DIY Paw Print Ornaments and More Festive Décor

DIY Paw Print Ornaments

A Christmas tree often represents precious moments and memories from years gone by. One way to make sure your pet is a part of these memories is with these salt dough DIY paw print ornaments. This simple yet fun craft can be used to decorate your own tree or given as a gift to a friend or family member who has a special bond with your pet.

What You’ll Need:

• ½ cup salt
• 2 ½ cups white flour
• ½ cup water
• A round or heart-shaped cookie cutter
• A drinking straw
• A string or ribbon
• Decorations of your choice
• A willing pet participant

How To:

1. Preheat oven to 250 degrees
2. Combine all ingredients into a bowl and knead until combined
3. Sprinkle flour onto a piece of wax paper and roll out the dough (make sure to add more flour as necessary)
4. Use the cookie cutter to cut out the shapes of your ornament
5. Take your pet’s paw and gently press it into the dough (Pro tip: Have a treat on standby to help distract them while you grab their paw print)
6. Use the straw to make a hole on top of each ornament
7. Bake at 250 degrees for 2-3 hours
8. Once your ornament has cooled, place your string or ribbon through the hole on the top and hang it on your tree for all to see!

Pet Shaped Clay Ornaments

Another fun and festive ornament option is to create pet-themed shapes using pre-bought polymer clay from any craft store. From kitty cats to dog bones, the possibilities are endless (well, as endless as the cookie-cutter selection in the baking aisle).

What You’ll Need:

• Polymer clay
• A pet-themed cookie cutter
• A drinking straw
• A string or ribbon
• Alphabet stamps (if you want to print your pet’s name on your ornament)
• Decorations of your choice

How To:

1. Take your clay and knead it in your hands until smooth
2. Roll it out using a rolling pin until it’s about a quarter of an inch thick
3. Take your pet-themed cookie cutter and press it into the dough to create the shapes
4. If you are including your pet’s name on your ornament, use your alphabet stamps to press the letters into the clay
5. Use the straw to make a hole on top of each ornament
6. Bake at 275 degrees for approximately 25 minutes (make sure to check them periodically)
7. Once your clay is ready, decorate it with paint, glitter or any other fun decorations you choose
8. Once your ornament is decorated, loop your ribbon or string through the hole on the top, and your ornament is ready to go!

Tip: If you used a stamp for your pet’s name, make it stand out by tracing the letters with a fine tip marker.

Pet Picture Keepsake Ornaments

You might be thinking, “Well, that all sounds lovely, but I’m no Martha Stewart.” Don’t worry! There are hundreds of online and in-person retailers that sell adorable pet-themed picture frame ornaments to decorate your tree this year. Simply add your favorite picture of your furry family member and you’re ready to go! You can even find picture frame ornaments that include the date so you can create a memento of your pet’s first Christmas or make one each year to hang on your tree.