Samantha recently welcomed a puppy named Emmett, and his irresistible cuteness inspired a flurry of photo sessions. We wanted a playful place for Emmett to lounge while he visited the studio, so we made him a custom emoji dog bed. It’s simple to put together, looks fantastic, and makes a perfect prop for puppy cuddles and photos — plus every dog needs an emoji bed, right?
Supplies:
- Round yellow dog bed (or a similar plain cover)
- Iron-on vinyl in white, black, and pink
- Scissors
- Iron
- Scrap fabric or a tea towel to protect the vinyl while ironing
Steps:
- Cut your shapes from the iron-on vinyl. For a playful winking emoji face you’ll need: one large white circle (eye), one small black circle (pupil), one black half circle (winking eye), one black crescent shape (mouth), and one pink rounded rectangle (tongue).
- Remove the bed cover and lay it flat on a heat-safe surface. Arrange the vinyl pieces on the cover to finalize placement before ironing.
- Iron the base pieces first: apply the white eye, winking eye, and mouth following the vinyl manufacturer’s directions. Always place a scrap fabric or tea towel between the iron and the vinyl to protect it.
- Let the first layer cool, peel off any backing, then position the black pupil and pink tongue pieces over the base shapes and iron them on, again using the protective fabric. Allow everything to cool completely before removing the liner.
- Reinsert the bed filling and close the cover. Your emoji dog bed is finished and ready for cuddles and photos.
And then come the inevitable puppy photos — it’s impossible to resist snapping dozens of shots!
Photos by Jeff Mindell
At the very least, this project was a great reason to hang out with an adorable puppy for a while. Enjoy making your own emoji bed — and be prepared for many more photos!
p.s. Try other emoji projects for a matching set, like emoji balloons or emoji-themed treats.