
Mandy Pellegrin is an avid DIYer. She documents her crafty projects on Fabric Paper Glue and brings fun crafting experiences to the fine folks of Nashville as half of local business Craftcourse. When she’s not blogging or throwing craft parties, you’ll find her doing health policy research (i.e. her “day job”), fixing up the 1935 home that she shares with her husband Michael and cat Pete, or just looking for a good time with friends.
I’ve always had a serious weakness for beautifully designed fabric. Lately I’ve found white cotton canvas to be — well, literally a blank canvas for creating my own patterns and designs in any color or pattern I want. This project shows you how to put beginner level sewing skills to use to create your own envelope pillow covers donning two simple fabric-painting techniques: quick freehand painting and super easy custom stamping.
The freehand painted pillow can be completed in less than an hour, while the stamping technique may set you back about two-and-a-half hours of primarily easy repetition. This project will create two 18” x 18” pillows. Adjust the measurements accordingly for other sized pillows.

You will need:
Two 22” x 54” strips of white cotton canvas fabric
Multi-surface or fabric craft paints in black, teal, bright pink, yellow, and dusty pink
Paint brushes
Adhesive-backed craft foam
Blank wooden circles
Scissors
Iron
White thread
Sewing Machine
Ruler or Measuring Tape
Pins

Step 1: Use wide, flat brushes to create a brushstroke pattern. I painted quick, imperfect Vs around a center point to create bursts. Begin with quite a bit of paint on the brush, painting until the brush is nearly dry. Don’t overthink it – messy can be good for this technique.

For a little contrast to the messiness of the bursts, I added in circles of black dots by creating a ring of dots with a pointed-tip paintbrush and then filling more dots in.

Step 2: Make custom stamps by cutting out shapes of your choosing from the adhesive-backed foam. I made five different irregular circle shapes – one for each of my paint colors. Remove the paper backing and stick to a blank wooden circle.

Step 3: Apply paint to a stamp using a paintbrush and stamp onto the fabric. I created a grid pattern with my irregular circles, using the edge of the wooden circles as a guide to evenly space my stamps. Put on your favorite TV series because, while this may be super easy, it can be a little time consuming.

Step 4: Once the paint has dried, trim each fabric strip down to 19” x 46.”

Step 5: Fold ½” of fabric over twice on each of the 19” edges, then press into place with a hot iron.

Step 6: Sew each of the folded ends about ¼” from the edge.

Step 7: Fold each of the sewn ends towards the center with painted side of the fabric facing inward so that each end is overlapping by 8” and the total pillow cover is just less than 18” wide. Press and pin into place.

Step 8: Sew the top and bottom edges into place about ½” from the edge. Finish the seams with a zig-zag stitch, serger, or pinking sheers (optional).

Step 9: Turn right side out, press, and finish with an 18” x 18” pillow insert.

All photographs by Fabric Paper Glue.
105 comments
Megan from MegansMenagerie said 6 years ago
Absolutely love this how to! Thanks so much for sharing!
PaperAltar from PaperAltar said 6 years ago
Fun !!
Wenbin Jiang said 6 years ago
beautiful!
Renata and Jonathan from RenataandJonathan said 6 years ago
Great project :)
Natalie from HansHolzkopf said 6 years ago
fun and easy!
Bangkokpants Pants from bangkokpants said 6 years ago
good work have fun !!!
Sandra CS from MurMurBows said 6 years ago
cool idea!
Thom Aten from Circa810 said 6 years ago
How fun ... It seems like every tuesday there is something added to my "I want to do " list!
Beard Oil from BeardOil said 6 years ago
Awesome project! Thanks Mandy!!
Ebruk from Ebruk said 6 years ago
Fun and amazing ! Thank you for sharing.
Terai from terainbDesigns said 6 years ago
Awesome! Thanks for sharing.
Renate from 2Crafty4You said 6 years ago
It looks like fun and creative Project. These pillows will brighten up your room.
Beta and Raitis from BetaMenswear said 6 years ago
looks like great September weekend project!
Sara from UrbanFarmhouseTampa said 6 years ago
I would love to try this! Great idea for holiday gifts or updating the interior of your home.
ApronStringVintage from ApronStringVintage said 6 years ago
I love this idea!!! Thank you!
Shop Zoetic from ShopZoetic said 6 years ago
Love this!!
Katyooshjewelry jewelry from Kattyoosh said 6 years ago
Great idea and beautiful.Thank you!
Victoria from Masonbottles said 6 years ago
Love the tutorial, the pillows are beautiful and vibrant. Thanks!
Katrina Dzerkale from Dominna said 6 years ago
How Tuesdays are my favourite :)
AGORAA from AGORAA said 6 years ago
Amazing! Thank you so much!
liz from Giftbyliz said 6 years ago
very colorful and pretty!
Ann Cosgrove from acbcDesign said 6 years ago
Love this - so inspirational!
KatsKube from JamellaDaisy said 6 years ago
Very crafty. I love them. thank you!!
Sumona C from ieclectic said 6 years ago
So pretty, loved it. Thankyou!
LivingVintage from LivingVintage said 6 years ago
Looks like fun.
Dorothy from JewelrybyDorothy said 6 years ago
So colorful! Thank you!
Sandra Ankleknits from Ankleknits said 6 years ago
Thank you. Great tutorial!
Lana Manis from SimpleJoysPaperie said 6 years ago
Thanks for the tutorial! This is a great way to add personal, artistic, and colorful accents to a room with very little money and time!
Frances Marin from FrancesMarin said 6 years ago
Love this! The pillows turned out great.
Mary Mayo from MVMayoPhotography said 6 years ago
Thank You!
Leda Design from LedaDesign said 6 years ago
Wonderful ideas!
GPR from simplygail said 6 years ago
wonderful!
Cristy Ramos from ArtisanBathandBody said 6 years ago
This is awesomely fantastic! I know who will love this tutorial as well ♥ Thank you very much!
Aga from AgasJourney said 6 years ago
Simply nice and creative project. thanks for sharing
lunacattu from LunaCattu said 6 years ago
Such a simple project, so much fun!
Leslie Rogers-Todder from LeslieSilkStudio said 6 years ago
I like the wooden disk stamps!
Munkyeong Kim from MoonIllustrate said 6 years ago
Thank you for sharing! It is awesome!^^
Deb Vasbinder from BabyCuteBaby said 6 years ago
Thanks for sharing another very creative project - awwhhh - need more hours in the day.
R. Anne from LnRworks said 6 years ago
lovely
Kasia Bourke from NoandEl said 6 years ago
Lovely DIY. Such fun colours!!
Katie Porterfield from flowersnstars said 6 years ago
Looks like fun!! Thanks for sharing!!
Bernadette from sugarloop said 6 years ago
Thank you! This is great!
TropicalGarden from TropicalGarden said 6 years ago
Love this, thanks for sharing! I would like to try this out!
Aubrey Hyde from winemoneysupplies said 6 years ago
Lovely pillows my fellow Nashvillian! Lively and bright!
Zoui from XZOUIX said 6 years ago
wonderful fresh colors, great for a rainy fall :::-)
Katie Baker from GracefulAndElegant said 6 years ago
I love this. I can't wait to let my kids try it out!
Kathryn Hirt from ButterflymanGraphics said 6 years ago
Hi, Its a new school year and if anyone is graduating or celebrating an important event soon, let me help you make an announcement or invitation card! i also have a coupon right now you can use as well for 15% off its SCHOOLYEAR2015 Please check out my shop! -Kat
Alaskalisky from AlaskaGoldRush said 6 years ago
Great Post!
StillVintage from StillVintage said 6 years ago
Great project
glitterandstones from glitterandstones said 6 years ago
Thanks for sharing. The pillows are beautiful.
Kerry Stokes from KerryAnnStokes said 6 years ago
these color combos are fab! love them! reminds me of design love fest (which is also fab!)
Joy from MaxiJoy said 6 years ago
how sweet stuff
StudioYTE from StudioYTE said 6 years ago
These are great! Do you need to heat set the paint? Do these wash well? Many thanks!
Dee from DeegeeMarieGifts said 6 years ago
These look so fun and cheery! Thanks for sharing your project.
Eryn from ErynMunozTextiles said 6 years ago
Yes! thanks for sharing! canvas is my choice of fabric and so I particularly love this DIY
Susan Chinouth from SuzankaStudio said 6 years ago
Love the idea with the foam and the wood dots for stamps and your color choice was really pretty. Thank you so much!
Annie from AnniesChicBowtique said 6 years ago
This is totally gorgeous! Thanks so much for sharing!
Dara K. from DaraDecor said 6 years ago
Wonderful!
Veronica B. from VeryAndVery said 6 years ago
Lovely! Congratulation
Libivee from Libivee said 6 years ago
Beautiful work! Congrats
Rebecca Shelly from RebeccaShellyArt said 6 years ago
This is a great idea! I usually just paint on canvas/boards yet I also sew garments. This would be a great way to combine the two worlds. Thanks for the inspiration!
Becky from rnaabDesigns said 6 years ago
Cool project! Thanks for the detailed tutorial.
Matejka Max from NattyMatty said 6 years ago
Looking good!
Kalisa L. from MuchandQuick said 6 years ago
Making stamps out of adhesive-backed foam is a very clever idea.
IKA PARIS from ikabags said 6 years ago
Cool :))
Erin from ErinKDoyle said 6 years ago
Love this! pinning it and adding it to my future project list!
FairytaleFlower from FairytaleFlower said 6 years ago
These are so fun and bright !
Avianti Jewelry from AviantiJewelry said 6 years ago
Such a fun idea especially for kids to design their own room. Thank you for sharing!
Szandra Sitku from InspiredColours said 6 years ago
Funny and simple.. how creative! :) Thank you! :D
Mark Houlihan from SideOrderofHooli said 6 years ago
love this idea! inventive :D
Teresa Yeske from ChevronandDixie said 6 years ago
Great tutorial for a beginning sewer. You make it look fun and do-able!
Fields Of Vintage from FieldsOfVintage said 6 years ago
Lovely!!! Love your easy to understand tutorials.
fineartstoneware from fineartstoneware said 6 years ago
Very cool!
Corrie Curry from StrangelyEverAfter said 6 years ago
So fun and you make it look so simple as well!
Denise Greene from irisbearyspecial said 6 years ago
Very detail instructions. Love it!
Desi Decor from DesiHomedecor said 6 years ago
I need some sell
Maleni García from QueCosasHaces said 6 years ago
Cool idea!! I like the colorful!
Lexi from BlackArrowStudio said 6 years ago
I have been wanting to make new pillows for my living room. Thanks for the inspiration!
whannakan srilesin from KanoonAobaoon said 6 years ago
Very nice.
hcgboottops1111 from hcgboottops1111 said 6 years ago
Simple and fun! Great colors and ideas!
hcgboottops1111 from hcgboottops1111 said 6 years ago
You could use a sponge instead of wood if thats what you have on hand.
Aivilo from AiviloCraft said 6 years ago
gostava de ver mais cores
BlueDayDesigns from BlueDayDesigns said 6 years ago
Love the dot pattern! How much do you estimated it would cost to buy all the supplies?
Katrina Dzerkale from Dominna said 6 years ago
thank you
Santa Croquera from SantaCroquera said 6 years ago
I love the colours really beutiful
Valena2011 from PeraMantica said 6 years ago
Great !!!!!!!!!!
clara n from CAVALESTUDIO said 6 years ago
i love the irregular polka dot pillow :)
EZGI KORKANC ACAR from designedbyEzgi said 6 years ago
very inspiring. thank you...
Dottie from dottiesdiner said 6 years ago
I'm going to copy this!! really neat! thank you so much.
Eula Shuman said 6 years ago
So simple and nice idea. art people would really love this idea especially moms who are staying at home. Now, I can customize my own pillow and make my pillow case. Learn more about pillows your bedroom: http://www.bedworks.com.au/300-pillows It could give you a lot of fun.
Mandy Spivey from TastefullyMismatched said 6 years ago
Amazing and so simple!
Tamika Martells from POEssentials said 6 years ago
Nice, love the step by step tutorial.
Evon Soh from VoilaNailDeco said 6 years ago
That's inspiring!
BagsnBrags from BagsnBrags said 6 years ago
Love the idea! May do this for all those boring plain white pillow cases! :)
Paula Rod from Allamaforacause said 6 years ago
Awesome
Macrina from Homesunshine said 6 years ago
Great ideas!
Amy J Marie said 6 years ago
I love this crafting idea. I've been wanting to do SOMETHING and I think I can do this! I'm so excited. The colors one can use are limitless. Thanks so much for sharing this. I am going to have so much fun! (By the way, the colors you used in the two pillows are perfect for the little girl next door - maybe a Christmas present for her room??)
Tanesha Russell Gant from SoLoPillow said 6 years ago
Thanks for the step by step instructions. I love these pillows.
Emily from beetleinkco said 5 years ago
Lovely!
Braden and Kristina from BradenHammondGlass said 5 years ago
Love how bright and cheery it is for the spring too! Fun project thanks for sharing!
fu sun from sunfu1983 said 5 years ago
Great love pillow, good warm
Aina42 from EtsyBitsy42 said 5 years ago
Love it! I am here as EtsyBitsy42. Plz support me as I am totally new here. :(
Büşra DG from DGatelier said 5 years ago
So sweet! Thanks for sharing!
Justin S Rowden said 4 years ago
For a good night's sleep, you have to spend time on selecting the best memory foam pillow, hope my blog will help you on that http://www.bedtimefriends.com/
Shelby Spencer from ShelbysDesignStudio said 299 days ago
Love this project!! I have painted many surfaces, maybe fabric should be next!