The paw-fect look for your pets' howl-iday

BY TIFFANY DITTO

Staff writer

The Christmas season brings many parties and celebrations with friends and family. Those young and old break out their festive Christmas sweaters sure to delight everyone who sees them, but just as you wouldn't be caught dead sporting the same sweater to every party neither should your dog. Don't worry; this howl-iday look won't break the bank. We've got your step-by-step instructions on how to create the perfect reversible Christmas bandana for your fur baby.

Reversible Christmas Bandana

Supplies:

- Permanent marker

- 1 piece of each felt color: black, white, orange, yellow

- Rhinestones

- Googly eyes

- Scissors

- A red bandana

- A hot glue gun with glue sticks

Instructions:

1. First begin by folding your bandana in the desired sized triangle. For smaller dogs more folds may be necessary, and for larger pups consider folding the bandana fewer times.

2. Take your permanent marker and begin drawing the circular outlines of your snowman. You can draw three separate circles to cut out, or draw the outline of the snowman and cut it out in one piece (this is the approach we took). Be sure not to press too hard when drawing, or else you will be able to see the marker through the felt. Also, be conscious of the size of your snowman relative to the amount of space on your bandana.

3. Cut out your snowman shape.

4. Using the hot glue gun, glue the body of your snowman to the bandana.

TXDM tip: Consider laying your felt pieces on the snowman body before gluing. This will allow you to map out where things go, and make size adjustments as needed.

5. Next, using the black felt, draw your snowman's hat and arms. Cut those pieces out and glue them on.

6. Take the rhinestones and glue on your snowman's chest buttons.

7. Draw your snowman's scarf on the yellow felt. Cut the scarf out and glue it on.

8. Cut out a small triangle from the orange felt to serve as your snowman's nose. Glue the nose to your snowman's face.

9. Glue on your googly eyes on either side of your nose.

10. Violà, side one complete.

The back side

1. Flip over your bandana.

2. Lay your black felt over the point of the bandana. Begin cutting out a band to serve as your Santa belt. Trim the sides to march the angles of the bandana.

3. Using your permanent marker, draw a rectangle on your yellow felt.

4. Draw another rectangle inside the first rectangle on your yellow felt.

5. Cut out the center of the yellow felt where your interior rectangle is. This piece will serve as the belt buckle of your Santa belt.

6. Lastly, glue down your black band and your yellow belt buckle.

7. Now, tie the bandana around your pet's neck and let them strut their stuff around the party!