It all started with a folding table that I found for a $14.99. For a price like that, you can’t expect perfection but it is very lightweight, has adjustable heights, is very portable when it’s folded up and did I mention it’s lightweight? When you are lugging all of your gear from the parking lot up to the dog show ring, keeping the weight down is must. And for that price, you need to know that the weight limit for the table s only 25 pounds – So for us it is perfect for our Pug AND our Chihuahuas. Keep that weight limit in mind – This project may not work for you and your dog.

Since the top of the table is hard plastic, it can be a bit slippery for dogs so I had to venture into two more aisles to make it perfect. We needed to reduce that slip – Off to the home organization and cleaning detainment I went first, on the hunt for Grip Shelf Liner or Con-Tact paper. I wanted the grip kind, all of which are not self adhesive so that gave me two options. I could go practical or pretty and I went the pretty route. There weren’t many print options at my Target but I will say I really like the one that I found and for $4.99, I was very pleased!

Since there was no adhesive to keep in on the table, my final stop with the Office Supply Department, were I got myself a can of spray adhesive. Thank you Elmer’s! You never seem to let me down! And at $6.99, the grand total for my project was $26.97 plus tax. WOOO HOOO!!!  The only other item you will need to complete the table is an X-Acto knife, which I happen to have on hand. If you need one, they can be picked up rather inexpensively – still keeping the total cost under $30.00.

After spraying a thin layer of the adhesive onto the top of the table, I laid a pre-measured piece of the liner onto of the adhesive and then used the X-Acto knife to trim around the edges. Voila! Portable as well as pretty grooming table that my dogs will not slip off of. LOVE IT!!!

Here are my prototypes of what I will call “Booty Bands” and how to try them out on the girls to see what adjustments I need to make to the design. I will be sure to share my results, and hopefully have some available in the Figgy Gear store in the future!

My original belly bands are of quilted cotton fabric and are designed to be used with a panty liner or maxi pad. Used by countless breeders in the state of Florida, they have been a tried and true favor for many. Trying to make a more “green” alternative, I was fascinated by the washable human baby diapers that are all the craze now. (It has been a very long time since I have needed baby diapers in this house!) Noting what types of fabrics are used by these crafters, I made some belly bands of these same products. Layers of terrycloth and PUL fabric, sandwiched in flannel in all of the same Toy Breed sizes, made for 100% washable belly bands.

While doing my prototype demos, I received some feedback and suggestions. One of those suggestions was to create a non-allinclusive version but one that included the lining layer to keep the bands dry while using a disposable hygiene product. I thought a layer of flannel as the lining would add additional absorption for any urine that seeped from the panty liner/maxi pad. This version is a little less bulky as the all-inclusive one.

Sewing away, I hope to have all three version available for purchase very soon!

I went with a black, corrugated cardboard as the background and then used this fabo metallic speciality paper for the cutouts – These could be hung anywhere!! So excited to see what all of our participants think 🙂

I finished and packed them up today and I have to say, I am really liking her color and pattern selections. I have always been a fan of chartreuse and to mix that with black and white? Oh yeah! Very purty!