If you follow our instructions, this should help you to capture a lovely print of your pet. Please read these instructions fully, before you start.
First up!
Animals are very perceptive, so get everything ready (before you approach your pet) and work out how you are going to hold your pet and where you will take the print. This way you are fully prepared before they are aware of what's happening and decide that they have other ideas!
Have some treats to hand. We don't condone bribery - but treats will help to distract your pet!
You will need:
A willing human helper!
Your clay print.
Space to work - if your pet is small enough, you can lift them on to your knee, or hold them under your arm.
For larger pets you will need to take the print on the floor (solid surface). Large dogs may prefer to lie down and lift their paw on to the clay, otheres may prefer to lift their paw on to a stool/box. You will know what will suit your pet best. It may help to have another person to hold your pet from behind to stop them reversing away from the clay!
If you have a pet with very 'fluffy hair' between the pads on their paws - it would help for the hair to be trimmed first but this is not essential
IMPORTANT: Before you start, make sure your clay is soft enough!
As clay is an entirely natural material, clay will dry out, as the water contained within it evaporates. The beauty of clay is that it can be re-hydrated really easily if needed. So before you decide to take the print, make sure your clay is soft enough. (It should feel as soft as your forearm when you press this).
How do I re-hydrate my clay? Simply open up the cling film and either 'spritz' or drizzle some water from the tap (hardly on) directly on to the clay surface and leave that to soak back in to the clay. Wrap it back up in the cling film, leave for an hour or so, until the clay feels softer as it will have reabsorbed the moisture. Keep checking until you are happy this is soft enough.
I've added too much water - what do I do? If you over hydrate and the clay feels too sticky to your touch - just leave the clay unwrapped and let the water evaporate again. You really can't go wrong, so don't panic!
How do you take the print:
You will need to lift up one paw from above. Hold the paw from the top around the 'ankle' so that the palm of your hand covers the top of the paw. This will help you to place the paw directly onto the clay and press down firmly.
To take the print:
Open up your tin and take out the pack of clay ( having checked its soft enough).
Carefully unfold the cling film cover to reveal the top surface of the clay. Gently smooth over the clay lightly with your finger.
For best results be quite sure of your movements so that you get a great print first time.
Get into the right position with the clay in the best place for you to be able to easily take the print.
Take the print
Once print has been taken:
Don't wrap the clay back up in the cling film straight-away. Leave the paw print open to the air for a few hours - to air dry a little. This means it will keep its shape in transit.
Wrap your print back up in the cling film.
Place the clay print back into the tin then pack the sides with bubble wrap or kitchen roll and on top, to stop the clay 'moving' around within the tin as it travels back to us. NB: It's really important that the clay print can't 'move' in the tin.
Enclose your completed form with the details of how you would like your print to be painted and write your full postal address on the back of the slip.
Once we receive your clay paw print, we will take great care, as it goes through the various stages (Clay prints need to be trimmed, allowed to dry thoroughly, fired, then hand-painted and fired for a second time in the kiln.) which all takes time.
Allow between 4- 6 weeks for your print to be posted back to you.
Our Postal Address: Honey Pot Creative, 1 Longcraig Road, South Queensferry, Edinburgh EH30 9TD
