5 Great DIY Dog Christmas Decoration and Ornament Ideas (With Pictures)
Updated on
The holidays are when many people feel crafty and take on DIY projects. Nothing is cozier than sipping hot cocoa while making handmade items for friends and family. We’ve got you covered if you’re looking for dog-themed Christmas decorations and ornament ideas. These projects range from easy crafts you can make in under an hour to more complex ideas for advanced crafters.
The 5 Top DIY Dog Christmas Decorations and Ornaments
1. DIY Paw Print Ornament
| Materials: | Oven, flour, salt, water, straw |
| Tools: | Circle cookie cutter or glass with round top, rolling pin, baking sheet, wax paper, ribbon, optional paint |
| Difficulty Level: | Easy, great for kids |
A DIY paw print ornament like this one from Sweet Teal is simple to make and provides a lasting memory of your pup. A paw print ornament is an excellent idea for a new puppy. You can create an ornament each year and compare how they’ve grown!
You probably already have most of the materials you need for this project. Kids can join in the fun by mixing and rolling out the dough. This ornament makes a great gift for your vet’s office or your favorite pet sitter. You can personalize this DIY ornament with your choice of paint and ribbon.
2. DIY Dog Bone Picture Frame
| Materials: | Picture frame, dog biscuits, paint (red, white, green) |
| Tools: | Hot Glue Gun and Glue |
| Difficulty Level: | Moderate |
This DIY dog bone picture frame from Miss Molly Says is perfect for making for yourself or giving as a gift. This frame would look so cute on a mantel, bookshelf, or even hung inside a Christmas wreath! We recommend you practice arranging the bone treats before gluing them to the picture frame. That way, you have the look you want and know just how many treats you need. Keeping this frame out of your dog’s reach might be a good idea.
While the paint smell should deter most dogs from eating the treats, it’s better to be safe than sorry. We love the simplicity of this DIY dog bone picture frame. You could make one for other holidays and customize the colors. Orange, red, and black for Halloween; pink, yellow, and blue for Easter.
3. DIY Doggie Advent Calendar
| Materials: | 14″ x 14″ cork board, 6″ wide red burlap ribbon, one 6.5″ wooden circle, one 5.5″ x 3.5″ wooden oval, two 4.5″ x 3″ wooden ovals, two 2.75″ wooden circles, 24 miniature felt stockings, gold ribbon wire, white puff paint, snowflake charms, acrylic paint (white, black, brown, and red), dog treats to fill the stockings |
| Tools: | Hot glue gun, hot glue, thumb tacks, scissors, sewing machine, saw (if cutting the circles and ovals yourself) |
| Difficulty Level: | Difficult |
Advent calendars containing candy or other treats are a tradition for many families. If your dog feels left out, consider making them a calendar. This DIY doggie advent calendar from Suzy’s Artsy-Crafty Sitcom is for the diehard crafters.
You’ll need to sew, cut fabric, and use puffy paint. You’ll also need to cut or buy a few pieces of circular and oval wood, but the finished product is worth the effort. Feel free to customize the paint to match your dog’s fur.
4. Paw Print Christmas Tree Keepsake Painting
| Materials: | White paper, non-toxic washable paint (green, brown, yellow, and other assorted colors), picture frame |
| Tools: | Scissors, pencil, measuring tape |
| Difficulty Level: | Easy |
Check out Crafty Morning’s paw print Christmas tree keepsake painting if you want your dog to get in on the crafting fun. The size of your dog’s paws will dictate how big of a frame you buy. You’ll probably only need a 5 x 7 frame for a toy poodle, while a Labrador’s paws require an 8 x 10 frame or a larger one. While we’ve rated this DIY project as easy, we didn’t take clean-up into account.
Antsy pups may try to run away with paint still on their paws. We recommend protecting your floor or table with newspaper or an old bed sheet. Have a wet washcloth handy to wipe off any paint so your pup doesn’t do a DIY job on your carpeting. Use the image above as a guide, but feel free to add your own special touches. You could draw or paint presents under the tree or add garland.
5. Dog Treat Wreath
| Materials: | Milk bones, Pup Pepperoni dog treats, Christmas ribbon, cardboard, non-toxic green paint |
| Tools: | Scissors, paintbrush |
| Difficulty Level: | Moderate |
Consider this wreath if you tackled the dog bone picture frame and want to move on to a larger project. This DIY project is fun to create, but it’s also fun to eat! However, keep this wreath out of the dog’s reach, so they don’t finish it in one sitting. Nothing ruins the holidays like an upset tummy.
Upstate Ramblings’ DIY dog treat wreath does double duty as décor and a post-holiday treat for your dog. We recommend painting the wreath the day before you assemble it to allow enough time to dry. The premise behind this wreath is straightforward, but we’ve marked it as moderately difficult. Tying the ribbon “just so” may require some patience and practice.
Final Thoughts
Our list of DIY dog Christmas decorations and ornaments range from simple to advanced. Kids can help with easier projects like the hilarious photo ornament and pawprint ornament. Seasoned crafters will enjoy the advent calendar or the dog bone picture frame. The finished products will look great in your home or make thoughtful gifts for someone else.
Featured Image Credit: Egrigorovich, Shutterstock
