Up-Cycled Pillows

I don't know what's gotten into me lately, but all of a sudden I'm seeing things in a
different light. <-- that sounds super cheesy.

But here's the thing. I had one more area of my house that needed cleaned and organized. My linen closet. Ugh. That place had become a catch all for anything and everything.

While cleaning this closet out and getting everything organized I found some old pillow cases that I must have stuck in there and forgot about because I haven't used them in forever. They're still actually close to new, in really good shape, and one of my favorite colors...so what should I do with them? They don't match my current bedding...but I don't wanna toss em!

So I decided to tuck them in my (newly organized) craft area and save them until inspiration struck.

Now. I've really been wanting to add a pop to my living room with some throw pillows but I'm incredibly cheap just not going to pay upwards of $30 for a single pillow for my couch. I can make some but I'm too lazy to go pick fabric out...wait!

I have fabric! Enter: old pillow cases...

specifically the light green.

I can cut these things in half and then stuff em and sew the one end closed. The other three sides are already done for me!

But. I want some sort of design, not just a plain green pillow. Enter: stencils I had cut for a previous project in a really cool design with my Cricut. 

throw in some acrylic or fabric paint and a foam brush for good measure.

I centered the stencil on the pillow case that I had trimmed to be the size of a throw pillow. Once I had it where I wanted I put a towel inside the pillow case so that the paint wouldn't bleed through to the other side and end up staining the back side of the pillow.

Then I sponged the shape of the stencil with the paint.

After I got it all painted but while it was still wet, I pulled the stencil off. Then I let it sit on the counter and dry for about 24 hours before I started stuffing and sewing.

After the paint was dry I decided I needed more than that one embellishment on the pillow. But I didn't want to add more paint.

I learned to make ruffles with this project and I had fun making them...what a fabulous addition some ruffles would be! Black. I needed black ruffles.

Which means I need black fabric. I don't have black fabr...wait! I saved what I trimmed off of the valances I bought for that same project! I knew there was a method to my madness! 

I made some ruffles really quick like.

Now I'm gonna sew those puppies onto the pillow...the same side with the painted stencil I just did.

Now I just need to stuff em and sew em shut. 

Finished product:

So...what do you think? Have you up-cycled anything lately?

(oh. and the cost of these? free. i already had the stuff!)

I'm going to be linking with: