How to Memorialise Your Pet with DIY Crafts

Our pets become such a special part of the fabric of our lives and family. When they cross over the rainbow bridge, their loss can be one of the most difficult things we go through. Taking the time to memorialise your pet, creating ways of remembering them and treasuring their life and love can be such an important part of your grief journey. 

We know it can feel overwhelming to come to terms with such a huge loss, and the time that people feel up to memorialising their pet can be different for everyone. Remember that no one’s experience of grief is the same and there is no right or wrong way to grieve! 

Crafts can be a great way to spend some quiet time reflecting on your pet and creating something that you can treasure forever that reminds you of your pal. If you’re supporting loved ones through a loss, particularly younger members of the family, craft can also be a great way to bring everyone together and create a space for remembering your pet and sharing memories. 

Here’s some of our favourite ways to memorialise your beloved pal once they cross over the rainbow bridge: 

Memorial garden 

If you have a green space in your home (big or small), you may find that a memorial garden can be a beautiful tribute to your pet’s life. They can become a place that your family can return to time after time to pay respects to their pet and remember shared memories. Some additions to your garden could be: 

• Painted stepping stones - these steps can be a personalised and heartfelt way to lead to your pet’s final resting place. Your whole family can get involved in this activity, painting the stones with your pet’s name, favourite colour or even their favourite places, food and toys. 
• DIY headstones - instead of buying a headstone, you could design one with your own personalised touch by cleaning a stone or concrete slab and using the likes of paint, mosaic tiles and photos.
• Photos - Weatherproof photo frames storing your favourite photos of your pet can be such a lovely way to treasure your memories with your pal. 

For more advice on how to create the perfect memorial garden to celebrate the beautiful life of your pet, you can check out our recent dedicated blog post here. 

If you don’t have any green space that is suitable, never fear! We love this inspo from @mnpets on how to create a memorial shelf for your pet. 

Memory boxes & jars

When coping with the loss of a pet, it can be devastating to have to pack up their belongings from around your home, and knowing what to do with them can feel almost impossible. Putting your furry family member’s favourite toys, blankets and collars into a box (or jar) can make for an easy and meaningful DIY craft. Sitting down with your loved ones and packing items together can help you reminisce and make sure everyone can add items that remind them most of your pet. 

To personalise the box or jar even more, you could add ribbons, stickers, coloured paper, paint, glitter - whatever you think your pet would love and that brings you a little bit of joy in such a tricky time! 

Photobooks 

Gathering everyone’s favourite photos of your beloved pet and displaying them in a photobook can make it easy for your family to look back on adorable photos of your pet. You might even like to write messages or notes so you can remember all the little details and stories for years to come. These can be customised online with a busines like Snapfish, or you can head into your local Kmart or Big W to print your photos off and personalise your own photo folder.

Keychains 

Making keychains with pieces of your pets' favourite blankets, or even their collar, can let you carry a treasured memento of your pet with you wherever you go, and can be made for the entire family, like this one by @zoomingluna. 

Replicas 

Now, hear us out on this one! Using fimo, air dry and oven bake clay and paint to create mini designs of your beloved furry family member can be  great way to bring some much-needed laughs. This can be an activity for everyone to do together, and make something that reminds them of your pet. These replicas can then be added wherever you wish around the home, or if they’re made of the right materials, added to your memorial garden! 

Don’t be afraid to get creative when it comes to memorialising your pet. It doesn’t have to be an expensive activity, and can be a beautiful moment for you to come to terms with a great loss whilst creating a beautiful tribute to your pet’s life and the impact they have had on you.