Leave Paw Prints on Their Tree!

I offer each pet a toy off my tree, but I like to do something for the paying client as well! This year I wanted to do something different than I usually do, and I was looking around for ideas when I found a lot of frames at a Dollar Store. I cleaned them out (and the other three Dollar Trees in town as well). I did not have enough, so I kept looking and I found more at craft stores, and other sources that cost anywhere from 15 cents to $1 each. Then I decided to make paw prints for their owners with the pets name on it. 

This project sounds like a lot of work but it is really very very easy

What you need to do this project:

• Frames. You can use foam kits that are really inexpensive or more fancy, real photo frames. The ones I got are all under or at $1 each. I was able to get about 20 different styles in fact to have variety.
• Paper. I used watercolor paper because it is heavy and very absorbent but you can use any paper that will take the stamp ink.
• Ink Pads. I used Non-toxic, NON PERMANENT stamp pads. DO NOT use permanent as they will not wash out. These are available in any number of colors. Red and Green will wash out easily unless you let it dry. 
• Scissors. 
• Baby Wipes. We use them to wipe the bottom of the foot before inking.
• Colored markers for putting the names onto the ornaments.

This is a step by step tutorial on doing this project:

We have found that using the back left foot works best for us and we do the imprint before the pet is bathed.

1. Shave the pads and clip the nails.

2. Pull back the hair as much as possible.

3. Wet the pads with a baby wipe or lightly damp cloth. We do not know why this makes the ink adhere better, but it does.

4. Place the non toxic stamp pad against the pads and make sure it is covered pretty well. If you store them pad side down they ink the pads better than if you are stored bottom down.

5. Press the paw onto a piece of paper that will fit inside the frame you have chosen. You can do it the way I am showing you, or press the paper to the pad. Either way works.

6. Then you have the print. If you need to, you can "forge" the print by dipping your finger in the ink and lightly dab the extra ink onto the existing print. This is great for dogs with "funny" feet or where the ink was not heavy enough.

7. We then dip the foot into a bucket of water that contains a wet cloth and wipe off any excess ink. If you are mobile, or if the dog is going straight into the tub, you can skip this step and simply wash the dog before the ink dries completley.

8. Write the pets name and year on the front of the print. Verify spelling first if you are in doubt. I was surprised how many spellings I DID NOT have correct!

9. Cut the paper to the shape and size that will fit in your frame and insert the print. Most of the frames I made had a piece of paper with the dimensions on it and I used it to draw the size around the print at first. We then used my sons paper cutting machine to cut templates for us to use. 

10. Give these to your clients and wait for the waterworks to start. I have had people cry. I really have.

On a sidenote, I was lucky enough to get my local Dollar General Store to give me the racks that the ornaments they are selling came on. They throw them away when the ornaments are gone. They are the white covered wire racks like you see in closet shelving. I use one of those at my table to hang the empty ornaments we are using and one at the desk to hang the finished ones to make it easier to find the correct ones when the pets go home. You might check that out if you need a collar rack, jewelery rack or any number of other things you can do with those racks. I would bet that many places who get in prepacked displays will be throwing them away and will gladly give them to you.