Bears&Buds Tenth Annual Competition           

  Official Entry Rules

URSA Awards Competition is open to all teddy bear and

soft sculpture artists worldwide.

URSA Awards Competition Schedule 2015

Entries are now closed - Accepting official URSA Award entry forms and fees.  Early entries win top positions on the category pages. First come, first serve.

July 9 - July 31, 2015, 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. First Round of Voting is now completed.

August 9 to August 31, 2015 - Second and Final 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.  Voting is now completed for 2015.

  See all the prizes.

Winners will be announced in the October 2015 Bears&Buds Online Teddy Bear Magazine! The URSA Major - Best Overall winner will be featured on the front cover.

Do you have questions? Visit the FAQ page.

Entries are closed now.

New online, secure and easy to fill in the blanks.

One Entry Form for each piece you are entering in the competition.

Please do not send photos in Slide shows, Word.doc or in PDF files.

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

eMail your 3 photographs to bearsandbuds@aol.com

Each entry will be generated by the online entry form.

Send 3 properly sized and titled photos send separately with the category in the subject line. If you do not feel comfortable cropping your photos, send us the originals and we will.

Read about using the correct word and terms in your entry description.

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.

Bears&Buds Professional Artist-Members: $30.00 USD per entry.

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

which all helps your business grow. Join Bears&Buds

2015URSA Awards Competition Categories -

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

M = Multiple Bears and Buds   

P = Props Allowed, but not mandatory

Category   1 - Wee Little Bare Bears or Buds, 5" (12.7cm) and under, all materials. No props

Category   2 - Wee Little Outfitted Bears or Buds, 5" (12.7cm) and under,

                          all materials. No props

Category   3 - Medium Bare Bears or Buds, 6" to 12" (15.2-30.48cm), all materials. No props

Category   4 - Medium Outfitted Bears or Bud, 6" to 12" (15.2-30.48cm),

                          all materials. No props

Category   5 - Large Bears or Buds, 13" to 20" (33-50.8cm) undressed, all materials. No props

Category   6 - Large Bears or Buds, 13" to 20" (33-50.8cm) dressed, all materials. No props

Category   7 - Huge Hugs, Bears or Buds, 21" (53.34cm) or greater, all materials. No props

Category   8 - Fairies and Princesses -Bears or Buds, all materials, all sizes. P

Category   9 - Best Friends - Vignettes, 2 or more pieces, all materials, all sizes. M, P

Category 10 - Fairytale Characters - childhood Memories bears/buds, all sizes. M, P

Category 11 - Polar Bear - all materials, all sizes. P

Category 12 - Panda Bear - all materials, all sizes. . P

Category 14 - What Does The Fox Say? Foxes only, all materials, all sizes. P
                          Be inspired:  Listen to the tune and enjoy the video

Category 15 - Hippity-Hop - Baby Bunny or Rabbit, all materials, all sizes. . P

Category 16 - Furry Pals - Cats and Dogs, all materials, all sizes. . No props

Category 17 - Let's Party! Celebrate Bears&buds 10th year!. Bears/Buds, all sizes. M, P

                          Must have: cake or cupcake, a present or party hat/horn/card or a sign.
Category 18 - "Vintage Looking Bear" - Bear only. Create a bear that looks very old,

                            well loved. All sizes, all materials. P

How to Write a Description of your entry. Please 75 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 on the photograph, or send photos with fuzzy, 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 characters and a Hyphen (-) are allowed in the jpg name.

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.

MyName-Unicorn1.jpg = Full size photo; facing the front or in a flattering pose.     

MyName-Unicorn2.jpg = Looking to the right side; or best features or pose.     

MyName-Unicorn3.jpg = Looking to the left side; or bears best features or pose.

Photograph sizes - See the example

Submit 3 photos with each entry, in an eMail with the category in the subject line.

Send photos that feature poses that show 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 photographs must be copyright free or eMail us a copyright release from the photographer.

All photographs used in the URSA Awards Competition are given the rights, by you the artist, to be used online and for publicity material advertising the URSA Awards Competition and www.bearsandbuds.com