Print turned into a pine tree by adding a trunk and a starPet-safe green paint, brown and yellow markers. Press with the toes pointing up, as the treetop.
Square clay tile with the hollow of the print painted goldAir-dry clay, gold acrylic. Let the tile dry fully and paint only inside the pads.
Clay star ornament with the print in its centerAir-dry clay, star cutter, twine. Press the paw first and cut the star around it.
Four paw prints as flower petals, the stem drawn in afterPet-safe pink ink pad, green pen. Press the same paw four times around a center; draw the stem once dry.
Front left and front right paw side by side, each labeledPet-safe navy ink pad, pencil. One press per paw on the same line; letter L and R beneath them.
Gold prints scattered on navy like a constellationNavy acrylic for the ground, pet-safe gold paint. Paint and dry the ground first, then press five prints.
Mirrored pair of paw prints as wings beside a penned bodyPet-safe purple paint, black pen. Press once each side of a drawn body, toes pointing outward.
One print every birthday along a single long canvasPet-safe paint, a new color each year. Rule a faint baseline and add the date under every new print.
Paw print as a tulip, the four toes as petal tipsPet-safe coral paint, green marker. One upright press; add the stalk and two long leaves when dry.
Paw print sun with rays brushed around itPet-safe orange paint, yellow acrylic. Press in the middle; pull the rays outward once the print is dry.
Paw trail left by a few real steps across the sheetPet-safe black ink pad. Let the dog walk a few steps across the sheet and keep whatever path it takes.
Print with the dog's name lettered in an arc above itPet-safe teal paint, black marker. Press low on the sheet so the name has room over the toes.
Six-color arch of prints, the paw wiped clean between eachSix pet-safe paints. Wipe the paw clean between colors and follow a penciled arc.
Small print in the corner as the signature on a pet portraitPet-safe black ink pad. Finish and dry the portrait, then press once where a painter would sign.
Toe pads as four balloons, strings gathered in a bowPet-safe yellow paint, fine black pen. One press; draw four strings from the toe pads down to a bow.
Toes-down print as an airship with a tiny gondola beneathPet-safe blue paint, brown pen. Press with the toes pointing down and draw a gondola under them.
Two paw prints angled together so the pads form a heartPet-safe red paint. Press once tilted left and once tilted right so the two big pads touch at the base.
Clay and salt-dough impressions 12
Bone-shaped clay tag with one small toe-pad printAir-dry clay, bone cutter. Press only the toes at one end and stamp the name along the rest.
Both dogs of the house sharing one slab, toes just crossingAir-dry clay. Press the larger paw first and let the second print cross its outer toe.
Clay plaque: the paw above, the collar tag pressed in belowAir-dry clay. Press the paw, then press the tag face down below it and lift it straight out.
Clay star ornament with the print in its centerAir-dry clay, star cutter, twine. Press the paw first and cut the star around it.
Heart-shaped salt-dough print with a ribbon hole at the topSalt dough, a straw for the hole, ribbon. Press, cut the heart around the print, and pierce before drying.
Impression with the rim painted and the hollow left bareSalt dough, blue acrylic. Bake or dry it hard, then paint around the print and not inside it.
Print and one pressed leaf side by side in a single slabAir-dry clay, a fresh leaf. Roll the leaf in vein side down, lift it, then press the paw beside it.
Print pressed into the well of a small clay ring dishAir-dry clay, gold acrylic. Press first, then curl the rim up around it; gild the rim once dry.
Puppy print and grown print in matching discsAir-dry clay, date stamps. Make the first disc now, keep the cutter, and repeat it a year later.
Round clay disc with one deep print, the name stamped belowAir-dry clay, letter stamps. Roll the disc thick, press the paw straight down, and stamp while it is soft.
Set of four clay coasters, one paw on eachAir-dry clay, round cutter, sealer. Mark each coaster with which paw it was before the clay dries.
Square clay tile with the hollow of the print painted goldAir-dry clay, gold acrylic. Let the tile dry fully and paint only inside the pads.
With your own handprint beside it 12
A child's hand and a puppy's paw, repeated each birthdayFinger paint and pet-safe paint in the same two colors every year. Date each pair in pencil.
Dog's print circled by a wreath of your fingertip dabsFinger paint in four colors, pet-safe black ink pad. One fingertip press after another around the print.
Every hand in the family in a row, the paw at the endFinger paint, one color per person; pet-safe paint. Tallest to smallest, the dog last.
Fingerprint balloons tied by pen lines to a paw printFinger paint in three colors, pet-safe black ink pad. Paw at the bottom, balloons floating above.
Hand and paw side by side like a high fiveFinger paint in blue, pet-safe paint in orange. Fingers up, toes up, the two prints just touching.
Hand outline in pencil filled with small toe-pad printsPencil, pet-safe pink ink pad. Trace the hand, then press only the toes again and again inside it.
Handprint and paw print as two leaves on one drawn stemGreen finger paint, pet-safe green paint, brown pen. Print both at a slant and join them with a stem.
Handprint below, paw above, as if the hand were holding itFinger paint in tan, pet-safe brown paint. Print the hand with fingers spread and the paw over the palm.
Paw pressed into the palm of your own dried handprintFinger paint for the hand, pet-safe paint for the paw. Print the hand, let it dry, then press the paw.
Thumbprint heart floating above one paw printRed finger paint, pet-safe gray ink pad. Paw first; two thumbprints angled together make the heart.
Traced outline of your hand with a painted paw inside itBlack pen, pet-safe green paint. Draw around your hand so only the paw needs paint.
Two hands framing the paw print, thumbs touching at the baseFinger paint in yellow, pet-safe blue paint. Press the paw first and place a hand at each side.
Cards and ornaments 12
Birthday card where the print wears a drawn party hatPet-safe purple paint, markers. Press upright and draw the hat on the tallest toe.
Bookmark with three prints climbing the stripPet-safe teal ink pad, cardstock strip, ribbon. Press bottom to top, a little lighter each time.
Canvas tote with the paw print stenciled on its pocketPet-safe ink pad, paper, fabric paint. Press on paper, cut the print out as a stencil, and sponge the bag through it.
Envelope flap sealed with a print instead of a stickerPet-safe gold ink pad. Close the envelope first and press across the point of the flap.
Garland of circled paw prints threaded on twinePet-safe paint in three colors, twine. Press on separate sheets, cut a circle around each, and thread.
Gift tags, each with one toe-pad clusterPet-safe green ink pad, kraft tags. Press only the toes so the print fits a small tag.
Holiday card signed with a single paw printPet-safe red ink pad, black pen. Press where a signature would go and letter the name beside it.
Mini canvas for a desk with a print and a pressed-on datePet-safe black ink pad, date stamp. Press off-center and stamp the date in the open corner.
New-home card: a little house drawn around the printPet-safe brown ink pad, black pen. Press low and draw the roof, door and chimney over it.
Print turned into a pine tree by adding a trunk and a starPet-safe green paint, brown and yellow markers. Press with the toes pointing up, as the treetop.
Thank-you card for the dog sitter with a print on the frontPet-safe blue ink pad, blank white card. One centered press; the message goes inside.
Wood slice ornament with the print and the yearPet-safe white paint, black marker, twine. Press on the smooth face; write the year under the pad.
How it works
A paw prints as one large, heart-shaped pad with four toe pads above it. That shape is the whole kit: the toes become petals, balloons or a treetop, and two pads together make a heart.
Read the full guide
What the print can become
Paint prints on paper and canvas holds 14 ideas, such as Four paw prints as flower petals, the stem drawn in after. With your own handprint beside it holds 12; the hand is printed in finger paint or traced in pen or pencil.
Ink, paint, clay or salt dough
Use an ink pad or paint sold as pet-safe, and wash the paw with water afterward. This page makes no claim about any product. Salt dough is flour, salt and water, and the ASPCA lists excessively salty foods among those to keep from pets, so the dough is for pressing and never a treat.
The group list under the button narrows the ideas to prints, clay, handprints or cards.
Questions and answers
What can I make with my dog's paw print?
A framed print, a clay impression, a card or an ornament. This list holds 50, from Print with the dog's name lettered in an arc above it to Wood slice ornament with the print and the year.
How do I turn a paw print into a picture?
Add a few drawn lines once the print is dry. Paw print as a tulip, the four toes as petal tips needs a stalk and two leaves; Toe pads as four balloons, strings gathered in a bow needs four drawn lines.
Can I make a clay paw print instead of using paint?
Yes. Clay and salt-dough impressions holds 12, such as Round clay disc with one deep print, the name stamped below. The paw is pressed straight down into the soft clay and lifted out.
What paint is safe for a dog's paw?
This page cannot say which product is safe for your dog. Choose an ink pad or paint that is sold as pet-safe, wash the paw with water afterward, and ask a vet about anything you are unsure of.