DIY Stenciled Americana Drop Cloth Pillow Cover
Do you love to decorate your home in the summer with Americana decor? I sure do and I just cannot wait to show you how to make one of these gorgeous pillow covers for yourself!
This post is sponsored by DecoArt. All opinions are my own.
I used this tutorial to make my Americana Drop Cloth envelope pillow cover using a paint drop cloth as my fabric. My method for measuring the correct size for my pillow cover is very simple. I lay the pillow on the fabric and eyeball it.
The only thing I did different with this particular pillow cover was to go back around the edge and sew about a half inch all the way around to create that little decorative edge. It’s a nice way to add an extra touch to a pillow cover without too much work involved.
DIY Stenciled Americana Drop Cloth Pillow Cover Tutorial
Supplies:
- American Tribute 12″x12″ Stencil (Americana Decor Stencil from DecoArt)
- DecoArt Americana True Red Acrylic paint
- DecoArt So Soft Navy Blue Fabric Paint
- DecoArt So Soft White Fabric Paint
- Paint drop cloth cut to size
- Repositionable Spray Adhesive
- Poster board
After making the envelope pillow cover using this tutorial the first thing I did was to measure the front of the pillow cover and center the stencil.
See this quick video for an ironing hack I shared while working on this pillow cover. There is a lot of ironing involved in sewing projects.
Then I used a repositionable spray on adhesive to hold the stencil in place. This stencil has a lot of detail so the spray was necessary. I also taped down the edges with paint tape, I just couldn’t help myself.
I placed a piece of poster board inside the pillow cover so the paint would not bleed through.
You will notice the top stars appear to have been painted but not on this pillow cover yet. I used those for another project. Don’t you just feel extra happy when you can use a stencil for multiple purposes!
Notice the blue background of the star field is already painted. I marked the outside line indicated with the arrows onto the cloth using a pencil. Then I removed the stencil and carefully painted the blue background. After allowing ample drying time, I carefully replaced the stencil for the remainder of the project. The painted blue background made the perfect guide to position the stencil back into place.
Notice that I painted all of the stripes white first. After allowing ample drying time, I came back and painted two coats of red over top of the white. The drop cloth serves as the white stripe but I still wanted to see some true white on my flag. We love the effect it gave us with that white framing the red strip which is noticeable in the photo below.
These are the paint colors which gave this project it’s wow factor! DecoArt So Soft White, So Soft Navy Blue and DecoArt Americana True Red. I’m totally in love with this Navy Blue and looking for another project to use it on!
My new Stenciled Americana Drop Cloth pillow is adorning my just made over porch swing which I will be sharing this week also! Another new paint color crush is the one I used on the swing also from DecoArt! You will HAVE to see the Before picture!
Shop the DecoArt site for their full line of products and follow along on Facebook for a steady stream of ideas. Then come back for the swing makeover and finally the entire porch makeover project will be revealed with all the details.
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More DIY Americana Decor Ideas
DIY See Rock City Barn Birdhouse
Americana Clay Pot Wreath Tutorial
Frosted Mason Jar Patriotic Luminaries
Hi! Do you a have a template that I can print and use it to create a stencil? I am not able to buy the stencil.
Sorry Nigel, I do not have a template. You can order the stencil online.
Your pillow looks awesome! Pinned 🙂
This is very cute! 🙂
I would love for you to share this with my Facebook Group for recipes, crafts, tips, and tricks: https://www.facebook.com/groups/pluckyrecipescraftstips/
Thanks for joining Cooking and Crafting with J & J!
Love this! I’ve got a couple of old pillows that need to be recovered. I had not thought about using a stencil for them. That’s such a great idea! Thanks for sharing with us!
How much fun is that pillow! I’ve been seeing lots of fabric painting posts lately, and now I want to get in on it@!
I love this pillow, Shirley! Painting the blue background on the flag is so smart! I would have never thought to do that. Thanks for the fantastic tip!
The cushion cover looks amazing. You did a great job 🙂
Louise x
This looks really good and simple to do. This would be a project I can do with the kids, maybe. Thanks
How cute is this?! So simple and fun! My daughter would love to help me make something like this. Thanks for the idea!
I love decorating. I need to get into more DIY. The summer is the perfect time for that with the great weather! This stencil is awesome and sounds like something that will help me a lot with the process.
A stencil? I’ve never used a stencil (I’m not that crafty) but this pillow looks great!
Wow, that looks professional! I want to try making my own pillow covers now, too!
Wow! That looks great. I love what you did with just the little border around red with the white paint. Sorry if this sound sillys, but I don’t have any experience with this type of stuff. I was wondering if the pillow case would then be washable or would the paint be washed off or ruined?
Thank you! There is no such thing as a silly question! The paint won’t wash off but I would not put it in the dryer.
That is so pretty. I love seeing all the talented DIY crafter and what they dream up. Love this pillow very patriotic.
Thank you Rebecca. It’s fun to create crafts! Patriotic decor is my favorite in the summer.
I would never guess that your drop cloth pillow is handmade! It’s beautiful. I’d like to give stenciling a go!
Thank you Monica. You simply must try using a stencil. I was intimidated at first but they’re really a fun craft tool.
I’m so proud of my country and love Americana decor. Your pillow is beautiful and I actually think I can recreate it, thanks to your great tutorial.
Alli I KNOW you can make one and I’d love to see it when you’re done!
You ‘eyeball’ the measurements, lol! Sounds like something I do all the time! The DIY stenciled pillow turned out so well. Decor art seems very popular. I love how you can use the stencil for different projects plus why wouldn’t you use this one right? Your porch looks great with it – I’m sure the entire makeover is beautiful!
Lol, Zan. I had my first experience with a pattern earlier this year when I made an apron for my daughter. I usually just ‘eyeball it’. I just don’t know a better way to make envelope pillow covers since I’m covering throw pillows I already have. I think those pillow covers are my favorite thing to sew.
Shirley
I love using a drop cloth as fabric. It is such an organic looking piece. Your comment about using a stencil in multiple ways?…. yes! An absolute must
This looks so fantastic. Well done!
This was my first drop cloth project but I am already working on another one!