Paw Print Salt Dough Ornaments

Paw Print Salt Dough Ornaments

With Christmas coming, you can expect ornaments and decorations in every corner and every nook and cranny, homemade cards for grandma, and lights that brighten every street. Some might expect the gift of a family puppy or kitten. One way to celebrate that new addition to the family is salt dough ornaments. If you want to cherish the memory of your pet, make one of these paw print ornaments with the whole family! They can even be customized with so many colors, wording, add a little sparkle with some glitter; anything you want! It’s such a sweet Christmas keepsake idea and they ended up looking ADORABLE!

**Please note that these can be toxic to pets if eaten. So, just to be safe, hang them high up on the tree.**

Here is everything you are going to need to make these keepsakes and memories with the kids.

Ingredients

• ½ cup hot water
• ½ cup salt
• 1 cup flour
• Parchment paper
• Acrylic Paint
• Matte Finish Mod Podge
• Cup or cookie cutters
• Ribbon
• Gold Paint Pen or Sharpie, Glitter, or any other little trinkets

Instructions

1. Mix together the hot water, salt, and flour in a medium-size bowl. Knead it together with your hands until it forms a dough ball. If it's too sticky, add some extra flour.
2. Using a rolling pin, roll out the dough on the counter until it is ¼ inch to ½ inch thick.
3. Use a small plastic cup or cookie cutter of your choice to cut out circles or shapes.
4. Grab your cat or dog and gently press their paw into the center of the circle or shape to make an imprint.
5. Use a drinking straw to cut a hole for the ribbon.
6. Transfer the circles to a parchment-lined baking sheet and bake at 225 F for 2 to 3 hours until they are solid and completely dried out.
7. Once they have cooled, you can paint, color, or draw on the ornaments to match your pet’s personality.
8. Write your dog's name and the year on the front or back of the ornament using a gold paint pen or a Sharpie marker.
9. If you want to add glitter to your ornament nows the time. Add a coat of Matte Finish Mod Podge and sprinkle it generously with glitter.
10. If you only want the imprint filled with glitter, allow the first coat of Mod Podge to dry completely. Then add a generous second coat to the inside of the paw print and sprinkle it with glitter.
11. String a ribbon through the hole to hang your ornament.
12. If you want you can attach other items to the ornament using hot glue.

There you have it. These easy and inexpensive decorations will show how much you love your pet, so spoil them rotten. And the best part, you can even make these keepsakes using your children's hand and footprints.

Diamonds in the Ruff

We know just how much you love your pets. Which is why you can trust our staff to provide the best care during their time with us. Our boarding facility is equipped to house dogs large and small, and our cattery is now open for your feline family member to enjoy. Come by or visit our website to view all that we have to offer. Our new cattery in Abilene is ready for your cat during this holiday season.

The World of Cat Cafes

The World of Cat Cafes

Have you ever heard of a cat cafe? Well, they are growing in popularity in the states. The idea of a cat cafe is a cross between an adoption center and a coffee shop. Customers can either make reservations or walk-in, order a cup of coffee or tea, enjoy a sandwich or pastry all while hanging out with a lineup of adoptable cats. This whole trend began in Japan, where you can find more than a hundred similar setups including "rabbit cafes" and at least one "goat cafe."

There is a possibility there will be one opening up near you. Cat-loving entrepreneurs are anxiously putting deals together with adoption centers and vendors, raising funds, and coaxing health inspectors in hopes of opening up a feline-friendly restaurant of their own.

Cat Town Cafe

One particular cat cafe opened its doors in 2014 in Oakland, California and was the first of its kind. Cat Town Cafe founders Adam Myatt and Ann Dunn told Mashable they have been amazed by the amount of attention the cafe has gotten in just the first week of opening. Reservations for opening weekend were completely booked up two weeks in advance, and the second and third weekends filled up shortly after. There are other businesses with the same idea opening in San Francisco (KitTea), Portland (Purringtons), Los Angeles (Catfe), Denver, (Catco) San Diego and Seattle (Meowtropolitan).

Cat Town Cafe is split into two separate spaces: one is a food preparation area and counter where patrons can order coffee, tea, sandwiches or pastries before entering an elaborate play area. The play area is complete with cat-sized replicas of city icons and murals featuring famous cats of pop culture. The lounge area allows a limited number of customers to interact with six to 12 cats at a time, who have the option of slipping away to a cats-only area if the adoration gets overwhelming.

Now while the pair did not know each other very well before they began their new adventure, it did not stop them from raising money through an Indiegogo campaign and Pet Food Express, not to mention private donations and grants. Myatt said they were able to work with regulators to ensure the operation was fit for health codes.

On a Mission

The whole idea is to find forever homes for the cats that are least likely to get adopted in a shelter environment, often because they are "extremely shy, sick or old," Dunn said. She continued to say that more people are inclined to adopting a cat in setting like the cat cafe where it is an all-around good environment; whereas a shelter can seem sad and depressing. You can visit with the cats in a playful setting. "Sometimes I think it's a lot to put the cats through, but if it means they will be adopted more quickly, then it seems worth doing," Dunn said. "If we were just opening an adoption center, people would have been like, 'so what?’”

Myatt warned any aspiring cat cafe proprietors that the business model is not for the faint of heart. "People don't realize that running a cafe is hard and takes a shit ton of work...and then there's cats," Myatt said. "It's like running two crazy businesses that take a lot of time and attention."

Two Crazy Cat Lovers

Before coming together, pair hardly knew each other and just had the casual conversation at a local coffee shop. The two had more in common than they thought. Dunn founded a non-profit rescue organization called Cat Town that places cats in foster homes, and Myatt, also known as the "Cat Man of West Oakland" for his wildly popular cat photography, had just returned from a trip to Japan, where he was fascinated by the country's "crazy cat culture."

"I've always been an animal person — not necessarily just a cat person — but cats seem to be the dominating force in my life right now," Myatt said. "If that's what the universe has got for me then I'll go with that."

Diamonds in the Ruff

We are happy to see so many people doing what they can to bring more attention to cat adoptions. And what an inventive way of doing it! At Diamonds in the Ruff, we are excited to offer a safe and fun place to bring your feline friends for the day or while you are on a weekend trip. Come by today and visit our facility or visit our website at www.diamondsintheruffpetboarding.com. We have what your pet needs at our new cattery in Abilene.