Bears&Buds Sixth Annual Competition                 Official Entry Rules

URSA Awards Competition is open to all teddy bear and soft sculpture artists worldwide.

Now until June 29, 2011 - Accepting official URSA Award entry forms and fees. 

Final entry deadline June 29, 2011 no exceptions. Early entries win top positions on the category pages. First come, first serve. Entries are now closed!

July 9 - July 31, 2011, First Round of voting begins. The URSA Awards Competition is decided by popular vote from our site visitors, collectors, readers and friends. Read more about the voting process.

August 12 to September 4, 2011 - Second round of voting takes place. All who are featured in the last round have won a prize but do not know if it is First, Second or Third place. Awards include prestigious engraved trophies, colorful ribbon, gifts and cash cards! You, the artist will campaign for votes by sending the URSA Awards Competition Voting page links to your friends, family, customers and post on your web site too. Ask them to vote for your entry or entries.  See all the prizes.

Winners will be announced in the October 2011 Bears&Buds Online Teddy Bear Magazine!

Do you have questions? Visit the FAQ page.

Completing the Entry Form

Cut and paste the entry form in to an email.

One Entry Form for each piece you are entering in the competition. Please do not send PDF files.

Forms not meeting our requirements will be returned for editing and re-submission.

Complete the form and delete all but the category line you are entering.

Place the category in the subject line of your entry eMail.

eMail your entry to bearsandbuds@aol.com

Or use the print feature on your computer. Print the page and mail it  with the photos to the address below.

One entry per eMail with 3 properly sized photos attached with the description.

Read about using the correct words in your descriptions.

One entry per envelop with photos when mailed to us.

Tips on how-to photograph your bears/buds see Photo Tips Page

Entry Fee:

Worldwide non-member: $65.00 USD for First entry and $30.00 each for additional entries.

By becoming a Professional Member of Bears&Buds you will benefit in many ways. Join BearsandBuds

Bears&Buds Professional Members: $25.00 USD per entry.

URSA Contest Categories -

You may enter as many categories with a different bear/bud in each category.

[  ] Category   1 - Wee Little Bare Bears or Buds, 5 inches and under, all materials

[  ] Category   2 - Wee Little Outfitted Bears or Buds, 5 inches and under, all materials

[  ] Category   3 - Medium Bare Bears or Buds, 6 to 11 inches, all materials

[  ] Category   4 - Medium Outfitted Bears or Bud, 6 to 11 inches, all materials.

[  ] Category   5 - Large Bears or Buds, 12 to 24 inches, undressed, all materials.

[  ] Category   6 - Large Bears or Buds, 12 to 24 inches dressed, all materials.

[  ] Category   7 - Hugely Huggable Bears or Buds, 25 inches or greater, all materials.

[  ] Category   8 - Needle Felted Bears or Buds, dress or undressed, all sizes.

[  ] Category   9 - Friends and Pairs - Vignettes, 2 or more pieces, all materials, all sizes.

[  ] Category 10 - Crochet Bears and Buds, all sizes, bare or outfitted.

[  ] Category 11 - Polar Bear - all sizes, all materials.

[  ] Category 12 - Costumed - Clowns, Halloween, Fairies, Angels, Gollies, all sizes, all

                              materials.

[  ] Category 14 - Animal Kingdom - Tigers, lions, raccoons, mice, elephants, giraffes,
                              monkeys, ladybugs, bees, hedgehogs, birds etc. all sizes, all materials

[  ] Category 15 - Furry Pals - Cats, Bunnies and Dogs, all sizes, all materials.

[  ] Category 16 - Father Christmas, Elf-bears, all sizes, all materials.

                              See the rules and print the pattern for "It's All The Same" category.

[  ] Category 17 - "It's All The Same" 5 inches and under, all materials, no outfits.

[  ] Category 18 - "It's All The Same" 6 to 11 inches, all materials, no outfits.

[  ] Category 19 - "It's All The Same" 12 to 24 inches, all materials, no outfits.

How to Write a Description of your entry. Please 100 words or less.

Read about using the correct words in your descriptions

Please do not double space between sentences.

Do not include your name or text embedded in the photograph, or send photos with fuzzy or ragged edges or framed.

How to Title your Photographs

Please title all your photos as follows:

Your business name followed by the name of bear or bud.

No symbols or spaces in the photo name. (No '#', '&', '( )', no spaces, '!' - only alpha and numeric.

Abbreviate your business name or bears name should it exceed 18 characters in length

You can leave the word bear off the title if it is part of your company name.

This is how all your jpg photos titles should look.

Mybearco-Unicorn.jpg   = The full sized photo - facing to the front or in a flattering pose.     

Mybearco-UnicornR.jpg = Looking to the right or right side of the bear/bud or best features or pose.     

Mybearco-UnicornL.jpg = Looking to the left or left side of the bear/bud or best features or pose.

Photograph sizes - See the example

Submit 3 photos with each entry. Photos that best highlight your entry best.

First photo; 500 pixels wide and 72 dpi - cropped close

Right photo: 245 pixels wide and 72 dpi - cropped close

Left photo: 245 pixels wide and 72 dpi - cropped close

Or if you are unsure how size or crop your photos, send 3 original digital images and we'll crop them for you. Please do not use red, bright pink, orange or dizzy patterned backgrounds.

PayPal Payments are made to "Goods" or "Personal" and payable to Bearsandbuds@aol.com

Please indicate in the comment box your Entry Name, Category, your Business Name along with your name and contact information. This is very important considering some PayPal accounts are different than your business or personal name.

All professionally printed photographs must be copyright free or be accompanied by a copyright release from the photographer. Photos not be returned unless a self-address stamped envelop is included with your entry form. All photographs are given the rights, by you the artist, to be used online and for publicity material advertising the URSA Awards and www.bearsandbuds.com