Brown Bear Hugs by Jean Okimoto

Happy New Year! We appreciate your support, creativity and inspiration throughout 2023. We're here to share more ideas, techniques and designs in 2024!

Send warm winter hugs with a friendly brown bear on a background of Vintage Tray diecuts. Add a sparkly heart from Poppystamps. Hi, Jean here with an early Valentine design - or a friendship card for someone who deserves a special hug.

We're using extra Vintage Tray 3D Embossing Folder and Die Set offcuts from previous projects. They're cut from the Poinsettia Plaid and Poinsettia Garland 6x6 packs.

Cut pale pink cardstock with the large rectangle section of the Vintage Tray die. Spritz both sides of the rectangle with a light mist of water. Place it in the matching section of the 3D embossing folder and run it through your machine using the required plate(s) to add a woodgrain plank texture.

Attach adhesive label paper or a sticker sheet to brown wool-blend felt and cut the base of the Layered Polar Bear. It stabilizes the felt and keeps adhesives from saturating it. Cut the other pieces from kraft cardstock. Attach a scrap of black cardstock behind the eye and nose cutouts.

Cut the heart - from the Poppystamps Heart Jumble - from the pink Delicate Pastel Glitter Pad 6x6. Attach it to the bear - use foam tape on the right edge.

Glue two layers of white cardstock together and cut the Hugs Daily Script background. Pressure-emboss it with the detailed overlay die using the rubber embossing mat and plate(s) required. Cut pink cardstock with the detailed die - leave the little ovals for the "g" in the die until you're ready to attach them (they tend to get lost). You'll have an extra set of pink letters - save it for another project.

Attach the diecuts to a white A6 card (4-½" x 6-¼") - use foam tape for the bear. Add gold Autumn Fairy Crystals. Cut an A6-sized piece of cardstock to protect the card front for mailing.

Thanks for visiting our blog...wishing you a year of good health, happiness and creativity!