If you have photographs around your home or on your computer that you don’t have a use for, pull out those photos and get a little crafty with them by making a picture pillow! This project is the perfect gift for a close friend or family member, and can be a lovely decoration for your home. It is a creative and fun way to display photos in your home, and it is so easy to make.
Here’s what you’ll need to get started:
- Pillowcase - any shape/size will work
- Your favorite photographs - you can use one photo or as many as you like!
- Scissors
- Printer
- Sewing machine or needle and thread
- Iron
- Iron-on transfer paper
- Optional: fabric paint
Step 1
If using a newly bought pillowcase from the store, wash it before beginning so that the ink from the printed photos adheres well to the fabric. If you want to make your own pillowcase, you can use an old t-shirt or pillowcase and cut it to the size and shape of your liking, and either stitch 3 sides of it shut or use a sewing machine to speed up the process. Make sure you leave one side open for the stuffing!
Step 2
Scan your print photos into your computer. If your photos are already downloaded onto your computer, simply access them in your files. Depending on how large you want the photos to appear on the pillowcase, you may need to resize some of the photographs, as well as make other edits such as correcting red-eye and lighting.
Step 3
Then, print the photos onto the iron-transfer paper.
Step 4
Put the pillowcase around an ironing board to prevent any ink bleeding through from one side of the pillowcase to the other.
Step 5
Arrange the printed photo to your liking on the pillowcase, and iron them onto the pillowcase.
Step 6
After letting the printed photos cool down for a few minutes, slowly peel them off of the pillowcase.
Step 7
Lastly, stuff the pillowcase with cotton, feathers or materials of your choice, and sew the open side closed using needle and thread or a sewing machine if you have one.
And that’s all there is to it! If you want to continue decorating your pillowcase, try using fabric paint, sequins, or lace to spruce it up just a little.
Don’t continue letting your most precious memories sit in boxes!
Make something beautiful out of them to display to guests at your home or to give as a gift to a friend.
