DIY Pink Shibori Pillow

24. May. 2016
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16 Comments

Now that the weather is warmer, it’s time to get back outside and make a mess! While I was all about the indigo shibori trend, I gotta say that it looks better in pink. But then again, what doesn’t? If you’re looking to bring a pop of color to your home, then it’s time to break out the dye and give a plain pillow case a simple makeover. Here’s how:

Time: 25 minutes
Materials: liquid dye, cotton pillow case, bucket, rubber bands, method hand soap

I recommend working outside for this project so you don’t get dye everywhere in your home. As far as your hands, you could wear gloves or just pick up some method hand soap for after. It’s animal and people friendly (biodegradable, made from recycled materials and 100% recyclable) and comes in the loveliest shades of colors. Either way, don’t be afraid to get a little messy with this project!

If you’re looking to preplan your pattern, then here’s a great resource for shibori. If you’re more into just winging it for a tie-dye feel, then just band your pillow as you please. For either technique, just keep in mind that where you put the bands will remain white while the color will adhere to the other sections of your pillow.

Fill your bucket with warm water and add your dye.

Add your rubber banded pillow case to the dye. The longer you let sit, the darker the color. You can pull the pillow up from time to time to check on the color and remove when it’s the color you want. Remember that the color will be a bit darker when wet. I let mine sit for about 10 minutes.

Cut the rubber bands and rinse the pillow in cold water until the water runs clear. Let dry, iron, and you’re all done!

The pink is so fun, don’t you think? I think it would look great next to an indigo shibori pillow too.

This post was sponsored by method. All opinions expressed are my own. Thanks for supporting the brands that keep The Crafted Life making!

DIY Polka Dot Pillow

17. Feb. 2016
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14 Comments

One of my resolutions for the year was to make my home into a space that I actually love. To decorate it up and do it right with a mix of DIY and quality pieces. Well I have been working away since January and am so happy to finally be sharing a sneak peek with you today!

The first room in my apartment that’s getting a makeover is my bedroom/office. The space is a little confusing (I’ll explain it all in another post), but for now here’s a simple diy that you can also make for your own home. I made this hand painted polka dot pillow for my bed in about a half hour and it was beyond easy. Here’s how:

Time: 30 minutes + set time
Materials: p illow case, rit dye, paint brush

I found this plain white linen pillow cover from West Elm (bonus, it’s on sale right now!). You might remember the dye from this picture frame diy.

Start by adding warm water to your dye. The more water you add, the lighter the color will be. For my pillow, I used ~1/3 cup of dye and added 2 tbs of water. To keep the dye from bleeding through your pillow case, and to give you a better surface to work on, place a sheet of cardboard inside.

To make your design, simply dip your brush in the dye, just like you would with watercolors, and paint on the pillow. Because of the linen, you won’t be able to get super crisp lines, so I embraced the hand painted element and kept the edges of my circles loose.

Let dye sit until dry. Keep in mind that the colors will be darker before washing. You can also rinse early, but the longer you leave the dye on, the more vibrant your colors will be. Rinse in warm then cold water until the water runs clear. Dry, iron, then fill with an insert and you’re all done!

And that’s it! Bada-bing, bada-boom, color! I can’t wait to show you the entire reveal within the next few weeks!

Product for this post was provided by West Elm, a company I frequent and love. Thanks for supporting the brands that keep The Crafted Life making!

DIY Hashtag Pillow

07. Jul. 2015
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16 Comments

Yes that’s right friends, a DIY Hashtag Pillow! As if I didn’t love social media enough, right? This project is great for those who are new to sewing because it will help you practice your curves. Or at least that’s what I kept telling myself when I was prototyping this. Here’s how you can easily make one yourself:

Time: 45 minutes
Materials: fabric, sewing machine, fabric pencil, fabric scissors, pins, poly-fil, needle and matching thread

I got the fabric for this project from Minted. Their collection, designed by independent artist, is amazinggg! Be sure to check it out if you haven’t already. You can use a rotary cutter for this project, but if you’re new to using it, or don’t have one, scissors are just fine.

First cut two equal squares that are 19″x19″. If you want to make your pillow larger, adjust accordingly. I don’t necessarily suggest going any smaller than that. On the backside of your fabric on one of the squares, draw the hashtag shape. If you can’t draw at all, you can do what I did and trace a deflated hashtag balloon.

Pin fabric squares together in the corners and cut out. This method works great if you don’t want to have to trace and cut twice. Once you have your two hashtags, pin together so the pattern is facing each other.

When sewing, try your best to stay on the 3/8 seem allowance. You’ll want to use a straight stitch and back stick at the beginning and the end. Only sew around the edges of the hashtag, leaving the middle open. If you sew the middle, you won’t be able to turn your pillow right side out.

After turning right side out, stuff with polyfil. Once full and smooth, pin the center pieces together and stitch closed by hand. Trim the excess thread and fabric with scissors and you’re done!

So what do you think?! Easy peasy for a sewing project, yeah? I can’t wait to experiment with other shapes!

This post is sponsored by Minted. All opinions expressed are my own.Thanks for supporting the brands that help keep The Crafted Life making!

DIY No-Sew Pom Pom Pillow + Giveaway

02. Jun. 2015
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23 Comments

Time: 45 minutes
Materials: pillow, fabric glue, pom pom trim, scissors

As much as I love the clean feeling of white walls and white bedding, I also crave color constantly. Since we don’t have any art hung in the bedroom yet, I decided to print one of my Instagram photos on a pillow using Snapfish Home Decor. To add an extra pop of color and playfulness to the pillow, I added some pom pom trim, all without a sewing machine.

Here’s how:

You can use any fabric glue for this project, but I suggest using one that dries absolutely clear since the back of the printed pillow is black. It was really easy to make the pillow using Snapfish. You really just upload your photos and customize from there. You can do collages or add text. I kept it simple and just had one image printed. Their site is even tablet and smartphone friendly, so you can upload your Instagram shots and create your own decor wherever you are. Easy peasy for crafting on the go!

Since there isn’t any sewing involved when adding the pom pom trim, you’ll want to get it as close to the crease as possible. Apply your glue and press down the trim. Let each section (side) dry before moving on to the next.

I decided to layer another color behind. If you do more than one color, just be sure the layer before is completely dry beforehand so that it doesn’t move while you’re working.

Let glue dry, trim the excess, and you’re done!

The more color the better, right? And if you’re looking to add even more pom poms to your bedding (because hello, why would you not be looking for that?), give this diy throw a try.

Now for the giveaway! One of you will win $100 to Snapfish Home Decor so you can recreate this project yourself or just decorate your home with some new art. And if that’s not enough, be sure to join the Snapfish Superfans consumer program to show off your projects and for the opportunity to win more prizes. Giveaway open to US residents until June 8th, 2015 at 5:00pm PST. Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

This post was created in partnership with Snapfish. All opinions are my own.