Again, thanks to everyone who participated in the giveaway!! Congratulations to Jeannine for winning!
(Be sure to email me asap so I can start recovering your books 🙂 shaunna@harristire.com)
On to the next project and next tutorial….
I’m not sure what’s gotten into me, but I’m kind of into birds.
photo courtesy Pottery Barn
Really into birds….so when I saw this pillow a few months ago, I had to have it. Except that it was $49. It’s tiny! Plus, it’s always hurt my heart a bit to spend as much on a throw pillow as I would 7 new pairs of jeans for the kids. I finally got around to making my own knock-off. I didn’t want it to look exactly alike–because of course I wanted a bird on it– and I knew I’d have to do something other than embroidery (because I’m still in the process of learning to sew, you see).
This is the finished pillow……
What do you think? I mean, I know it’s not perfect, but hello, the name of the blog and all. I wanted it to feel more hand-painted, not too much of a stamped feel.
Wanna know how I did it? Well, I hope so…here goes. Oh, if you make one, please, pretty please, let me know so I can check it out and post it!
I started with an existing throw pillow I already had (those are expensive, right?). I found a pillow “slipcover” at Target for $4.99 so I thought I would try it out. It fit well and it gave my pillow a whole new look without doing anything to it. You know me….simple details add up to make big impacts on a room.
I used my cricut to cut some stencils (i’m not that artistic 🙂 and started playing around with the layout. (I bought the actual stencil pad to cut out with the cricut, but it was $12 for a small sheet….I felt just a tad too pricey. So I tried it with leftover white scrapbook paper, taped it to my pillow cover, and it worked like a charm….if you’re even semi-careful with them, you can save them for the next time you need to paint the word “nest” somewhere. 🙂
I felt that pattern above was a little too busy, and it might just need a little birdie perched somewhere, so I decided to get my wording on first, then tackle the rest of the design.
Using an umber shade of acrylic paint, I dabbed it inside of the stencil, lightening the touch at the edges of the letters so they faded a bit more….I especially did this with the smaller text.
I wanted a tiny pop of color so I pulled the aqua in as a little flower–I mostly stenciled everything, except part of the bird, branch, and the little line borders.
and voi la!!
Alright, now go find you some inspiration and take the idea, er, I mean, let it inspire you!
–shaunna 🙂
**I’m linking this post to
Frugalicious Friday’s @ Finding Fabulous
DIY day @ A Soft Place to Land
Power of Paint @ Domestically Speaking
Show & Tell @ My Romantic Home
Trash to Treasure @ Reinvented
Frugal Friday @ Shabby Nest
Weekend Wrap Up Party @ Tatertots & Jello
Just Something I Whipped Up @ The Girl Creative
The DIY Showoff
Make your Monday @ Twice Remembered Cottage
Whew! I think that’s all. See you soon!
–shaunna 🙂
Love it!!! I need to re-do some of my mismatched pillows in my living room. I want to put writing on them but alas, no Cricut. So I just use freezer paper and an exacto knife. Easy Peasy.
I have been eyeing the "Nest" Pottery Barn pillow for some time but didn't want to spend the big price tag. This project is awesome! I know what I'll be doing this weekend. . .cutting out letters for my new pillow. 🙂 Thanks for the great project!
Great job – and what a good idea to use the Cricut for your stencil. (Just another reason I need to get one). 🙂
Great job! I am so trying this with my Cricut!
Wow… that is awesome. So so pretty. Great idea for my Cricut. Now, that is going to be fun. Thanks for the great idea.
Good morning!
I love your pillow! I think I like your version even better than the PB version, but shhhhhh…don't tell. ;)
Love that! I'm currently hunting for feed sack material for something similar..
Thank you guys so much! What a blessing to hear such encouraging words (especially this early in the morning!) I hope it gives you some inspiration! shaunna 🙂
Just passing through from Diane's. You are so talented and love your site.
Love the pillow! It turned out great
I just found your blog (from The Shabby Nest.) Great job on the pillow! Can't wait to look around your blog.
That looks amazing! Incredible job!
Great job. I looks so good!
How beautiful! I am not much of a seamstress myself. This would be a perfect project for me. Thank you!
Cute idea! I am now a follower!
Very cute! I love it.
I think you did a great job !
OK your's is so much better than mine !!!!! I don't do well with stencils, I color outside the lines and they typically bleed all over the place. Great job.
1st timer here! But this idea has really made me crave a cricket. Now, if I can get my husband to allow me to satisfy that craving… Love the pillow! Very cute!
Thrifty & Fabulous, what a combo! Thanks for sharing your beautiful knockoff pillow. I love it!!!
Lovely!
Soooo cute!
I like yours better than pottery barn! I have never heard of a pillow slipcover. I think that I need to go and get me some! Great use of the cricut!
So cute, I love it!
beautiful job, watch out pottery barn she may be better than you. I like your design better than theirs. Thanks for sharing.
I love it! I'd like to invite you to come plant your creative seed at my new blog party on Friday. "Plant a Punkin Seed at Punkin Seed Productions"
That turned out just beautiful!
That turned out great! I'm not very artistic so I'd have to use a stencil, too. I'm off to check out how you did your books so I can try that one myself ~ I love them!
This turned out cute – I like your spin on it.
oooh, love this! isn't it great how a pillow can totally change the look of a room?
What a cute project! You did an awesome job. It looks so cute in your chair!
Ohhhh, I love this idea! I wish I had a Cricut!