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Every day is a little more magical, edging toward Christmas here. I have a great last-minute gift you can make yourself. Today I will teach you how to make a very special gift, perfect for everyone who has ever loved a dog; today is about collars and memories. 
Now last week we made cookies with Sprout. I didn’t get many and hear they are to be given to others. We plan to make more and somewhere in there are some just for me!
I should get to sample the gingerbread, cream cheese, mincemeat, peppermint ones, too. probably not the chocolate cookies, though.
We got a couple of days of snow this week, too. It is not a winter wonderland yet, but as dry as it has been, every flake helps. 
The winds have quieted and that is a relief. Last week, a downed power-line sparked a massive grass fire, that reached a small rural town north of here and burned down the big old grain elevator and a couple dozen homes. That little village can’t afford to lose so many houses I’m told, but of course one would be too many. It is sad, especially right before Christmas, and we pray for all those people.
It is hard to make sense out of many events in this life. One of the hardest is why dogs may live to be old but still die too soon, always far too early for their beloved people. Maybe it is because there are so many good dogs out there that need homes, and a heartbroken human can rescue another one too. Maybe it because if we lived longer the parting would be so absolutely unbearable no one could survive it. I don’t know where that Rainbow Bridge is, but I know my people pause when they pass Dog Hill, and speak by name to those dogs and cats who are buried there; ” Hi Derby, Aurora, Ruger, Ruby, Piper, Billy Bob, Patches….” It is the same when we ride through the orchard where the horses rest: ” Hi Star, Moons, Stormy, Doc…” Mom does not get through them all without tears, every one both a happy and sad memory.
Through the years, mom has always made gifts for others, and this one is the best. To remember a beloved dog, she frames pictures and verses about them in their own old collar! It is a memorable reminder that hangs on the wall. 
Then the owner can still touch that collar they put on a hundred times, still finger the tags that used to jingle when a happy pup ran up to greet them. Of course, this would be a great gift to celebrate a new pup, the adoption day, or even a cat, too. The cat collar would be smaller and all glitzy I suppose; I really don’t know because our cats don’t wear collars.
On the front, we put one or several photos of the pup. On the back, mom puts an encouraging verse and dates if she has them. And the old worn collar encircles it. Here’s how to make one.
List of supplies:
Piece of plywood, photos, paper, Mod Podge or other clear glue, collar. This is really all there is to it.
Instructions
- Pick out one or several good photos of the collars wearer. It can be one large portrait, or a collage of several small shots, and photo or heavy paper is best. Type or print your meaningful verse, dates, etc. on nice heavy paper for the back; mom burns the edges of the paper, or other decorative embellishments can be added when it is applied to the back.Remember, the heavier paper is easier to keep smooth.
You can draw the circle size you are using onto a piece of paper, and use that to design your layout, front and back. 
2. Using the collar as a template, estimate the size circle you need to cut. An easy way is to find a plate or jar the collar fits snugly around, and use that to trace out a circle on your wood. 
3. The wood can be any solid piece of plywood or board, about 3/4″ thick or close to the width of your collar, or a little narrower. The back will be stained and exposed, so pick decent wood, don’t use particle board or OSB if you can avoid it. 
4. Cut out your circle using a jig saw. For a perfect circle, have a woodworker cut it for you. Craft stores may have pre-cut circles about the right size, but hardly ever are thick enough. Of course you can always tighten or loosen the collar to adjust it, but mom always likes to leave it the same as the wearer had it. 
5. Lightly sand the edges of your circle. You can stain or paint the back. This is not necessary but adds finish to the design. We do not stain the front but ensure the photos cover the entire surface on that side.
6. Both sides can be sprayed with a clear poly varnish, or can be brushed with an initial coat of the Mod Podge. [a note on this: Mod Podge is a brand of clear glue for decoupage or permanently sealing paper items. 
There are many other brands but this is most common in craft stores] 
You can get it here: https://amzn.to/3rQxZ2s
7. Figure out the layout you want by arranging photos, then trim them to fit. 
Apply your photos and verses, one side at a time and let it dry, following the instructions of your sealing material. Generally, you will apply it to your wood circle, and to the back of the photo, stick it down, and brush over the front. This is repeated until all is glued to the circle, coated, sealed and smooth. At first, it looks white and wrinkly, like this. Smooth out any air bubbles while it is wet.
8. When dry, the collar is glued around the outside edge like a frame. It may be arrange so that the tags hand down and can have a ring at the top for hanging. Some collars won’t have suitable hardware for a hanger; it is easy to just add a wire or picture hanger on the back.
9. If the collar is tight around the wooden circle, it may only need a little glue. If it doesn’t fit tightly, I’ve seen mom use a thick silicone type glue to attach it. Check to see if any oozes out around the edge and clean it up if necessary.
You can add tags with a name if there isn’t one, too.
The last step is to wrap and give the most meaningful gift a dog lover is likely to receive this Christmas or ever. Maybe it is a gift for yourself, a final happy memory to keep, or the first small collar to start a long happy lifetime.
Our walls are full of old collars surrounding smiling pups. And collars of happy memories.
