Inspired by Nature: Bears

Most of my blog posts fall within three categories: "reduce," "reuse," and "recycle."  However, over the next few days I'll be introducing a few new categories.  I'm introducing the first one today, and it is "nature."  I think it fits in pretty well with the other categories.  After all, one of the major aims of green living is to preserve and protect nature.

When you think of nature, perhaps you think of butterflies, flowers, and other pretty things.  My first post in the nature category, though, may not be what you expect.  My topic today is...bears!  Yep, I love bears, from mighty grizzlies to cuddly cubs.  So, without further ado, let me share with you three fun, bear-related layouts that I've recently completed.

Supplies: cardstock (Wausau Paper); patterned paper, stickers, buttons, metal accent (all from October Afternoon); circle template (Fiskars); pens (Zig); twine (vintage).

First up is "Russia's Grizzly Coast," which you see above.  I know you're probably thinking, "Oh, it's another one of Denise's Russian travel pages."  But the photos on this page were actually taken right here in Minnesota, at the zoo.  The journaling reads: "This summer we finally got a chance to visit the newest section of the zoo.  Besides the animals, there were also a mock mammoth dig, a tiger research station, and an izba!"  That trip to the zoo is one of my favorite summer memories.

Supplies: background paper & fussy-cut heart banner (Echo Park), turquoise patterned paper (My Mind's Eye), bear die (Ellison), border sticker (Doodlebug Design), alphabet stickers (October Afternoon), white cardstock (American Crafts), pens (Zig), corner rounder (Creative Memories).

On a completely different (yet still bear-related) note, my next layout is called "Care Bear" (above).  The journaling reads: "You're not too interested in stuffed animals (except duckies and puppets) yet, but you do like the Care Bear that Daddy gave me for Christmas...maybe because it's cute and cuddly--just like you!"

Supplies: burgundy and blue cardstock sheets (The Paper Company); white cardstock (American Crafts); patterned paper, stickers, and journaling card (all from October Afternoon); bottle cap (Bottle Cap Inc.); pens (Zig); decorative scissors (Fiskars).

And last but not least is the layout above, called "Hamms Grotto."  I'm not a beer drinker, but the OA bear from the "Campfire" collection never fails to remind me of the cartoon bear from the Hamms Beer commercials of my childhood.  The journaling on this page reads: "I guess the Hamms family (of beer fame) donated money to Como Park, because the grotto where we got married is named for them!"  Naturally, I just had to cut out that OA bear and place him in the center of a decorative bottle cap. 

Thanks for stopping in today to check out my layouts.  I've enjoyed exploring all the different sides of that wonderful animal, the bear.  TFL!