Easy to Make Paw Print Christmas Ornament Kit

Others may just call our animals pets, but we call them our children. Now you can make an ornament just for your four legged child that you will enjoy for many Christmases to come.

Christmastime is about family. Relatives from far and near come together to celebrate the spirit of the season.

But for those of us who are animal lovers, our pets are at the top of the loved-ones-we-want-to-see list. And in some families, they outrank Aunt Sally or Uncle Bob or even two-legged children.

Unfortunately, our pets will only spend so many Christmases with us, and we are blessed with their memories and pictures or videos to remind us of their love.

By making a paw print ornament, you create a keepsake that you'll treasure forever. Plus, your favorite child will finally have an ornament of his or her own hanging right next to your two-legged child's baby's first Christmas ornament.

Your Pet: Just Another Member of the Family

I'll take my dog over my teenager any day.

I've always been an animal lover. Throughout my childhood, I had a steady stream of cats, mixed in with a dog or two. My pets were my best friends. They weren't gossips, and I could tell them my inner thoughts without fear of my human friends finding out my secrets.

As an adult, I've turned more into a dog person. My dachshund completely rules my heart. My son swears I spoil Rambo more than I do him.

I consider my dog the perfect child. I always know where he is, he never talks back, and if he's bad I can lock him in his kennel and close the door.

Pets offer a type of companionship that humans just can't give, such as unconditional love. A joke I heard once sums up how loyal and devoted our dogs can be to us:

If you lock your dog and your wife in the trunk of a car for two hours, when you come back to let them out, only your dog will be happy to see you.

It's their love for us that makes us love them so. It's why I'll spoil my little dog rotten, even if my son thinks I'm nuts for calling Rambo his brother.

But I don't want my cute little Rambo to be just a picture or a video after he's no longer with me, and that's why a product like the Sculpey ornament kit is so great. It makes the perfect pet memorial ornament so I'll be able to remember Rambo and think of the great times he had chasing those squirrels that he never could manage to catch.

Remember your Dog: Paw Print Ornament Kit

Easy to use, even if you're craft-challenged.

Sculpey Keepsake Deluxe Pawprint Kit

View on Amazon

It's easy to make your own paw print decoration. It doesn't require any skills past that of a first grader. If you can play with play doh and turn the oven on you can make your own ornament.

Each kit comes with enough clay to make one paw print, a round form, a rolling pin, a stylus, and a ribbon.

The directions are pretty straightforward:

Knead the clay
Pat in the round form and roll the top smooth
Press your dog/cat's paw into the clay
Use the stylus to write the name/date of your pet and poke holes for the ribbon
Bake for 30 minutes

After it cools you can paint your ornament or leave it plain, then loop the ribbon through the holes and you're done.

Each kit only makes one ornament. But if you have more than one pet and/or want to make more ornaments, don't buy another kit. Save money and buy extra clay separately.

Video: Step-by-Step Instructions on How to Make a Paw Print Ornament

Helpful Tips:

For a centered ornament, pat dough into a flat circle, make the impression, and center the form around the paw print
Roll clay out on foil or plastic wrap to prevent sticking
Rub vegetable oil on the sides of the mold before cutting to make removing the clay easier
Press your pet's paw down firmly into the clay. A light impression won't show up very well
For smaller animals, use a small round cookie cutter to cut the clay
Clean your pet's paws before making an impression to remove dirt or hair

Updated: 11/28/2015, AbbyFitz

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DerdriuMarriner on 07/21/2018

AbbyFitz, Thank you for the joke and the practical information, especially the tips and the video, for such a lovely product line. I love it when veterinarians send out appointment reminders for/to the kittycat or dog, with the family name after the pet's name. Do you choose holiday colors for the ornaments and the ribbons or colors associated with your canine/feline family members?

AbbyFitz on 11/26/2014

I'm so sorry to hear about your dog. It's too bad they don't live as long as humans. Hopefully he has a good many more years to spend with you. Thank you for pinning!