Give the dog a bone
Most may not think of using dog biscuits for ornaments, but they are great for adding a special touch that can easily be personalized. Grab a large dog biscuit and coat it in Mod Podge. Apply two coats and let dry. This will seal the biscuit and allow you to use it from year to year. From there, apply any color of acrylic paint that will go with your decorations. I went with gold metallic.
Once dry, use a Sharpie and write your pet’s name on the back of the biscuit to customize it. Use a matching ribbon and tie a knot around each end of the bone, leaving enough ribbon to easily hang it on your tree. Once done, the dog bone has been transformed from a treat for your pet to a treat for your tree.
Little furry friend
This ornament is great to do with your children. Not all pets are dogs or cats. Many people own small animals such as hamsters. Visit your local craft store and you can purchase large pom-poms. I purchased a pack of three large whites ones for just 99 cents and also picked up a small pack of googly eyes and miniature pink pom-poms. Using the hot glue gun, attach the eyes to the large white pom pom. Add a small pink nose and two pink ears to your hamster as well.
Using a large clear ball ornament, take your dried hamster and push him into the top of the ball. Once inside, use tweezers or a skewer to adjust the hamster inside the ball to how you want it placed. Now, your small pet is immortalized on your tree for years to come.
Crazy cat
We can’t forget about the crazy cats in our life. Actually, this ornament can be done with any type of pet.
Grab four pipe cleaners, which can be purchased at any craft store. Twist the four pipe cleaners together about 1 ½ inches from the end. Go about four inches up from where you twisted and twist them together again. You can cut the excess off above the last twist you made. The pieces hanging down below your first twist will become two legs and the other two pipe cleaners will be twisted together to create a tail.
Find a picture of your pet that is a great straight on shot. Cut out your pet’s head from the image on a thick cardstock or photo paper. Hot glue your pet’s head to the top of your pipe cleaners to cover up the second twist you made. Using the excess pipe cleaners you removed earlier, cut one about three inches in length. On the back side of your cleaners, add a dollop of hot glue and attach this pipe cleaner. Bend the cleaner around to the front so that it looks like two arms. If you have any small cutouts to add, like the Christmas tree I found at my local craft store, glue it to one side of the arm pipe cleaner. You can even bend it around to look like it is being held by your cat. Lastly, take one more of your excess pipe cleaners.
Add glue on either side of the twist that is securing your cat’s head in place. Add each end of that pipe cleaner to the glue so that it creates a loop for you to hang your pet up. Now, you have a fun and quirky ornament that represents your favorite pet.
Snow bunny
Whether your pet is a dog, rabbit, cat or small animal, this ornament can be used for all of them. Fill a clear glass ornament with Epsom salt. You want it to cover about an inch at the bottom of your ornament. Find a full body photo of your favorite pet and print it out on cardstock or on photo paper.
Cut your pet out and roll it so that it will fit in the top of the ornament. Slide it in and unfold it inside the ornament using tweezers or a skewer. Slide it down into the Epsom salt so that it stands up on its own. Once you are happy with the placement, your pet is ready to hang on the tree in its own personal winter wonderland.
Framing Fido
Photo frames are great for ornaments. Use 10 small dog biscuits and apply two coats of Mod Podge to them to seal them. While they dry, take four craft sticks and glue them together in a square to create the base of your frame. Using your acrylic paint, paint the tops and sides of your biscuits to your desired color scheme. Also, paint the craft sticks the same color. Hot glue these biscuits onto the craft sticks creating a frame made out of dog biscuits.
Flip over your ornament and add two dollops of hot glue to the top corners of your frame. Using a decorative ribbon, glue the two ends into place so you will have a loop to hang the ornament on the tree. Print out a photo that fits the opening of your frame. Cut it out and glue it to the back side of the frame. Hang on the tree and enjoy!
With these great ornaments, you can easily and quickly add some personalization to any tree. Don’t have a pet? Consider making these as great gifts for all your pet-loving friends and family.
Jessica Garringer is a bargain hunter, couponer and DIYer from the Beavercreek area. Contact her by e-mailing SavvySaverSavings@gmail.com.
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