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DIY: Silhouette Pet Portraits Round-Up

                                

(via SilhouetteArt)

A reader asked about tutorials for making silhouette pet portraits, so here you go!  You can do this for any pet, so don’t limit yourself to cats and dogs.  A budgie portrait would be really cute!

The video shows 2 techniques—a higher tech version that uses Adobe Illustrator & a robot cutter and lower tech version that uses tracing paper.

 

Here’s a second tutorial on how to make another version of a silhouette plaque.  Just use your pet’s portrait instead.

 

More ideas on ways to use pet silhouettes from Martha Stewart.  I think the suggestion to have a custom rubber stamp made of your pet’s silhouette is a great idea.  It would also make a nice gift for a pet lover.

 

I love this tote bag tutorial—it’d make a cute pillow too!  I think I’d sew the silhouette rather than glue it though.

 

Larger scale pet silhouettes made from plywood are a unique application.  You’ll need a jigsaw, router, or something similar for this project.

 

This two-toned silhouette portrait is lovely.  You can use all sorts of colors and patterns to create something really nifty!

 

An appliquéd onsey or t-shirt is pretty cute.

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Friday Fun: Oskar & The Hair Dryer

Here’s Oskar, who was born blind, battling that waskally wind from the hair dryer.  What a cute boy!

And here he is with his first toys.  Cats are amazing!  If you’re considering adopting a pet, don’t rule out one with special needs.  Animals can really adapt!

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DIY: Elevated Dog Bed Like Kuranda

diyelevatedbedI’ve gotten a bunch of questions about this post—it’s time to update it!  Elevated beds are great for dogs with painful joints.  And they help keep your pup comfy when its’s  hot, if the ground is damp, if there are ground dwelling bugs, etc.

The Columbus Dog Connection rescue group has a spiffy tutorial on how to make your own elevated dog bed out of PVC pipe like the beds listed in this post on how to keep your pets cool.  (Be sure to check out the Columbus Dog Connection too!)  This would make an incredible project for students, scouts, etc.!

There are plans for small or large beds.  It has great tips on sourcing your materials so you save money—like looking for outdoor fabric in the second or remainders section of your fabric store, or checking with local companies that make awnings for businesses or boats to see if they have scraps.  There are also invaluable tips to make sure you make a strong, durable bed.  Sweet!

The tutorial includes clear instructions on how to sew the cover for the bed.  And a spreadsheet for mass production if you plan to make beds to help your local shelter—they often want elevated beds to keep dogs off the cold, hard concrete floors in their facilities.

As an aside, Columbus Dog Connection looks like a remarkable group.  Besides generously sharing such a great tutorial, it looks like the group is very busy.  Check out the page on beds they’ve made for underfunded shelters—lots of volunteers and so many beds.  Someone behind the scenes is doing great work.  It takes an outstanding leader to organize so many volunteers and sponsors.  Every rescue group should be so lucky!

And now they have a video tutorial!  Columbus Dog Connection is awesome!!

http://youtu.be/PG3pNLApteY

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