Dogs
By Tamara McRill
I’m not sure if it’s the mad love for my dogs or all those hours spent on Pinterest, but I have decided my boys deserve their own little Christmas tree. Decorated completely in – you guessed it – handmade dog-themed ornaments. From photos to paw-tastic ribbons, there are so many options to choose from and each one can be customized to fit in with my current holiday decor. Since I am in full-on craft mode, I decided to make the ornaments myself. Figuring that my fellow dog lovers might also want in on the fun, I’m sharing some of the easier ornaments I’ll be making and others under consideration. Enjoy!
Frame Ornaments
This one is easiest if you already have some photo frame ornaments sitting around. Then all you have to do is print out some pictures of your pets and put them in the frames. To match your current decorations and make the look more cohesive, also frame other graphic images of dogs, bones and paw prints. You can find these in your Christmas colors online, or buy some dog-themed wrapping paper and cut out the details you like best.
I don’t have any frame ornaments on hand, so I am turning to my trusty glue gun and silver spray paint. Here are the steps:
Supplies: Cardboard, scissors, exacto knife, glue gun, glue sticks, silver spray paint, ribbon and your image.
1. With scissors and an exacto knife, cut out ornate frames in different shapes from cardboard.
2. Poke a small hole at the top, wide enough to string ribbon through.
2. Spray paint them and allow to dry.
3. Glue the edges of your image to cardboard backing.
4. Glue the backing to your photo frame.
5. String a ribbon through the top hole and tie the loose ends in a knot.
Embroidery Hoops
This ornament is similar in concept to the photo frame ornaments, but produces a more “homey” look. All you need are small embroidery hoops and some fun holiday fabric featuring festive canine-inspired images. Simply cut out the parts of the fabric you would like to feature, including enough around the edges so it will fit in the hoop. You can trim off any excess showing fabric later.
Lay your cutout over the smaller circle of the hoop and fit the larger circle over that. Hang your new ornament with a pretty ribbon.
Mixed Media Labels
Have you ever seen Christmas trees bedecked in long decorated package labels? They resemble bookmarks, which is probably why the writer in me loves this ornament idea. You can cut your labels out of cardstock and string with a ribbon.
There are too many options of what you can put on these labels to list, but I am thinking of mixing a picture of my dogs, stamping on their names, bone cutouts and adding holiday motifs. Spray adhesive should keep everything together.
Most of the time when I see photographs of trees decorated with labels, there are also fake birds sitting in the tree. Give that common motif a canine spin and trade the birds out for some lightweight dog stuffed animals or plastic figurines.
Paw Print Baking Molds
This is a nice vintage look I wish I had the budget to pull off. Which is a shame, since it’s so easy! All you do is take little paw print baking molds (or any other dog-inspired molds) and glue on ribbon. These look so adorable hanging from the tree.
Cardstock Silhouettes
I like this idea for a more modern theme. Go for solid colored cardstock in your favorite colors. Using a template, cut out a few different dog silhouettes. Those of your dog’s breed are an obviously meaningful choice. To keep the look a little more designer, don’t use more than three complimentary colors and always use the same color for each template.
Caution on Using Bones
Bones and other dog treats may seem like an obvious choice to use as Christmas tree decorations. There’s no denying how cute it looks. But strongly consider whether your dog will be able to resist a taste. That would ruin your decoration and, most importantly, could harm your dog if they ingest other parts of the ornament.
Do you have any other ideas for pet-themed ornaments, or perhaps you’ve made some yourself? Feel free to share in the comments!
Photos by Tamara McRill
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Dogs
DIY Dog-Themed Christmas Tree Ornaments
I’m not sure if it’s the mad love for my dogs or all those hours spent on Pinterest, but I have decided my boys deserve their own little Christmas tree. Decorated completely in – you guessed it – handmade dog-themed ornaments. From photos to paw-tastic ribbons, there are so many options to choose from and each one can be customized to fit in with my current holiday decor. Since I am in full-on craft mode, I decided to make the ornaments myself. Figuring that my fellow dog lovers might also want in on the fun, I’m sharing some of the easier ornaments I’ll be making and others under consideration. Enjoy!
Frame Ornaments
This one is easiest if you already have some photo frame ornaments sitting around. Then all you have to do is print out some pictures of your pets and put them in the frames. To match your current decorations and make the look more cohesive, also frame other graphic images of dogs, bones and paw prints. You can find these in your Christmas colors online, or buy some dog-themed wrapping paper and cut out the details you like best.
I don’t have any frame ornaments on hand, so I am turning to my trusty glue gun and silver spray paint. Here are the steps:
Supplies: Cardboard, scissors, exacto knife, glue gun, glue sticks, silver spray paint, ribbon and your image.1. With scissors and an exacto knife, cut out ornate frames in different shapes from cardboard.
2. Poke a small hole at the top, wide enough to string ribbon through.
2. Spray paint them and allow to dry.
3. Glue the edges of your image to cardboard backing.
4. Glue the backing to your photo frame.
5. String a ribbon through the top hole and tie the loose ends in a knot.
Embroidery Hoops
This ornament is similar in concept to the photo frame ornaments, but produces a more “homey” look. All you need are small embroidery hoops and some fun holiday fabric featuring festive canine-inspired images. Simply cut out the parts of the fabric you would like to feature, including enough around the edges so it will fit in the hoop. You can trim off any excess showing fabric later.
Lay your cutout over the smaller circle of the hoop and fit the larger circle over that. Hang your new ornament with a pretty ribbon.
Mixed Media Labels
Have you ever seen Christmas trees bedecked in long decorated package labels? They resemble bookmarks, which is probably why the writer in me loves this ornament idea. You can cut your labels out of cardstock and string with a ribbon.
There are too many options of what you can put on these labels to list, but I am thinking of mixing a picture of my dogs, stamping on their names, bone cutouts and adding holiday motifs. Spray adhesive should keep everything together.
Most of the time when I see photographs of trees decorated with labels, there are also fake birds sitting in the tree. Give that common motif a canine spin and trade the birds out for some lightweight dog stuffed animals or plastic figurines.
Paw Print Baking Molds
This is a nice vintage look I wish I had the budget to pull off. Which is a shame, since it’s so easy! All you do is take little paw print baking molds (or any other dog-inspired molds) and glue on ribbon. These look so adorable hanging from the tree.
I like this idea for a more modern theme. Go for solid colored cardstock in your favorite colors. Using a template, cut out a few different dog silhouettes. Those of your dog’s breed are an obviously meaningful choice. To keep the look a little more designer, don’t use more than three complimentary colors and always use the same color for each template.
Caution on Using Bones
Bones and other dog treats may seem like an obvious choice to use as Christmas tree decorations. There’s no denying how cute it looks. But strongly consider whether your dog will be able to resist a taste. That would ruin your decoration and, most importantly, could harm your dog if they ingest other parts of the ornament.
Do you have any other ideas for pet-themed ornaments, or perhaps you’ve made some yourself? Feel free to share in the comments!
Photos by Tamara McRill
Read more articles by Tamara McRill
- Patriotic Dog Crafts For July 4th
By Tamara McRill What could be more natural than pairing dogs with a day dedicated to independence, patriotism and love of our country? After all, our furry friends are the epitome of freedom, loyalty and love. At least that’s how my mind works, and...
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By Tamara L. Waters Christmas, Christmas time is here, time for joy and time for cheer. . . chipmunks may sing about what they want for Christmas, but what do cat lovers want? Is there a song for that? Probably not, so instead, here are a few ideas...
- Homemade Christmas Gifts For Pets
By Tamara L. Waters Ho ho ho, it's almost Christmas! When you are decking your halls and getting your presents ready for the family, don't forget your four-legged family members. If your budget is tight or you just prefer to create cool gifts...
- How To Keep Cats Out Of The Christmas Tree
By Julia Williams Christmas tree decorations come in all sizes, shapes and colors, from glittery round balls and intricate figurines, to handmade ornaments and whiskered cat faces peering out at you from inside the tree. Wait. What?? Yes, it’s true....
- Tips To Keep Pets Safe During The Holidays
By Anna Lee Thanksgiving is not far off, and then Christmas followed by New Year’s Eve. As the holiday season draws closer you need to think about what food items and decorations could possibly cause serious harm to your pets. The following items are...