Winter Place Mat Pillows

Back in December when I went to the Blogger Christmas Social we were asked to bring a handmade gift and I brought these place mat pillows. 

I was at Target and saw these simple wintery place mats made from burlap so I bought 2. I think they were only $4 a piece (not super cheap but way cheaper than buying a pillow).

I didn't want anything Christmas'y but more Wintery so it could be used longer.

I wanted to make them a bit more 'handmade' so I cut out a stencil with my Silhouette using vinyl and stenciled on some wintery words.

I loved the metallic coppery color I found.

After the stenciling and paint was dried I then ripped open a 3 inch gap on the edge and stuffed it with poly fill (at Hob Lob a huge bag costs like $3, I think I used 1 bag for both pillows). Then I just hand stitched up the hole. Voila! A Pillow made from a Place Mat, hence "Place Mat Pillow"

 (like our fancy new faux fur blanket from Restoration Hardware that cost $100, my husband has a vendor at work that always spends a ridiculous amount of money on the Christmas gifts they give to clients, that could be a whole blog post by its self. PS, I would never have paid $100 for that thing)

 I wrapped them up with a bit of brown paper some brown twine and added a snow flake and a jingle bell! I thought the wrapping was super cute.

Place mat pillows are such great and easy handmade gift because there are always new and seasonal place mats out in the stores. Easy and totally can be personalized.

Place Mat Pillow

There have been a zillion versions of the "Place Mat turned Pillow" out there.

Here's mine:

Start with Place mat that has an "inside" meaning there is two layers of fabric so you can 'stuff' it with filling. Then, you need the stuffing and also a seam ripper.

Open a small'ish hole with your seam ripper. A little larger than you can fit your hand into. Then stuff to your hearts content. As full or as un-full as you like your pillow to be.

Then I just hand sewed up the seam...took like 20 minutes, I stood at the back of my couch and did it, I went over it twice just so it wouldn't come undone.

Now, the trick it finding the perfect spot for the pillow:

 

linking:
Today's Creative Blog

Yellow Rosette Dwell Pillow from Target

I have seen this pillow everywhere! 

Dwell Studio at Target

 Craftaholics Anonymous

 6th Street School of Design

I Create It gives you a tutorial on how to make your OWN

 

Trey & Lucy

 

And here's mine:

Please try not to look anywhere but the bed...HEY, I said don't look anywhere but the bed.

My Master Bedroom has been tossed to the wayside for over 3 years now. It is the very last priority on my list of things to do.

Don't look at the hand-me-down lamps from when were were first married.

Don't look at the crooked picture on the left wall.

Don't notice the Two baby monitors on the right hand side. 

You would be horrified if I panned Right or Left and Mortified if you saw behind me.

SO...Just look at my gorgeous bed (V-day gift from two years ago) and the pretty bedding I recently purchased at Target. I was going to hold out for a beautiful quilt from The Quilt Shop but hey $70 verses $300-400 was a no brainer, and hey...I was sick of just a sheet and blanket on my bed for the past 3 1/2 years.

Brotherly L.O.V.E.

My cute friend Katie showed me the link to this pillow...L.O.V.E. it! She has recently moved back from Philly so she was probably feeling a little nostalgic looking at it. I think we will need a craft night and make this.

A Crummy Marriage

Crap I've Made

Another cute Love project with the offset "O" very darling.

Any others out there I haven't seen?

Gathered Heart Pillow

As you can see V and Co made this Heart Pillow but I love the fun little gather in the middle. I also really like the Ruffle Pillow behind it too.
I wished I had time to just sew all the cute pillow's I find on blogs!

Felt Flower Pillow

The Crafting Chicks made this Felt Flower Pillow. All those little petals are hot glued on. She made the cover that it is on and sewed the sides of that. Easy, virtually no sewing. Great accent pillow.

Valentine Pillows

Felt So Cute Made these cute Valentine Pillows out of old sweaters, craft store finds, and ribbons. Adorable!

 I "Love" (no pun intended) the crocked "e" even though it wasn't suppose to be. Don't forget to look at the cute rhinestone one in the back.

 recycled childrens sweaters.

Very-Little-Sewing Felt Circle Pillow

Isn't this Pillow so cute for Christmas?! It's virtually no sewing. The Someday Crafts blog has the tutorial over there to follow this little beauty to perfection.

See, you don't have to sew those felt circles on...Just a little Elmers!

I think this one I might have to try to do.