DIY Elephant Pillows

I love elephants! I have since I can remember and I have them in just about every room.

So when I was trying to think of a design for my pillows in my living room, guess what I came up with!

These pillows are so affordable to make.

Here is a list of what I used:

1 yard of linen fabric  $2.99

Emerald acrylic paint  $3.99

Blue painters tape  $.99

Pillow stuffing ( I used polyester fiberfill ) $15.00 for 5lb box.
I didn't even use a quarter of the box for 2 pillows.

Frisket or something to make a stencil with. I have used a paper plate before and it works well.

 

You will also need scissors and a yard stick or quilters mat. A ruler will work too!

I started by cutting the linen 18 in. by 18 in.

Even if you don't quilt, these mats are a must have. I use them so much. This combined with a metal yardstick helps so much with making straight lines on large pieces of paper or fabric.

Next I used the tape to mark off a straight line at the 3 in. mark from one side of the fabric to the other. I let the tape stick to the mat off the edges to hold it in place.

I taped another line on the other side of the 4 in. line to make a 1 in. stripe between the 3 & 4 in. marks.

I did the same thing on the other end of the fabric as well.

Making two 1 in. stripes on the pillow.

I drew out my own elephant on frisket (stencil paper that is peel and stick - you can find it with air brush accessories in Hobby Lobby) I cut it out with my exacto knife.

If your not up to that task, you can google elephant printable or anything else you may want and there will be tons of options!

I centered the stencil by measuring from each stripe to where the cut out starts and from each side. Then you just tape it down and get to painting. It dries pretty quick so you can move one spot to another quickly without having to worry about messing anything up.

Here is what it looks like after taking the tape off. 

The lines came out nice and crisp. 

Afterwards I used my 1998 model sewing machine :) and made the pillow buy pinning right sides facing together, sewing around the edges leaving a 1/4 in. seam. Please remember to back stitch when starting and stopping a seam - I forgot on one and had to go back because it was unraveling (boo). I left a 5 in. opening (didn't measure - just big enough to put my hand through). Turned it inside out and started stuffing with pillow stuffing.

Closed up the hole and this is what I ended with.

I love them!! 

I think I may need to make some more, our couch is pretty long. The chair needs one too! 

I'm sure there are a bunch more pillows to come one day, I have to make a few more in here and then some for the bed. 
For now, I'm going to work on some Valentines decorations.

Thanks for reading!
Daree

I'm linked up to these Parties:
Six Sisters Stuff Happy Hour Projects
 Home Stories A to Z

A Bowl Full of Lemons
Sugar Bee Crafts
My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia
Crafty Texas Girls
Kathe with an E
Adventures of a DIY Mom
Nap Time Creations 
Someday Crafts
Ginger Snap Crafts