How many of you love those adorable teary bears you see on cards, labels, scrapbook designs, and other paper craft projects? Tear bears are not as complicated as most people think. It’s as easy as 1…2…3…
Instructions:
1. Use a pencil to draw a simple pattern on a piece of mulberry paper (simple patterns can be found in coloring books and paper piecing books or even online).
2. Use a very fine pointed brush that is slightly damp (not dripping) and trace the pencil line, then tear where the thin wet line is around each piece and set aside to dry. Tearing along the fine wet lines will make the mulberry paper blurry, but that’s okay because you’ll want your bear to be blurry (you can make a teardrop cub, elephant, frog, etc., can be applied the teardrop bear technique) to most other simple paper piecing projects).
3. After each piece is dry, use small amounts of glue to stick the Tears Bear or Tears Creature together.
Tips:
1. Use bold dots for the nose, paws, and ears to create a special effect.
2. Use chalk on the ears and cheeks.
3. Instead of worrying about tiny white centers for the eyes, use a quality white gel pen.
4. The thicker the paper, the fuzzier the bear will be. Try other variations of handmade paper.
5. For a really cute tear teddy bear, it’s all about the ‘details.’ Add a small bow or flower to the top of the head, maybe make a pair of paper overalls or even a baseball cap or bonnet. The skies to the limit with your creation!