Everything was secure in the box, with a separate box for the pillow inserts and accessories.
Underneath the inserts and accessories were the stencil itself with the pillow cover, ready to be painted on!
Here are the paints I picked. I felt they were a good quality paint and reasonably priced. I used my green A LOT, and there was still paint left over after two pillows.
I was also supplied with tools and brushes to get me going. If you enter our giveaway below, you can win a free starter kit which includes the following items:
Kit Includes:
- Stenciling frame (pat.pend.)
- Reusable pillow stencil
- 17”x17” Cotton pillow cover
- Pillow insert: linen/down alternative
- Mini roller and 1/2" stencil brush
- Paint tray and stirring stick
- Illustrated instructions
- Free mini stencil and practice fabric swatch
- One free fabric paint (choose your color above)
So now I had everything I needed to get started!
I think my favorite thing about the whole process, was the way Paint-A-Pillow created a way to keep the pillow cover and stencil, stationary. If you look close you will see that the stencil lies on top of the pillow cover and is held down on a cardboard frame with brads. I had no problems with it shifting around, and only need to hold the stencil close to the pillow towards the edges.
I started with lighter colors first and moved to darker colors as I went along.
Here's a look at the pillow cover all painted with the stencil still on...
And here's a look with the finished design!
It turned out so neat! I tried to get a little creative with the flower using some shading. I wanted to give the pillow a little texture and pop. If you need any help with the painting part of this project, be sure to check out a full painting video tutorial below. It really helped me feel confident to do this!
After the paint dried, I heat set the paint by running an iron over the entire design for 30 seconds. I need a bigger iron! Anyone want to buy me a heat press? :) It took awhile, but setting the paint will allow me to wash it, dry clean it, or even use them outdoors! Need some pillows for your patio set? These would be awesome!
Now the pillow cover was done. But if you're going to add any embellishments, you need to do that before putting the pillow form inside the pillow cover.
I decided to go with tassels for my pillows and couldn't decide between a standard tassel and the suede tassels they offer, so I went with both! Paint-A-Pillow has a great tutorial video for applying embellishments that made my tassels go on super easily!
Another thing I love about the pillows is that the stencils match the ones offered by Cutting Edge Stencils, so if you've done something on your walls, you can match the decor with pillows!
A few things I feel like Paint-A-Pillow could improve on is pricing and a the idea of reverse stencils. While picking your own design, paints and embellishments makes these pillows very customize-able, I would have a hard time paying that much for two complete pillow sets. The items individually are priced well, so perhaps if you already had a pillow to start with, buying a stencil and paint would not be more than going to the store and buying a finished pillow.
As for reverse stencils, the thought came to me as I started my second pillow and placed the stencil back on top of a blank canvas. I though how neat it would be to be able to reverse the imaging so that the leaves and flower could be left natural and the background could be painted in. Wouldn't that be neat? If that were available I would have done one the way you see it, and one in opposite to compliment each other.
With all that said, I think Paint-A-Pillow offers a solid product. Their stencils are second to none and the easy process always surprises me with great looking results!
Here are the tutorial videos, and keep scrolling to enter the giveaway!
I would def choose a Kid Print... I always focus everything around my kids.
ReplyDeleteCHEVRON! Totally obsessed!
ReplyDeleteOr maybe something nautical! SO hard to choose. :)
ReplyDeleteI love your pillow! I would choose the hounds tooth pattern. Thanks for the chance.
ReplyDeleteStarfish.......I love it. Gotta have one or more. THanks for enlightening me on painting fabrics..I've always wanted to do this......and thanks for the giveaway chance
ReplyDeleteThe poppy fields or the chrysanthemum! Love these pillows!
ReplyDeleteWow! I didn't even know this existed. It's awesome! And I love those pillows too! =)
ReplyDeleteOh wow, this is awesome! I had no clue there was anything like this even on the market. Your pillows look amazing too!
ReplyDeletenice
ReplyDeletewww.trumpcoat.com.ng
Holy cow! You are amazingly talented - even with a stencil I could not do this! :) They look awesome - what a neat product!
ReplyDeleteI love the Japanese Lotus or the peonies! I would love to try this pillow Idea so many different things to do
ReplyDeleteI like the fish scales paint a pillow
ReplyDeleteOooh how fun is this! I would go for the Spore or Antico stencil!
ReplyDeleteI love this, it would be a perfect Christmas gift ( for me of course ;) )
ReplyDeleteI think I might get the Mermaid stencil. This is such a cool idea!
ReplyDeleteI love these pillows! I would just love and love to have them for myself. What a cool idea!
ReplyDeleteI would choose the Damasque stencil.
ReplyDeleteI like the Little Birdie Pillow Stencil, Thanks for the chance.
ReplyDeletencjeepster@aol.com
There are so many beautiful kits to choose from! I love them all, especially the Sakura and Birds Paint A Pillow Kit.
ReplyDeleteThank You for the great giveaway!
Fiona N
What a fun idea. I would love to try out the stencils.
ReplyDeleteTheress
I would choose the Kids kit. I would love to make my little grandsons pillows.
ReplyDeleteWow, there are so many choices! I think I'd chose the BIRCH FOREST PAINT-A-PILLOW KIT
ReplyDeleteCINDY B on rafflecopter