DIY Cushion Covers-Quick & Easy

Quick & Easy DIY Cushion Covers – Cheapest Way to Brighten Up Any Room

One of my latest DIY Projects is freshening up my Living Room for Spring/Summer. I will have a lot of great future DIY projects to blog as I get my living room done. For now, lets start with cushion covers. Cushion cover are one of the cheapest and easiest ways to freshen up your living space. Think of using fabric you already have. For example, a scarf you love or a old sweater. I also have bought pillow cases on sale (king size, you can get two covers). If you are going to buy go to the Rembrandt section where they have end of the roll pieces. Well enough with the suggestions, lets get started.

What you will need;

1. Form pillows or just recover your old ones as long as they still hold their shape.
2. Fabric pieces
3. Lots of straight pins

** you can also use ribbon or buttons to embellish.

Let begin;

• Take you material, you will need enough to double to the size of your pillow, also adding 4 to 6 inches top and bottom for your cuffs (don’t worry this will makes sense a little further down), for now just trust me and add the extra inches top and bottom.
• Also make sure you have at least 2 extra inches on each side of you your pillow form, so you can stitch a good seam.
• Place fabric good side up, then place your pillow approx in the middle of the fabric, (remember you have doubled your fabric to the size of your pillow form and added your 4 extra inches top and bottom of fabric. Make sure that you situate your pillow on the fabric so you will get the pattern you wish on the front of your pillow.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
• Now your going bring up the fabric from the bottom, at least 2 inches past the middle of the pillow. Now pin your cuff down 2 inches.
• Repeat for top of fabric, again turning and pinning the cuff
  
  
  
  
  

Very important – make sure your cuffs overlap so when you insert your pillow the cuffs will not pull open. I learnt this the hard way the first couple I made. So I in fact like to have my cuffs (cuffs means the opening you will be inserting your pillow thru) overlap a good 2-3 inches this will give you plenty of room for your pillow to insert your pillow and it wont pull open.

• BEFORE you remove your pillow, pin the four corners of you side seams, this will give you your side seams. It is also important to pin these seams snug. This will make for a much firmer and fluffier pillow (I also learnt this the hard way).
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
• Now you can remove pillow. Take a ruler draw your side seams matching up all your corner pins.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
• Do not remove any pins. Use you iron and press your cuffs, press your top and bottom of the pillow, this will give you a nice crease for the top and bottom of your pillow cover.
• Once all pressed, your ready to sew.
  **Remember your sewing your cover inside out***
• I would suggest sewing your cuffs first, then sew up your side seams.
• Turn your cover over and your done.

Insert pillow, give it a good fluff.

TA DA!! DONE

Here is a photo how mine turned out, I am thrilled!  and it is the easiest and cheapest way to brighten up   any room.

Be Proud you just made your first pillow cushion cover!!

Please Come Back soon. My next blog will be how to cover a bolster pillow. Even easier.

Since I am new at this and am still learning, I would appreciate any comments, questions and most importantly feedback.

Till next time!!

The Manic Designer

DIY Water Color Lampshade

I recently decided that I should start sharing some of my DIY projects.  I always at least 4-5 on the go at one time. So I thought I would start a blog.  So here goes, this is my first blog, so please be kind, I promise I will get better.

My Water Color Lampshade

This is even more gorgeous when turned on at night.

 This is one that I really love and had a great time doing, and it's Super Easy!

• What you will need;
• Watercolors (in the tubes) easier to mix with water  OR fabric paint
• Plastic container or  I used old ceramic bowls.
• Luke warm water
• Paint brush, what type or width of brush, totally depends on what design you choose, I used a large foam brush for my lampshade
• Rick Rack Or some Ribbon

Okay let's begin

• The first thing to do is to soak your lampshade,and if necessary use a little javex to get any marks off. I put mine under the shower for a couple of minutes.  **It's important that you start off with your lampshade wet.

• Cover your area with a plastic garbage bag or some newspaper because this next step can be a little messy.
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• Mix up your water colors in separate bowls. I would suggest adding your water first, then add your paint in SMALL amounts constantly stirring and adding more water to get the color to the strength you desire. I always have a small swatch that I use constantly checking the color to unsure it's exactly the color I want before I start brushing it on.

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• Now the FUN begins, start with your Wet lampshade and start painting.  I did mine in a very loose and easy style. I did not mark mine out I just painted on the the strips freehand with my brush.

• **Hint** I found if I let the shade dry and then went back and added more color in certain ares it gave it allot more depth of color.

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• Finish off with some rick rack or ribbon of your choice.

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• TA DA  all done !!

I look forward to any comments or questions.

Hope you enjoyed my first blog

SG The Manic Designer