DIY Paw Print Wall Art

I don’t know about you, but I think the phrase that refers to dogs as “man’s best friend” is completely true. My dogs know things that I’ve never told a single soul. They’ve been there for some of my hardest moments, and though they might not really understand what exactly is going on, they know when the most important place they can be is by my side with my hand running through their soft fur.

We have two dogs, Willow and Nike, who own our hearts and our home (according to them, anyways). There is no doubt that they are members of our family, and they just love when they get to participate in our activities. They’re always very interested in everything we do. So of course when I’m crafting and creating, there is usually is a curious wet nose and helpful paw not far away.

I wanted to create something special that I could put in our home as a memento of our dogs and the bond we share with them, so I created this DIY paw print wall art that we can hang in our house. Of course I’m not about to keep something this awesome to myself, so I’m sharing it with you so that you, too, can create this special paw print art to hang in your home as a special keepsake of your faithful companion.

I have to tell you, this was definitely one of those projects that requires a second pair of hands. My husband helped me to wrangle the dogs and hold them still while I got the paw prints. And if we would have had a third pair of hands, there would have been some amusing pictures of the antics that occurred during this process, but I’ll let you use your imagination. Anyways, I’m sure you’ll have an idea what it’s like after you’ve created your own paw print art! The things our families put up with in the name of crafting!

Materials Needed to Create DIY Paw Print Wall Art

• Paint or a stamp pad (make sure it’s non toxic!)
• Foam/paint brush (if you’re using paint)
• Paper for paw prints
• Paper for printed names
• Marker
• Pencil
• Frame
• Scissors
• Newspaper to cover floor (if you’re doing this inside)
• Bucket of clean water and something to wash off paws
• Treats for bribery and good behavior 😉

I got my frames for like $1.40 (hello Hobby Lobby clearance!), but they were a bit scuffed up, so I painted them a different color!

Steps to Create DIY Paw Print Wall Art

1. You’ll need to get your dog’s paw print, which, if your dogs are anything like mine, is going to be the hardest part of the process. First, wash and dry the paw you’ll be using. If you’re doing this inside, protect your floors with some newspaper or packing paper. Then brush the pads of your dog’s paw with a light coat of paint, and gently press the paw onto your paper. If you’re using nicer paper, you might want to do a test print or two on a scrap piece of paper to make sure you get it right. It took me several tries (see below). It definitely helps to have a second pair of hands for this step!

2. Make sure to thoroughly wash your dog’s paw off! Even though it’s non toxic, you don’t want to leave paint on the paw, so make sure to use some soap and completely wash off every nook and cranny! (I’m pretty sure this was the most traumatic part of the whole experience for my dogs. It resembled bath time a little too much!) Extra treats for good behavior!

3. Print out your dog’s name on a separate piece of paper in the font you like best. Then use the side of your pencil to shade the back of the piece of paper where the name is. Turn your paper over and use your pencil to trace an outline of the name above the paw print.

4. Use markers to fill in the name and make it stand out. I used a super fine tip marker to outline the letters and then filled it in with a larger marker.

There are many different ways to do this, including using a vinyl cutter or to print the dog’s name directly onto the paper, but this was the way I did it because it was easiest.

5. Frame it, hang it up, and adore your new artwork! I mentioned to my husband I hadn’t decided exactly where to put our DIY paw print wall art, but I was thinking possibly on the wall above their food bowls. He sarcastically replied, “Because they don’t know which bowl is theirs?” Men… sometimes they just don’t get it!

How cute is this? I just love their little paw prints. I have to say, the effort on this project was definitely worth the hassle! Once you get the paw prints done, it’s all downhill from there! This is one of those DIY decor projects that’s really so special and something you can keep and treasure for many years.

UPDATE: While I was just so in love with my paw print wall art, I felt it needed a little bit of color to draw some attention to it and really make it stand out. So after a little bit of experimenting, I ended up watercoloring the frame mats. How awesome is that blue? If you ever wanted to spruce up your frames, check out how to watercolor your own frame mats. This was a super simple project that seriously took all of 5 minutes, but added such a big impact!

I hope I’ve inspired you to create your own DIY paw print wall art. If you’re so inclined, tell me a little about your family pet in the comments. I’d love to hear all about your furry companion and their antics! Don’t forget to sign up for my newsletter below so you can get more fun projects like this delivered directly to your inbox!