For this holiday season, you can make special home-made ornaments that will make happy memories for years to come. If you have beloved pets running around, consider including them in the festivities! This basic paw-print ornament is easy and fun to make at home.
All you need are a few basic ingredients and supplies: 1 cup of salt, half a cup of water, 1 cup of flour, wax paper, a glass, a cookie sheet, tempera or acrylic paint, string, and some glitter glue.
In a mixing bowl, combine the water, salt, and flour, mixing thoroughly. Make two balls out of your dough and lay them on the wax paper. To turn the balls into perfect, flat circles, use the bottom of a glass to flatten them down. Use the remaining dough to make a third round. The circles should be about an inch thick, and wide enough to accommodate your pet’s entire paw. Now comes the fun part! While you preheat the oven to 200 degrees F, call over your pet and press their paw or claws gently into each round. Use a straw, pencil, or skewer to make a hole at the top of each circle– that’s where you’ll thread the string once the decorations are dry!
Bake the rounds on a cookie sheet for two or three hours. Once the impressions are dry, get creative! Paint the rounds in different colors, and once the paint dries, add the glitter. You can even write your pet’s name with the glitter glue! Thread the string through the hole and tie off to make a sturdy loop so you can show off your decorations on trees, doorknobs, or mantelpieces.