A 100% non-profit Art Publication                                                Click on any of the Menu Buttons
located on Route 66                                                                                            on the left and cruise
in the Galaxies of Cyberspace!                                                                   to your favorite hot spots.

Rubber Road
Scenic Byway:

Torn Bear 

By Brenda Harmless
Rubber Roadsters
Advanced Stamping Team Designer  

It’s easy to see why Torn Bears are very popular as they are so adorable and simply irresistible!  This is my first Torn Bear artwork, and I’m sure it will not be my last.  I created this card to be used as a Halloween Party invitation, but recipients can reuse it on a scrapbook page! 

I personally created this pattern especially for this project. Therefore, you are free to use it as you wish with no copyright infringements!  Enjoy this pattern in the sitting pose used for this artwork or create a standing bear pose as well. 

Supplies:

•  Frightenin’ Fun Stamp Set (Close To My Heart)
•  Spooktacular My Reflections™ Paper Packet (Close To My Heart)
•  White Daisy and Natural Cardstock (Close To My Heart)
•  Brown Handmade Paper
•  Orange, Black, Topiary, and Brown Bag stamp pads (Close To My Heart)
•  Autumn Decorative Chalk Set (Close To My Heart)
•  Black Fine Tip Marker (Sharpie)
•  Watercolor Brush (Close To My Heart)
•  Pewter Hinge & Brads (Close To My Heart)
•  Green Decorative Wire (Close To My Heart)
•  Milky Way Star Template (Close To My Heart)
•  Mini Pop Dots (All Night Media)
•  Mono-Adhesive (Tombow)
•  Rotary Paper Cutter (Fiskars 12”)
•  Scissors (Cutter Bee)
•  Piercing Tool (Close To My Heart)
•  Wax Paper
•  Glue (Elmer’s)
•  Thin Handled Paint Brush

Instructions:

1.    Cut Natural cardstock to 6”x12” and fold in half to create card; set aside.

Note: Full Sized Pattern included on PDF File below

2.    Cut Spooktacular Black cardstock to 5 ¾” x 5 ¾”.

3.    Cut Spooktacular Purple paper to 5 ½” x 5 ½”; layer, and adhere to black cardstock with Mono Adhesive.

4.    Cut 2 Pieces of Spooktacular striped paper to ½” x 12”.  Cut each piece into smaller pieces of various lengths. Adhere the strips to front of Spooktacular purple paper in a scattered pattern along the outside edges.

5.    Stamp pumpkin with leaves, stem, and face on White Daisy cardstock and cut out with scissors.  Cut a 3” piece of green decorative wire; bend in half in a “V” shape, wrap each open end around a thin handled paint brush several times to create a spiral.  Use Elmer’s glue to attach the bottom portion underneath the stem of the pumpkin.

6.    Trace 3 stars of various sizes onto Spooktacular purple paper and cut out.

7.    Create message piece by cutting black cardstock to 1 ½” x 2 ½”.  Cut green cardstock to 1 ¼” x 2 ¼”.  Apply vellum “Pumpkin’ Patch” Spooktacular sticker to front of the green piece.  Sponge with brown chalk to distress.  Position and adhere to 1 ½”x 2 ½” black cardstock.

8.    To make your Torn Bear:

a.    Print Tear Bear Pattern on White Daisy cardstock. 

b.    Cut out each pattern piece.  Set the eyes & nose aside for use later.

c.     Lay a pattern piece on the backside of your handmade paper (mulberry cardstock can also be used) and use your water brush to wet the outline of each pattern piece on the handmade paper.  With your thumbs side by side you want to tear out your pieces by gently pulling your hands away from each other.  

Tearing Tips: 

·        Be careful not to get your paper too wet.

·        Trace and tear each piece one at a time to avoid them drying out. 

·        Cut your handmade paper into pieces for each pattern piece.

·        For round patterns, it is easier to tear the handmade paper if you cut a slit from the edge of the paper to the beginning of the wet outline.

·        You can set aside your pattern pieces to dry, and then store them in a plastic baggie to reuse on another bear!

d.    Let your pattern pieces dry then with a q-tip or chalk applicator, sponge the edges of each torn bear piece with dark brown chalk.

e.    Now you are ready to assemble and glue your bear together.  The picture will help with this but it is best to lay your bear pieces on wax paper (to prevent sticking to other surfaces when the glue is applied) and arrange them as desired.  Once you have them arranged to your satisfaction, you can start gluing them together.  Each piece is designed to overlap on the ends and only a tiny bit of glue is needed to hold them together.  I found it easier to glue all the pieces in this order:

·        Glue head, muzzle, ears, eyes & nose together

·        Glue legs to the backside of the body piece and glue feet to the front side of the leg pieces

·        Position pumpkin and glue to front of the bear body

·        Glue arms to the front of the body and glue paws to the front of the arms positioned to look like the bear is holding the pumpkin

·        Glue finished head over top of arms & body making sure head covers the shoulder section of arms.  Also head is cuter when positioned to tilt a bit.

f.      Once your bear is assembled, finish the face by drawing the eyebrows, whiskers, and mouth.  You may also want to sponge a little pink chalk on the muzzle.

10.                       Position and adhere your bear to the front of the Spooktacular purple paper.

11.                       Attach message to front with mono adhesive.  Position hinge, pierce holes with the paper-piercing tool, and then add brads.  I did not insert one brad all the way and bent it in the front to give the impression of a loose nail and a dangling sign.  A small amount of Elmer’s glue was applied behind this brad.

12.                       Attached finished layers to the front of the 6x6 Natural card.  Stamp preferred message on the inside of the card.

If you would like to print this technique, click here.  The PDF file includes a large photo of the example as well as full sized Pattern. Once you've saved or printed the technique sheet, use your browser's back button to return.

Note: You will need Adobe Acrobat Reader to obtain this file.  If you do not have Adobe Acrobat, click here to download and install.