Paw Print Cupcake Toppers {2 Ways}

I made some really cute paw print cupcake toppers to go with the cat & dog theme my daughter chose for her 5th birthday party. 

There are two ways you can go about making paw print cupcake toppers and both are pretty quick and easy. The first method uses a paper punch and the second uses washi tape to make flags.

Make one or make other. Make both. Have fun 🙂

How to Make Paw Print Cupcake Toppers

My daughter loves hearts so of course I used this project as an excuse to buy the heart punch I’ve had my eye on for a while. But you can use any 1.5 inch punch you have. Circles or scallops would work quite well.

A certain little somebody who shall remain nameless raided my color paper stash so the hearts in this how-to are different colors from the ones on the cupcakes down below. That’s ok, she had fun 😉

Materials:

• Paper in contrasting colors
• 1.5 inch punch (this is the one I used). 
• 5/8 inch paw print punch
• glue
• toothpicks

STEP 1: Punch out your hearts. You’ll need three for each cupcake topper, two of the main color and one of the contrasting color. (If using this EK Success layered heart punch, set it to the largest heart so you get a 1.5 inch heart). Make some extras just in case.

STEP 2: Punch a paw print into the main colored heart. It doesn’t have to be perfectly centered.

STEP 3: Put some glue on the back of the heart with the paw print. Glue to the contrasting color heart. 

STEP 4: Once the two hearts have dried out squeeze glue on the back and place the toothpick in the center.

STEP 5: Put the third heart on the back and press down around the toothpick. This will create a bump where the toothpick is but it’s the back of the cupcake topper so it won’t be noticeable. 

STEP 6: Repeat with your remaining hearts. You can do some with the colors in reverse for visual interest. 

How to Make Paw Print Cupcake Flags

The other way to make paw print cupcake toppers is to make little flags with washi tape and use a tiny paw print punch. 

For the party I found some cool washi tape in pink and blue with glitter designs. I bought the mini paw print punch at my local dollar store so try checking yours out or also check out craft stores like Michaels or Jo-Ann. The main thing is the punch must be smaller than the width of your washi tape. 

I found that after a while the washi tape started sticking to the punch so if you’re making a lot you may want to buy a backup punch.

Materials:

• Washi tape (5/8″ / 1.5 cm wide)
• Toothpicks
• Small Paw Print Punch (~3/8″ / 0.75 cm wide)

STEP 1: Cut 2″ (5 cm) strips of washi tape.

STEP 2: Carefully fold around the toothpick to create a flag. The toothpick is tapered at the end so to create a straight flag match the ends together then work backwards pressing the washi tape together moving towards the toothpick.

STEP 3: Punch a mini paw print. Be sure to leave enough room at the edge.

STEP 4: Use scissors to trim a triangular section from the edge. 

Find out how to make the blingy birthday candle HERE.