Updated: December 2018
I LOVE Christmas. The lights, the music, the decorations, the meaning and spirit – everything about it. I am also a very sentimental person. My favorite Christmas ornaments are those that have a special meaning, that remind me of something or someone I love. My seven kitties, two sugar gliders, and angel pup are at the top of my list of someones-I-love, so they definitely couldn’t be left off the Christmas tree. What better way to represent them on my tree than with a special ornament that we made together – a salt dough ornament with their paw print on it!
This DIY Paw Print Ornament is one that I’ve been making for a several years now. It’s inexpensive, easy, and fun, but most of all, it is extremely special. The first two ornaments we made back in 2012 for Delilah and Sampson – that was their first Christmas. In 2013, we added Sophie’s and Sassy’s; in 2014 we added Caster’s; in 2016 we added Kylo Ren’s, and Jubilee & Sydney’s; and finally, in 2017, we added Radagast and Lucy’s! I’m especially grateful to have Lucy’s this year, as she crossed the Rainbow Bridge earlier this year. I love having a little bit of her on our Christmas tree <3
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WARNING:
Salt dough ornaments can be toxic to cats and dogs if ingested, due to the large amount of salt in them. Please be sure you keep the ornaments out of reach of your pets to avoid any issues.
Ingredients:
- 1/2 cup of flour
- 1/4 cup of salt
- 1/4 cup of water
This made enough salt dough for roughly 3-4 ornaments, though I was only making 1. Recipe can be doubled/halved/etc. to meet your needs.
Other Materials:
- Medium mixing bowl
- Cookie sheet
- Rolling pin (optional)
- Straw (optional)
- Acrylic paints and paintbrushes
- Sharpie
- Acrylic varnish
- String & ornament hooks
Step 1: Preheat oven to 250º F. I used a toaster oven this year, but a regular oven works just fine too.
Step 2: Mix flour and salt in a medium mixing bowl.
Step 3: Add water and stir to mix thoroughly.
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Step 4: Sprinkle countertop with flour so that the dough doesn’t stick to the counter. Knead dough on counter until it’s soft and easily moldable. Add more flour if the dough is super sticky.
Step 5: Flatten out the dough to about 1/4 inch thickness. You can use a rolling pin to make it easier, but I don’t have one so I just used my hands. It worked just fine.
Step 6: Grab your cat (or dog) and imprint his paw print into the dough!
Step 7: Trim off excess dough around the edges. You could even make the ornament into a cool shape, but I always just make it a circle/oval shape.
Step 8: Make the hole in the top of the dough for the hanging string. You can use a straw to do this, but I just used a pen. Just be sure that you make the hole big enough to fit your string through. Keep in mind that the hole may close in a little bit while it’s baking in the oven.
Step 9: Place dough on an ungreased cookie sheet. The original recipe I found for salt dough says to cook it in the oven for 2-3 hours, but it only took about an hour and 40 minutes for Caster’s ornament to finish. I suppose it depends on your oven. I would set a timer for an hour and a half, and then keep an eye on it after that point. When it is completely dry and hard, take it out. Be careful not to leave it in too long, or it will start to crack.
Step 10: Remove from the oven and let cool completely.
Step 11: Paint it!
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Step 12: Let the paint dry, then add your pet’s name to the back of the ornament in a sharpie. I always include the year I made the ornament as well, as it is usually that pet’s first Christmas with us.
Step 13: Spray the front and back of the ornament with 2-3 coats of an acrylic varnish. This sealant will help to make the ornaments last for years and years to come. It also makes them shiny. (I always do this step outside.)
Step 14: Add string and an ornament hook, and voila! The finished product!!
Now all of our beloved fur babies are apart of our Christmas tree every year, and I forever have a personal and meaningful keepsake of them.
The Gang’s paw print ornaments:
Do you have any fun Christmas crafts you do with or for your pets?
Summer says
Oh, this is so cool! My human wishes she had had this recipe last year, when Sparkle was still alive.
Jenna Drady says
Now that is just too cool! I will have to do this! Thanks so much for sharing!
ღ husky hugz ღ frum our pack at Love is being owned by a husky!
Random Felines says
what a great idea….mom suspects we wouldn’t really cooperate though MOL
Tamago says
Wow, what a great idea! I love your home-made paw print ornaments! I did make a paw prints to display, but never thought about painting them. This sounds so much fun and also they look so pretty! Thank you for sharing the great DIY idea 🙂
Talent Hounds says
Such a good idea!
Brian Frum says
Those are very cute but DIY is usually an OOPS around here!
Sammy says
WOWZERS! What a totally COOL idea! Easy too although putting my paw on there might not be (tee hee). Love love love this!
Hugs, Sammy
Dezi and Lexi says
OMC This be so cool. Mommy sez she’s gunna have to save this and do it sumtime. Weez not hav any varnish so we can’t do it this year, but maybe soon.
Luv ya’
Dezi and Lexi
The Island Cats says
Wow, what a cool idea! We think the mom may be able to do this.
Derby and Ducky says
How cool, but we aren’t so sure about being help and being paw printed! Mum might try to pin a crime on us!
Ellen Pilch says
Thanks for the recipe. I am going to make these over the course of the year for next Christmas because I don’t have time to make 15 now 🙂 Great idea!
LP says
Great idea! We love how each ornament has a purrsonalized look to it 🙂 Our Mama is sentimental too! We found all five “paws” on your beautiful Christmas tree!
the critters in the cottage xo
Kitties Blue says
Found them all. What a great idea. I made lots of ornaments from this dough recipe when we we first married. After many years they started to deteriorate ad crumble, but I loved them while we had them. Absolutely never thought of doing paw-prints. It is adorable how Caster helped you with the entire process. Thanks for getting our special orders in the mail. You are the best. We received our box of goodies today as well. I cannot wait for all the kitties to get decked out and have some photos taken. Astrid will be sending Sampy a special note. Thank you so much for being our friends. Astrid sends Sampy a kiss for every human on the planet. Hugs and love, Janet and Kitties Blue
Ravem says
Those are very cute ornaments! You’re lucky that everyone let you squish their paw in the dough. I’m not sure Raven would cooperate with that.
Pets in Black says
This is really pawsome! Caster makes a great assistant!
The Swiss Cats says
What a cool idea ! Purrs
Traveling Cats says
What a lovely idea. The paw print would be nice on cookies too.
Clooney says
Caster you are a great snooperviser and we love your paw ornament, all of them are really special and unique!
Chrsty Paws says
Mom has been meaning to do this for a couple of years but just never has. We (Echo, Ocean and I) have never had a tree but we are going to have one this year! It’s just an artificial one but we will have a place to hang our paw print ornaments! Mom says thanks for the inspiration.
Elise says
Haha aww. This is adorable! 🙂 I love that you painted them all different colours. Great holiday DIY!
Nadia Ruby says
Oh my god, what a brilliant idea of making adorable ornaments. You are genius cats’ mom ever.I tried similar ones when I was with my rescued daughters.First one was white clay plate, and second was on paint paper for room decoration.I used oil paint for clay but watercolor is better on paper because watercolor can be directly applied to paw to print and easy to wash.I should have done like you. Little teeny tiny paw plate you made are so wonderful even for a necklace pendant. You know what, I Love DIY! thanks for sharing your amazing talent.
Monika says
This is such a cool idea 🙂 I love simple DIYs such as this one.
Eastside Cats says
Lovely DIY project! Wonder if I could get Sweetie to let me handle her paws…
Stephanie says
This is so cool, thanks for sharing! I’m going to make some for my babies.
Kitties Blue says
We feel vey lucky as we have one of these ornaments with Sampy’s paw print on our tree. The sugar gliders have the cutest little paws. Love to all from everyone here. Astrid sends Sampy a bazillion kisses and love forever. XOCK, angel Lily Olivia, Mauricio, Misty May, Giulietta, angel Fiona, Astrid, Lisbeth, Calista Jo, Cooper Murphy and Sawyer
Ellen Pilch says
Those came out great! That is a nice keepsake.
Suzi says
I’m so impressed with these gorgeous diy ornaments!! I will try myself to make a few!! I’ve got 3 cats her eagerly waiting for their paws to be immortalized! What a festive, fun and perfect idea!
Dalton/Angel-MrJackFreckles/Pipo & Angel-Minko says
What a cool idea!
mommakatandherbearcat says
What a great idea! I’m going to try this with mine!