Canvas Pillows

Red Pillow

Materials:

1/2 yard, 54" wide primed canvas
5" square beige or natural suede
12" pillow form
DecoArt acrylic paint: tomato red, burnt umber, honey brown
Minwax provincial wood stain
6 decorative beads
1" blue painter's tape
plastic grocery bags
paper towels
brown craft paper or wax paper
disposable latex gloves
mini foam roller
two 1-1/2" foam brushes
kitchen table knife
Crafter's Pick The Ultimate glue
glue gun
hot glue sticks
sewing machine
scissors or rotary cutter and cutting mat
measuring tape
pencil

1. Cut three pieces of primed canvas 1 inch larger than the pillow form dimensions, or 13" x 13." Two pieces will be used to create an opening in the back of the12-inch pillow form. Cut two strips of canvas for the decorative bands, each 2" x 14-1/2."

2. On the primed side, paint all three pillow pieces with a mixture of two parts tomato red and one part burnt umber using a mini foam roller (figure A).

3. While the paint is still wet, press a scrunched plastic bag over the paint (figure B), dabbing the paint to distress the look (figure C). Allow to dry.

4. Paint the pillow bands honey brown using a foam brush. Distress with a scrunched plastic bag. Let dry.

5. Place painted canvas on work surface covered with brown craft paper or wax paper. Wearing disposable gloves, apply a thin coat of wood stain with a foam brush over the red color paint (figure E). While the stain is still wet, lay a plastic grocery bag onto the surface and scrunch it down (figure E). Lift the plastic up. Some of the stain will be removed and some will remain. Dab the stain with the plastic bag until you are pleased with the appearance (figure F). If needed, remove excess stain by gently blotting with a paper towel. Allow to dry flat for 24 hours.

6. Fold pillow bands in thirds lengthwise with right sides out. Crease with your hands or the dull side of a table knife (figure G).

7. Glue bands together lengthwise with wrong sides together using tacky glue. Let glue dry.

8. Place the bands on the front of the pillow (one third in from each side) and stitch them with a sewing machine at the top and bottom. Stitch 1/4 inch from the edge.

9. For the back, fold under one edge of each of the two back pieces 1/2 inch; then fold under again 1 inch. Top stitch a hem close to the folded edge.

10. Place the front of the pillow right side up. Place the two back pieces on top with right sides together and hemmed edges overlapping each other. Stitch around all four sides using a 1/2-inch seam allowance.

11. Turn the pillow right side out. Insert pillow form into the back opening. Hot glue the decorative beads on front bands.

Materials:

1/2 yard, 54" wide primed canvas
6" square primed canvas
four 6" x 2" tan-colored suede
12" pillow form
DecoArt acrylic paint: Hauser light and dark green, camel brown
Minwax provincial wood stain
1" blue painter's tape
plastic grocery bags
paper towels
brown craft paper or wax paper
disposable latex gloves
Crafter's Pick The Ultimate glue
1-1/2" foam brush
sea sponge
sewing machine
scissors or rotary cutter and mat
measuring tape
pencil

Steps:

1. Cut three pieces from primed canvas 1 inch larger than the pillow form dimension, or 13" x 13." Two pieces will be used to create an opening in the back of the12-inch pillow form. Cut a 6-inch canvas square.

2. On the primed side, paint the three large canvas pieces with Hauser light green and Hauser dark green using a dampened sea sponge to dab the color onto the canvas (figure A). Allow to dry. Wash the sea sponge and squeeze out all of the water. Use the sea sponge to paint the small canvas piece camel brown. Allow to dry.

4. Repeat Step 3 on the 6-inch square. Let dry 24 hours.

5. Using scissors, cut narrow fringe along the length of one side of each of the suede strips to within 1/4 inch of opposite side (figure C).

6. Sew one suede fringe strip to the back edge of each side of the 6-inch square (figure D).

7. Sew or glue the fringed square diagonally onto the front of the pillow (figure E).

8. For the back, fold under one edge of each of the two back pieces 1/2 inch; then fold under again 1 inch. Stitch in a hem.

9. Place the front of the pillow right side up. Place the two back pieces on top with right sides together and hemmed edges overlapping each other. Stitch around all four sides using a 1/2-inch seam allowance. Turn the pillow right side out. Insert pillow form into the back opening.