Pawesome Paw Print Keepsakes to Make With Your Puppy

Our furbabies are precious to us. They are members of our family, and we would do anything for our puppies. Some of us may even have more pictures and videos in our camera rolls than our human children! 

Making DIY crafts for dogs and dog lovers can be rewarding, but including your puppy’s paw print in an art form will bring new meaning to your creations you can either keep for yourself or give to those who love your puppy like you do. 

Creating keepsakes of our puppy’s pawprints will keep their spirit in our hearts forever. Whether it’s for a holiday craft, a gift, or something to make you smile, DIY paw print projects you make with your puppy will bring long-lasting joy for years to come. 

Tips for A Successful Session Creating Paw Print Mementos

Before you dive in with an exciting idea, take a few moments to plan out what your session will look like. Preparation is key for any sort of craft with a puppy!

Pick a project…or three!

Some of us are crafty and confident about our abilities, while others of us will need some time and encouragement to begin. Pick a project that resonates with you, keeping in mind the whole point is to preserve memories of your puppy at this age. You may even want to repeat the same project when your puppy is fully grown to compare paw sizes. If a project is above your crafting comfort level, ask a more experienced friend to help. 

Leave enough time

The process of making paw print keepsakes is to allot enough time depending on your deadline if you are making them for a particular holiday or gift-giving occasion. When you don’t get started until the last minute, you’re guilty of “procraftination,” even if you have good intentions! It may help to carefully look at the instructions to estimate how much time each step will take – and then add on even more time for a buffer in case you encounter setbacks in the process. 

Stick to a budget & gather supplies

Be realistic about your overall budget for the paw print project you choose. Many of the supplies used can be found in your pantry (like with salt dough ornaments) or at the local dollar store (paper plates, canvases, paintbrushes, or paint foam applicators). Others might require a small fee for downloading technology or equipment you do not own, so make sure you can afford the project you want to make. Consider borrowing materials or asking for them on free or swap sites. 

Use non-toxic materials safe for puppies

The very first items you want to choose are pet-safe materials. Avoid any material that can be toxic when ingested because we know you’re very familiar with how mouthy puppies can be. You may be tempted to grab the first (or cheapest) materials you see. Not so fast! Read the labels of paints or inks to see if they are non-toxic. You may need to do some research on certain ingredients, so be sure to build this into your timeframe. Your puppy may be tempted to lick or eat the ingredients and supplies you are using, so that’s why this step is paramount for pet safety. 

Prepare your space

You may need to do some of these projects outside, with a dropcloth, or other protective surfaces. If you do your craft outside, you’ll need to pick a day with favorable weather conditions. Since many of these involve the need to dry clay or paint, have a space away from pets where your project can dry or solidify without interference from curious puppies or the need to move them out of the way. 

Be ready for cleanup

Depending on what you’re making, keep unscented baby wipes, a bowl of water, an old towel, paper towels, and more right by your side. You certainly don’t want your puppy to scamper off and leave paw prints all over your couch, especially when you weren’t intentionally planning on using the couch as a paw print memento! Be prepared for lots of laughs and gaffs, especially with paint or ink involved. You will want a swift and efficient cleanup post-crafting. 

Time it right

To be successful, you want to time the activity so your puppy is not overstimulated, hungry, or at other times of the day that are not ideal. Make sure your puppy has gone outside to relieve themselves first so they’re ready. It’s a great idea to tire out your puppy with a long walk, a romp at the dog park, or a hardy play session. 

Gather lots of paws together 

Why make something this important alone? Gather some friends or attend a workshop with other dog lovers and your puppies to join in some doggy fellowship for a waggin’ good time. You can help each other hold your dogs still and laugh at all the hilarious antics that are sure to happen. You may even make new friends in the process! 

Above all, have patience

Making DIY paw print keepsakes is supposed to be a fun activity. You may get frustrated in the process, but keep the focus on what a wonderful memory you are making and how you will appreciate it years down the road. 

DIY Paw Print Mementos to Create

Which one of our collection of DIY paw print keepsakes speaks to you the most? If you have the time, why not make them all? If you do, please share a picture on our Pawrade social media accounts! We firmly believe all our Pawrade puppies can turn into your very own Pawcasso, and we want to be the first to say we knew your puppy before they were discovered as an artistic genius.

Kool-Aid paste dye from The Honest Kitchen

Kool-Aid Paw Print

OH, YEAH! Remember The Kool-Aid Man busting through brick walls? Now you can hang a Kool-Aid paw print on your brick wall! Maggie Martin of the Honest Kitchen shares instructions for how to make this project using an integral part of many of our childhoods. 

One fantastic component of this project is that Kool-Aid is considered a food-grade, non-toxic dye safe for puppies. If you mix your favorite color of Kool-Aid with a little bit of water, you can make a paste for a pet-safe ink print. Spread it on a flat surface and dip your puppy’s paw in the paste, or you can use a paintbrush to evenly distribute the colorful ink. One caveat is to avoid shiny, glossy surfaces in case the Kool-Aid ink smears.

Wooden disc paw print crafts

Wooden discs are a versatile material that can be used for various purposes. If you’re a woodworking enthusiast, you probably have several wooden circles in your workshop, or you can purchase them at big box craft stores and discount dollar stores. 

Using pet-safe paint or ink, press your puppy’s paw, let it dry, and use a clear varnish to preserve the paw print. You can drill a hole in the top, tie a ribbon on it, and hang it as an ornament. You could make a wall decoration by using simple hanging hardware. If you have a metal surface, gluing a magnet to the back will allow you to see your puppy’s paw print every time you open the fridge.

Air-dried clay paw prints from Dalmation DIY

Air dry clay paw print impressions

If you’re looking for an easy, inexpensive paw print craft using pre-made material, look no further than air dry clay paw prints from Dalmatian DIY. You can find Air Dry Clay online or at big box retail stores in white and different colors. Air dry clay is a very forgiving, easy-to-use material safe for kids and adults that keeps well in an air-tight container for other uses. It holds puppy paw prints and paints beautifully in case you want to add some pizzazz to your paw print.

You could use your hands to ball up a portion of clay or dough and pat it in a flat, circular shape, or you could use a rolling pin to flatten it out and a biscuit cutter for a perfectly shaped circle. Use a toothpick or straw to poke a hole big enough for a ribbon to go through if you want to hang it on the wall or the Christmas tree. 

Salt dough paw print ornaments from Debbie Chapman at One Little Project

Salt dough paw prints

You may have remembered those salt dough landscapes and maps you made for elementary school projects. You probably created mountains and other geographical features using salt dough. Did you know you can revisit those simpler times with a salt dough paw print keepsake? 

All you need are flour, salt, and water, items you probably have in your pantry already. Some other items will be handy, including a rolling mat, toothpick or straw, cookie or biscuit cutter, ribbon, and paint. 

Make your own salt dough by mixing a ½ cup of hot water, a ½ cup of salt, and one cup of flour. Mix until it forms a cohesive dough. Just like with air dry clay paw prints, using your cookie cutter or a biscuit cutter for a perfect circle and a toothpick or straw for a hole would be a great way to display your paw print. Bake them at a low temperature in the oven for a few hours according to the recipe instructions. 

When fully dry, paint and bedazzle them to your heart’s content to get them looking exactly how you like them to display for years to come.

Paw print flower pots

While several of our suggestions can revolve around the winter holidays, don’t forget Mother’s Day and other spring and summer holidays. Terra cotta pot paw print crafts are a fantastic way to get metaphorical with a theme of growth, both for your puppy and from seedlings to full-blown plants. These make great gifts for the gift that keeps on giving!