjoyed our Gold and Cream plus One theme this week at the Beary Scrap. Today is my last day posting on Saturdays - from here on out, I will be sharing some Beary Goodness on Tuesdays.

As you can see, I chose to use rosy-red for my other color. I used papers from My Mind's Eye -Laundry Line. If you don't have any MME papers, now is a great time to stock up. Not only does Kimm have some great sales going on, but a little birdie told me there's going to be a contest soon (but you have to use MME papers). Also, the new lines are coming in - Alphabet Soup,
Holly Jolly, and Lost and Found (my favorite!). The Cherry Blossom stamp is from Flourishes. I added Ivory Flower Soft to the centers, and then added a tiny gold bead in the center. I used Glimmer Mist to help distress the edges and and that glimmer that I love.

You have until the 14th to play along with our sketch challenge. The winner will recieve a $20 gift voucher to the Beary Scrap! I'll see you back on Tuesday!