Easy Throw Pillow Covers - Using Cloth Napkins

Lately I'm obsessed with creating new throw pillow covers. With Valentine's day approaching, I decided to make some Valentine's pillows using another new (for me) style. Enter cloth napkins. These pillow covers are each made with two napkins. You guys! These are so easy!

With just a few supplies and a small amount of time, you will be looking at a new set of pillow covers. This DIY is perfect for beginner sewers and crafters, or for anyone who wants to make a quick project.

I'm loving the fact that these pillow covers can be embellished for any holiday or season. I'm seeing some St. Patrick's Day pillow covers in the near future.

How to Make a Pillow Cover from a Dish Towel!

Learn to make an EASY pillow cover for any season. The secret? Decorative dish towels! The patterns, colors and styles are endless. Plus, dish towels are a LOT less expensive than a decorative pillow. Keep reading, you're going to love how easy these are to make!

I love the idea of having pillows for all the seasons/holidays of the year. I drool over Instagram (follow me!)  photos of perfect couches styled with perfectly mismatched pillows. BUT the reality is, where would I put all those pillows in the off season?

An Easy Wooden Sign with Cardboard Pumpkins - a "no-cost" project!

Create a charming wooden sign perfect for fall. Grab a piece of wood from the scrap pile, dry brush paint it, and add some pumpkins.  These pumpkins are made from non other than a cardboard box! Add some twine and ribbon to up the cuteness factor.

Do you decorate your front door or porch? I love cute front porches, but I go through phases on whether or not I actually decorate mine. Last fall I made a pinecone and flower wreath and added pumpkins and corn stalks to the porch. I thought it turned out pretty cute. But for Christmas, I did nothing! I didn't even put a wreath on the door. Spring is coming up and I've made a darling front door decoration with a faux umbrella and artificial flowers. I'm hoping to add a few other touches to create a nice spring vibe to my front porch.

Spring Decoration for Front Door PLUS Flower Arranging Tips

Do you ever see something and think "I gotta make that!"? That's how this project came about. I was browsing through my phone and saw something similar on Hobby Lobby's Instagram feed. I fell in love and a few hours later....

Kitchen Makeover

So my kitchen got some new curtains. And some of my accessories got some new paint. I updated my kitchen during the summer. It's about time I shared! I'm not one of those people who re-decorate my house often. I get it how I like it and then it stays for quite a while.  I'll add something new here and there, and I change up my seasonal decor, but especially in the kitchen, it has been the same for several years. This is not a total makeover, but more of a refreshed look.

Here's the old look. I made these green curtains in 2013. I was really into green and and it's still one of my favorite colors. But I needed a change.

  When I found this fabric, I knew it would be ideal. It has green, but it also has blue. Perfect! I could keep some of my green decor, but also introduce a new color with the blue. It's hard to see the curtain, but if you look above the window, I used the same fabric on the display.  I love the flowery design and the color combo.

 It was easy to grab a couple cans of spray paint and update a few of the things in the kitchen. The hanging basket, newly painted blue, was moved and displays the kitchen towels that my mom embroidered for me.

I recovered the decor above the window with some leftover fabric and hot glue.

For the flower piece above the window, I used a garbage sack to cover the base, then spray painted the flower a darker turquoise. Once it was dry, I painted over it lightly with a paintbrush using lighter blue paint. I was sure not to paint in the grooves. This gave it a bit of a two-tone look.

Those of you who have been around the blog since the beginning, might remember when I made this spice rack.

One of the things I love about making things for myself, is that I can customize it to fit my space and my style. The spice rack fit perfectly in the space, but I decided that it needed a back and some color. I quickly nailed a piece of beadboard to the back and gave it a new look with paint, using the same two-tone method I used with the flower above. I also added the word "spices" to the middle shelf. I cut out the letters with vinyl, placed them on after the darker blue, then painted right over the top of the letters with the light blue. Once dry, I simply peeled off the vinyl. I adore this new look.

I also added a measuring spoon rack with some old barnwood from my Grandpa. You can read more about how to make your own measuring spoon rack here.

The office area of the kitchen also got updated. I added some fresh paint to the mail holder. And wrapped my pencil cans with the coordinating fabric. I made a new curtain under the drawer to hide all my junk :)

I redid my memo board with the new fabric and paint as well. You can see a my original tutorial for the memo board here. I used the same process, just different fabric/ribbon.

 I really am loving my "new" kitchen. It's sometimes the little things that make us feel at home. Some new curtains and some repainted items make it feel like a whole new space.

How to Make Easy Throw Pillows

I've been feeling the need for something new in my living room. I wanted something pretty, something with a pattern, and something inexpensive. I decided on some throw pillows. They are easy to make, inexpensive and you can find lots of different fabric choices to fit your style. Learn how to make your own throw pillows by following my easy step-by-step tutorial.

When I saw this fabric I fell in love! I love the flower pattern, and the color matches perfectly with my existing dyed pillows. I grabbed a yard of the fabric. Using a 40% off coupon made it quite inexpensive.

Then it sat in the sack for a few weeks until I got around to making the pillows. This must be an important step because it's always how I do things :)

Once I did set out to make the pillows it was a super quick project.

Supplies you will need to make throw pillows

1 yard fabric for two pillows {This will of course depend on the size of pillows you want.}
thread
poly-fill
scissors
sewing machine
needle {for hand-stitching the opening closed}

Cutting the fabric

Leaving the fabric folded as it comes off the bolt, cut out two 18 X 18 inch squares. Since the fabric is folded, you will end up with 4 squares - 2 for each pillow. {Adjust size as wanted}

Assembling the Throw Pillows

1 - With right sides together, sew around all sides of the fabric, leaving a 5-6 inch opening in the center of one side for turning.

2 - Clip the corners. This reduces bulk in the corners when the pillow is turned right side out. To do this simply cut the corner off. You want to be close to the seam, but don't accidentally cut through it.

3 - Turn the pillow right side out.

4 - Stuff the pillow with poly-fill.

5 - Hand-stitch the opening closed.

I loved this fabric so much that I went back and got another 1/2 yard to make a little table runner for the distressed dresser I keep in the living room.

For the table runner, I folded and pressed the edges under 1/2", then another 1/2" and sewed in place. I did the long ends first then the short ends. Super easy!

For more pillow ideas follow me on Pinterest. I have a board just for pillows, plus tons of other great crafts and recipes!

You may also like:

Easy Envelope Pillow Covers

How to Dye Pillows

Distressed Blue Dresser

Other projects you may like: 

No-Sew Fleece Blanket

DIY Throw Pillows

How to Make Valentines Heart String Art

 I recently saw a coupon for a local store and on it there was a wooden string art heart. I immediately clipped it out and decided to try my hand at it. I have to admit, I like my version a whole lot better. And it cost a lot less to make it myself. I love the emphasis on the heart that the upholstery nails bring. Without further ado...

 

How to Make Valentines String Art

You will need:
a board - mine was a scrap that was 12 X 12
stain - I used minwax early american
nails or upholstery tacks
red crochet thread
paper
pencil
scissors

1- Start by finding a piece of wood that will work. Mine was 12 X 12. It was just sitting in my stack of wood in the garage. Then sand it and stain it if you desire. Let dry completely.

2- Next fold your piece of paper in half and draw a heart. Cut it out. Mind started out too big, but I just trimmed it down a little at a time until it was the right size.

3- Place your paper in the center of your wood. Push the upholstery tacks in around the heart. I tried to keep them evenly spaced, but it's not perfect. I did this by hand. After, I went through with a hammer and pounded some of them so they were all fairly even.  {I got the upholstery nails at my local ReStore}

4 - Tie the string to a nail. Clip the short tail. Wrap the string randomly from nail to nail. Continue until it looks how you want it. Tie the string to a nail and clip excess.

Voila, your very own string art!

You may also like:  

Personalized Valentines Candles

How to Make Pom Poms

Wood and Vinyl Valentines Art

 Upholstery Tack Candles