Paper Parade Co.

 


Throw pillows are one of the easiest ways to freshen up your home decor and the great thing about them is that you can easily swap out the covers, whether seasonally (or on a whim) and then store them away. I have a bit of an addiction to pillows, but I try to avoid purchasing pillows where the covers can't be removed. They are more difficult to clean and as a result, I think they end up being tossed (literally) into the trash when they are past their prime. Instead, invest in good quality inserts that you can re-use. I love Homesense for that. They have a great selection of on-trend pillows, often with feather inserts, in standard sizes.

Ikea is also a great source for throw pillows, inserts and covers and I picked up this linen cushion cover from there to re-create the on-trend look of block-printed textiles. This easy DIY adds a relaxed Scandinavian inspired, modern style to your living space. Here's how to do it.

You'll need:

• a plain 100% cotton or linen cushion cover, pre-washed.
• Fabric ink
• Rubber stamp
• Cardboard
• Iron
• a piece of cotton fabric for ironing

Step 1: Prepare cushion for printing.


Cut a piece of cardboard to fit inside a pre-washed and ironed cushion cover. This will prevent ink from seeping through the fabric. It also provides a sturdy base for stamping the fabric. I have found that a 100% cotton or linen fabric works best for taking the fabric ink. Synthetic mixed fabrics don't seem to absorb the ink as easily.




Step 2: Start stamping!



Plan out your design and test the stamp and ink on a scrap piece of fabric. This will allow you to get a feel for the design and application of the ink.

Start stamping! I used a simple plus sign stamp that I had on hand from an antique wood stamp box but you could just as easily get the look using rubber stamps or one of the pretty Indian hand carved wood stamps you can purchase on Etsy.




 Step 3: Let it dry.



Wait several minutes for the ink to absorb completely and until it is dry to the touch. This will vary depending on the ink and fabric you decide to use. 



 Step 4: Heat-set the ink using an iron.


Once the ink is dry, place a piece of cotton fabric on top of the stamped design and heat-set the ink with the iron. Iron all the inked areas for approximately 15 seconds on the cotton or linen setting of your iron. No steam! Once your pillow is heat-set it can be washed, if desired, in cold water using a gentle detergent.


The results!



 This pattern was an easy way to try out stamping fabric and I liked the simple, Scandi look. Next time I'm going to try one of the Indian woodblock stamps .

A DIY no-sew Scandinavian inspired stamped pillow

DIY no-sew Scandinavian inspired stamped pillow

a close-up of a DIY no-sew Scandinavian inspired stamped pillow

DIY no-sew Scandinavian inspired stamped pillow

DIY no-sew Scandinavian inspired stamped pillow

Some of these images were originally created for and published in a DIY column I wrote for The Toronto Star.

*This post contains affiliate links for some supplies.