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Make Your Own Dog Collar
Most dog owners have struggled to find the perfect dog collar. What many don’t know is that it is simple to make your own dog collar and save yourself the aggravation of finding a fashionable and well fitting dog collar. Many people have started their own lucrative businesses selling hand made dog collars. You can buy make your own dog collar kits at pet and craft stores or you can work from scratch if you have some basic sewing or leather working skills.
The main ingredients for your collar are the material such as nylon, heavy cloth, denim or leather. You will then need a buckle and a D-ring. Try to use a break away or safety buckle so that a pet can safely break free if they find themselves caught on something. If you are making a fabric collar you will need a hole punch and eyelets for the buckle to slip through. You will not need this if you use a safety buckle. If you are working with leather you will need a leather punch to make the holes and grommets to fasten the buckle on with. The rest of the design is up to you.
You can easily make your own dog collar from a pre-made nylon dog collar and decorate it with ribbon, rhinestones, denim or beads. All you need is jeweler’s glue to make sure your creation stays fastened to the collar. If you want to make fashionable collars that are just for decoration you can make loose fitting elastic collars for indoor use and decorate them with feathers, sequins, chiffon fabric and crystals. Make sure that the collar you make is not tight fitting (you should be able to fit two fingers between the collar and your dogs neck) and that it isn’t weighted down so that the dog is dragging it or stepping on it. Think light and airy when you are creating a decorative collar.
Leather collars can be easily embellished with studs, grommets of any color imaginable and rhinestones affixed with jeweler’s glue. Grommet kits can be found at many craft stores. The key to using grommets is to affix them and then glue a backing over them such as heavy denim to protect your dog’s neck from getting scratched and poked by a loose grommet. You should always fasten the grommets and make sure prongs are firmly pressed down flat before putting a collar with them on your dog. A dog can easily become agitated if something is continually poking them in the neck.
If you want to make one-of-a-kind dog collars for your dog and you know how to sew, the sky is the limit. Focus on using thick fabrics or well-made ribbons for your creations. Grosgrain ribbons are pretty for a one-time use decorative collar but they won’t last long with regular wear and tear because they will unravel. When sewing your dog collar, make sure to sew all of the seams flat so they will be comfortable for your dog. Press all of the eyelets firmly into the collar so that the material won’t unravel. This will also keep them from falling off or poking a pet. Attach the buckles carefully and double sew the seam ends so that it won’t unravel easily or fall apart.
A well-made dog collar will last a long time. Take your time when you make your own dog collar and you will have great results to show off to all of your friends. Who knows, with a little ingenuity you may find yourself the head of a new and fashionable dog collar company!
Western Wedding Theme Idea
The modern bride can choose from many wedding themes but arguably the most fun is the western wedding. The bride to be can have this type of wedding any time of year. Planning a western wedding involves great decorations, unique clothing and party favors that reflect the theme.
A fun western wedding theme idea is the barbeque and hayride. The planning involves finding the appropriate location to hold a barbeque and the land to have a nice hayride. If the bride doesn’t already live in a rural area she can usually find a party barn that rents out their facilities on the outskirts of town or use a park or backyard. The chosen location can be decorated with bales of hay or straw that can serve as temporary seating around the dance floor. Don’t forget to drape some gingham tablecloths across a few of the bales so that your guests can sit on them comfortably without fear of getting poked. Another western wedding theme idea is the oak archway decorated with mini white lights, chili pepper lights, straw bales, flowers and gingham curtains tied with twine. This will make a nice area to take photos for the wedding party and guests.
Western wedding clothing can be traditional or relaxed. Traditional ideas for the bride include wearing a lace gown with light colored western boots or even a specially designed gingham or calico dress for the occasion. Men can choose long dress coats in black with straight leg pants and western boots or choose a denim outfit complete with leather chaps and a cowboy hat.
The bride can also make her wedding cake part of the western wedding theme idea. Cake toppers with a cowboy roping his cowgirl or a couple perched atop an old fashioned covered wagon will make an interesting conversation piece at your reception. If a traditional wedding cake isn’t western enough, consider having lots of strawberry shortcake instead.
Decorating for the western wedding theme idea includes using western tack such as saddles, harnesses, lassos and plenty gingham material. Tables can be decorated with fresh flowers that are typically found in the southwest or have that western flavor. Geraniums look great with this western wedding theme if you are decorating in red and white. If you choose yellow be sure to include straw flowers, sunflowers, red poppies, carnations and yellow roses. If you decorate with a denim theme any flower combination will work.
Special music is required for the western wedding theme idea. If you are unsure what to choose, hire a D.J. familiar with western music and special requests. You might also want to hire someone who can teach a few line dance moves for your guests. For a special touch hire a western band to play for your guests.
Party favors can reflect the western wedding theme idea and can include boxes in the shape of cowboy hats or boots filled with candies and small gifts for your guests. You can also tie gifts in bandanas or lace hankies, fill small tin buckets with chocolates or fill mason jars with goodies and tie with a ribbon.
A great western wedding theme idea is the hayride and bonfire. Top off your special day with a hayride furnished with plenty of hay bales and comfortable blankets. Conclude the hayride with a bonfire for your guests to cuddle around and reflect on the day’s events with marshmallow roasting and making s’mores. Your western wedding will be an event that the guests will remember fondly for a long time.
