Homemade gifts are heartfelt, sentimental and extremely thoughtful. Giving someone a homemade gift is a great way to show your appreciation for them. If you're looking for a gift idea for a dog owner in your life, this homemade dog paw print ornament is easy to make and very affordable.
Gift buying isn't always as easy as it seems. You want to get the person something that they will like, but that they don't already have. Buying pet supplies as a gift can be tricky, because you don't know what the person already has. A unique gift is sure to surprise and delight the receiver, and DIY homemade gifts are as unique as they come!
This homemade dog paw print ornament would be the ideal gift for any pet owner, and you could also make one for yourself! It's a great keepsake to always remind you of your beloved pet(s), and it would make a wonderful ornament to hang in your home.
Homemade Dog Paw Print Ornament
As you'll see in my video guide above, I use air dry clay to make the ornament. It's affordable and available in a variety of colors. If you'd prefer to use a homemade salt dough recipe, you can mix:
- 4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 cup salt
- 1.5 cups of water
Combine the 3 ingredients in a large mixing bowl until they form a soft dough. Whether you use homemade dough or air dry clay, the steps to making a homemade dog paw print ornament are the same.
Roll a small amount of dough (about the size of a golf ball) out flat. I roll the dough on a small plate, but you could also use a piece of wax paper. You just want something under the dough so that it doesn't stick to your floor.
Hold your dog's paw steady and press it into the dough. Don't press hard enough to hurt your pup. Use just enough pressure to make a paw print in the dough. You can use a toothpick to poke a small hole in the top of the ornament to thread a string through to hang it.
I use a toothpick to carve my dog's name and the year into the ornament as well. You could decorate it any way you like, and you could even use paint to add some color and decoration to the ornament.
If you use air dry clay, all you have to do is leave the ornament in a safe place overnight. It should be dry in the morning. If you use the homemade salt dough recipe above, you'll need to bake the ornament in a 300˚F oven for about 30 minutes.
To add an extra layer of protection, you can spray the finished product with clear spray paint or a clear coat of polyurethane. Of course, you'll need to wait until the ornament is dry before you spray it. Once it's dry, you can also thread some yarn, string or fishing line through the hole to create a hanger.
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