These are unique wedding or bridal shower favors to make at home. Suppose the bride-to-be or groom loves Chocolate Labs. Perhaps they own a Chocolate Lab. Or suppose their wedding color scheme is chocolate/coffee and pink - a popular combination these days (2007). You can make Chocolate Lab wedding or bridal shower favors that are sure to be appreciated.

Chocolate Lab wedding or bridal shower favors to make at home begin with a computer and a bit of creativity. They end with beautiful Chocolate Lab bookmark mementos that thank guests for their attendance.

How to Make Chocolate Lab Bookmark Favors

You will need a computer and a color printer that will handle card stock. Alternatively, you can create the Chocolate Lab bookmark favors at home and take your file to a copy shop to be printed. You will also need a single-hole paper punch and rose colored yarn.

Instructions:

1. Begin your Chocolate Lab bookmark favors by setting up a new file in your graphics program. Make your bookmark approximately 2.5″ x 10″.

2. Scan a Chocolate Lab photo onto your computer, or use a permissible photo from the Internet. (Be careful not to infringe copyrights.) Be sure the photo you use shows the Chocolate Lab looking straight into the camera, with its mouth open to reveal the pink tongue.

3. Remove the background from the photo, leaving only the Chocolate Lab. Place it on the bottom half of your bookmark.

4. Find pictures of pink roses without background, and place them around the Chocolate Lab. Make it appear as though the Chocolate Lab is in a bed of pink roses.

5. Behind the Chocolate Lab and to the top of the bookmark, flow a gradient from deep rose that matches your yarn to the lightest pink in the roses.

6. On the top half of your Chocolate Lab bookmarks, letter the bridal couple’s names and wedding date. Beneath that, letter “Thank you.”

7. Save your Chocolate Lab bookmark file. Then copy it, paste 3 together on a page, print on card stock, and cut.

8. Punch a hole at the top center of each bookmark, tie yarn through the hole, and finish with a small yarn tassel.

To get the task done sooner, invite friends to help make your Chocolate Lab wedding or bridal shower favors.

These Chocolate Lab bookmarks are cute, and perfectly match a chocolate and pink color scheme.

Scrapbooking has become a popular craft across the U.S. and around the world. It is no wonder that dog owners are looking for themes for scrapbooking the lives of their companions.

Free Black Lab themes for scrapbooking are not as common as some other free themes. Scrapbooking looks most professional with an overall theme rather than each scrapbook page being different. If you are doing a scrapbook, conventional or digital, on your Black Lab, you will want to choose a central theme for the book, with sub-themes for individual pages.

Free Black Lab Themes

Watching your Lab for a day will give you many free Black Lab themes for your scrapbooking project. Here are a few ideas to get you started.

* Black Lab with Golden Heart: Every Lab has a golden heart, right? This free Black Lab theme could begin with a photo of your Lab being quite angelic. Sub-themes might be: Black Lab playing gently with young children; Black Lab bringing slippers; Black Lab retrieving newspaper; etc.

* Black Lab Energy: Solar energy is nothing compared to Black Lab energy! Focus this free Black Lab theme on photos of your Lab utilizing that energy. Show your Lab shaking off water after a swim or bath; bounding across the grass; leaping into the air to catch a Frisbee; etc.

* Black Lab Appetite: It is often said that a Lab will eat anything. Work that saying into a free Black Lab theme featuring your dog eating. Photos might include your Black Lab: chewing a favorite toy; gobbling his or her dinner; chewing your daughter’s pigtail; carrying a bone or other object in his or her mouth; etc.

* Black Lab Scholar: This free Black Lab theme is good for a puppy. Think of all the things your Lab is learning while it is young. Take photos of those things for your scrapbook. Include pictures of your Black Lab relieving himself – in the right place, we hope. Add photos that show your puppy responding to commands such as: come; sit; stay; and fetch.

* Formal Black Lab: If you have an older, more dignified Black Lab, you may want to use a Black Lab theme that focuses attention on the formal “tuxedo” he wears, and the sophistication with which he behaves. Use photos of your Black Lab sitting in an alert, controlled position; lying by the fire; etc.

* Black Lab Clown: At the other end of the spectrum is that silly companion, the Black Lab clown. If you use this theme, feature your Lab’s amusing antics. Photos might include your Black Lab running through water from a sprinkler or hose; dashing into and out of a kiddy swimming pool; chasing her tail; etc.

As you can see, free Black Lab themes are yours for the taking. Watch your Lab. Set aside a day to watch. Keep a camera handy, and record the many activities he or she does. Take notes. By the end of one full day, you will have plenty of free Black Lab themes for scrapbooking, writing skits, or any other purpose.

In parts 1 and 2 of this article, we listed 20 tips for training a Labrador puppy. We noted that all tips for training a Labrador puppy apply to all Labrador puppies.

The following is our third and last installment of Labrador puppy training tips.

* Training a Labrador puppy not to chew the wrong items is vital. The owner must realize first that chewing is part of being a dog. Begin “chew training” by making sure your Labrador puppy has several chew toys. Place the chew toys in a basket or box that holds nothing else but chew toys. Name it for your puppy. Touch the basket or box repeatedly, saying the puppy’s name and “toy box” or “toy basket”. For example, “Toto’s toy box.”

* When training a Labrador puppy not to chew the wrong things, praise it and pet it when it chews on a chew toy. If it chews something else, do not hit the puppy. Say “No!” in a quick, sharp manner and remove the item. The sharp “bark” in your voice is punishment enough, since your Labrador puppy will want to please you.

* Your Labrador puppy may at first need a taste deterrent on items it should not chew. “Bitter apple” is available at most pet stores.

* Tips for training a Labrador puppy would be incomplete if we said nothing about socializing the puppy. From the time you get the puppy, provide frequent opportunities for it to meet other people and other animals. Encourage others to pet it. If you pass the puppy to another person to hold, be careful to make sure they have a firm hold on it before you let go. Socialization should help your Labrador puppy feel comfortable, safe, and happy with others.

* Training a Labrador puppy to fetch in water can begin very early. Put the puppy on a long leash and let it walk into shallow water. Do not throw it into deep water, as it may become frightened. Let the puppy wade around in shallow water - on leash. Your Labrador puppy will go into deeper water as soon as it feels ready to do so. Keep it on leash so that you can help if it becomes frightened. Once the puppy has learned to go a few yards from shore, throw a favorite, small toy into the water - with your Labrador puppy on leash. When the puppy retrieves the toy, guide him to your feet with the leash, and praise him for a job well done. Repeat this game frequently, always on leash until your puppy knows exactly how the game works.

* If you are having difficulty training a Labrador puppy to come on command, use the leach in a similar manner to the above. Put a long leash on your puppy, and let her wander to the end of it. Then call in a happy voice, “Come.” As you call, gently pull the leash toward you until the puppy is at your feet. Praise her and give her a treat. Then repeat the lesson.

* Use leash training when out walking. Put the leash on your Labrador puppy and take him or her for a leisurely walk. Go to a place where you know the puppy will be tempted to do something you don’t want it to do. When the pup starts the unwanted action, give one gentle tug on the leash and command, “Come.” If the puppy does not come, tug again, and repeat the command Be gentle. You don’t want to choke the puppy. Remember, it wants to please you. When it does come, lavish praise on your puppy.

Find additional tips for training a Labrador puppy in other articles on this website.