How to make a diy dog paw ornament? (Follow these simple steps for a cherished keepsake)
Okay, let's talk about making one of those dog paw print things. I saw them online and thought, yeah, I could do that. Wanted something kinda personal to remember my furry buddy, you know? Not just another store-bought decoration.
Getting Started - The Messy Part
First thing, gotta get your stuff together. Wasn't much, really. I used:
- Some regular all-purpose flour
- Salt, just the cheap table kind
- Water
Yeah, that's basically it for the dough. Like making weird, salty play-doh. I just mixed the flour and salt in a bowl, maybe like, two parts flour to one part salt? Something like that. Then I slowly added water, mixing it with my hands until it felt like a stiff dough. Didn't want it too sticky, otherwise, forget about getting a clean paw print.
Getting the Paw Print - The Dog Cooperation Test
Alright, dough made. I rolled it out on some wax paper, maybe about half an inch thick? Made a circle shape using a cookie cutter, well, actually it was the rim of a glass cup 'cause I couldn't find a big enough cutter. Looked okay.
Now the fun part. Trying to get my dog, Max, to cooperate. He just looked at me like I was crazy. Had to grab his paw gently, you know, make sure his claws weren't gonna tear the dough too much. Cleaned his paw first, didn't want dirt baked into my keepsake! Then, I pressed his paw down firmly into the dough circle. He pulled back quick, but it worked! Got a decent print. Phew. Had to give him a treat after that ordeal, poor guy.
Drying and Finishing
Okay, print secured. I used a straw to poke a hole near the top edge, you know, for hanging it later with a ribbon. Then I had a choice: bake it or let it air dry. I was impatient, so I baked it. Low oven, maybe 250F? For a couple of hours, I think. Just kept checking it until it felt hard all the way through. You could probably just leave it out for a few days too, if you're not in a rush.
Once it was baked and cooled down completely – and I mean completely, don't rush this – it was ready for the final touches. It looked a bit plain, just baked dough color. So I grabbed some basic craft paint. Painted inside the paw print with one color, and the rest of the ornament another. Let that dry. Could've added glitter or something fancy, but I kept it simple. Just wanted the paw print to stand out.
Threaded a piece of ribbon through the hole I made earlier, tied a little knot. And boom. Done.
It's not perfect, kinda rough looking actually, but it's got Max's actual paw print. Hangs on the wall now. Pretty cool little project, didn't cost much, just took a bit of time and convincing the dog it wasn't some weird punishment. Worth it, I'd say.
