Young House Love

Home Decorating & DIY Tutorials

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How To Stencil A Pillowcase

This is a heartwarming story featuring Ethan Hawke and Gwyneth Paltrow about getting crafty with a pillowcase, some fabric paint, and a metal grate, hence that pun-tastic title.

Grate Art4

I don’t know about you, but I always seem to have one or two extra pillowcases around. We only have one set of sheets per bed, but I think since I buy two extra pillows for every bed (and therefore need extra pillowcases) I must see them on sale and grab them without making sure I really need them (hence the over-abundance). Really, it’s sort of a mystery to me since I’m the girl who won’t buy tomato sauce or toothpaste unless I’m sure I’m out, but maybe in another life I was short a pillowcase and it ruined my day so now I hoard them. Truly, it’s weird.

But anyway, I had this extra pillowcase so I thought it would be fun to use it as spare fabric and get a little crafty. And thus this project was born. First I taped it off in a rectangular shape using painter’s tape to hold the fabric taut. Oh and I slipped a piece of cardboard inside the pillowcase to keep it from bleeding or sticking together before taping it down.

Pillowcase1

Then I taped this cute metal grate over it that I picked up at Home Depot for $9, which I immediately looked at and my brain said “um – STENCIL!” At first I debated doing this on paper to make some frame-able art, so you can go that route too, but then I thought using fabric paint on a pillowcase and stitching that up to make an easy little bolster could be fun, so I veered that way at the fork in the road that is Craft Street.

Pillowcase2

I raided my supply drawer for some Martha Stewart craft paints (they say right on the label that they work on fabric – and they’re only a few bucks a pop so I grab them in colors that I like whenever I see them on sale). I also had these stencil brushes (the ones in the blue package) in my craft basket after using a coupon to get them almost free a little while back from Michaels, so I was happy to finally put them to good use. All told, the only thing I bought for this project was the $9 grate, but if you had to pick up the paint and the brushes and the grate it would probably be around $20 as long as you have some fabric on hand. The good thing is that the grate is reusable, so you could make a few pillows or even a table runner and matching napkins and then make some art/stationery/gift tags with it. Oh man, now I’m thinking about the holiday-gift potential…

Pillowcase3

Next it was stamping time. I tried not to load my brush up too much (I worried from the start that things could bleed under the grate – and thick paint applications can make fabric crunchy) so I dabbed it on a paper towel a few times to get rid of excess paint before tap-tap-tapping my way around the grate. I tried to do sections of colors in sort of an irregular wave shape, just so nothing looked like obvious stripes and dots, but had more of a sand-art feeling. Oh yeah, who remembers sand art?

Pillowcase5

Occasionally I blended stuff using a bunch of extra dabs. This is what the blue did on top of the yellow after some extra pats in that area (see how it mixed to create sort of a yellow to green to blue gradient there?).

Pillowcase6

In other places I went with less of a blended edge and more of a defined color-meets-another-color border. It was fun and loosey-goosey and the whole thing probably took me around twenty minutes.

Pillowcase7

I waited a little while to remove the grate (maybe an hour?) just because I worried I’d shift it slightly while ripping off the tape and smear the whole thing. When it dried and I finally removed it… welp, there was some bleeding in a few areas. At first I was sad, but the more I looked at it, the more I liked the varied/imperfect pattern. It almost reminded me of constellations.

Grate Art5

I think if you were going for a perfectly clean-lined look at home, using some stencil adhesive to stick the grate to the paper/fabric might result in a crisper edge, and using even less paint on your brush (and just dabbing it suuuper lightly) would probably cut down on the bleeding issue as well.

Grate Art4

But in the end, I’m calling those imperfections a happy accident. Sort of like how you pay the big bucks for those hand stamped block printed fabrics that are cool and irregular… but that’s the charm. At least that’s what I’m telling myself.

Grate Art6

Update: For those asking if this is washable, someone commented to say they had luck washing fabric that they painted with the same Martha Stewart product by following the directions on the container, so it looks like it can work! I’d just read the label first to find out what you’re dealing with if you plan to wash the item often (like cloth napkins for example) because other fabric paints might have simpler instructions.

Heck, I also think the grate is pretty great art itself. So you could always just paint the grate and not worry about any bleeding under it and then use a metal snip to cut it to fit a frame.

Grate Art

And now that I’ve mentioned the potential for reusing the grate, I’m kind of excited at the idea of a homemade runner or a matching set of napkins. Anyone else planning to try their hand at some grate creations? Will Ethan Hawke be invited? Will Gwyneth Paltrow bring the crudités?

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Comments

  1. Carla says

    That turned out really cute!!

    It’d be nice across the bottom of curtains in three shades of the same color. :o))

    Reply

  3. Koliti says

    Beautiful! Love your amorphous-grid – looks tie-dye-ish.
    Yes, please! More “Happy Art Tuesdays with Sherry :)

    Reply

  6. sarah says

    That grate looks so pretty painted. I’d bend it into a cylinder and wrap it around a glass hurricane candle holder or to make a cool pendant light. It woulf would look great when the light shines through.

    Reply

  8. Skittle says

    Sherry, I love this so much! I think it is perfect just the way it is. And I would slap that grate up on my wall any day. LOVE!!!!

    Reply

  9. alg (amy) says

    SO glad you did this — I’ve been wondering if using a metal grate as a stencil would work for a while now.
    (And it kind of reminds me of AbFab, because Patsy always makes Eddy “go first to see how much it hurts.”) Haha :)

    Reply

  11. Ortisse says

    Hi! I follow your blog since few years now, I commented only once or twice because my english is not very good (it’s ok for me to read but it’s much harder to write).
    This idea is awesoooome! When I saw the 1st picture I hoped it was a DIY and not a pretty pillow case you could only buy in the USA! And thanks to your super creative brain Sherry, I can now go to the craft store here in my little place in France and have the same pillow on my couch!
    As you, I like it better with the happy accident.
    I’m not sure to write again before a while, so I wanted to thank you for your great work, my appartement looks very different from your house(s) but I still get a lot of inspiration here!

    Reply

  13. Sarah says

    I love how the paint bled – it looks really pretty and unique! I’m glad to know where to buy those grates too – I saw a tutorial once that made one into a jewelry holder by framing the pretty grate, and I’ve wanted to do that ever since.

    Reply

  15. Cassie Moore says

    I’d like to thank you for reminding me that I should try a crafty approach to things. I’ve been so into “decorating” my house I forgot I can craft things for my home! I’ve been hunting for the perfect fabric in the perfect colors for my kitchen curtains. The only fabric I kind of like is too expensive for me to justify buying when I kind of liking it. I need to love it. What I do have is an extra white flat sheet and I can totally paint on it and cut it up for curtains! Keep bringing these craft projects. They are pure gold!

    Reply

  20. Holly says

    I NEVER comment on your projects (sorry) and usually don’t always read these crafty posts (sorrier!) but I cannot get over how amazing this turned out. Sherry, I am SERIOUSLY impressed and jealous that this pillow isn’t in my house. Make more and sell them! If only there was room in that pie chart for another venture!

    Reply

  22. Dani says

    It’s…So…PRETTY!!!

    I’ve never seen grates like that before, think I’ll have to go hunting for them now.

    Reply

  25. Josephine says

    Hi fives! Where can I buy it ;)
    Actually, I’d love to give this a go for christmas gifts…

    Thanks for the grate (!) idea :)

    Reply

  27. lesley says

    I have to say that this is probably one of my favorite projects you’ve created. I love color and art and this is such a perfect blend. Plus I have a slight obsession for accent pillows. Now my wheels are turning, I think I may have to make some like these but with different colors for our playroom. Thanks so much for the inspiration!

    Reply

  31. Mary says

    This is so cool looking, $herdog! I agree–the bleed-thru actually “makes” the pillow (I think). I was totally thinking constellations too. Definitely a keeper (not that you weren’t keeping it already).

    Maybe this can be an idea/inspiration for a new, YHL pillow line??! Do it!

    Reply

  33. Lenora says

    This is pretty super due to the ease of completing it and quick results. I am looking for more ways to bring pops of color into my house. Thanks for posting! I love it.

    Reply

  35. Whitney says

    Love it! And your colors! I now know the reason why I have been hoarding Martha’s paints every time I see them on sale too- thanks for the Christmas gift ideas!

    Reply

  36. Diana says

    Ohhh…I love it! Great colors too!

    I love that you also don’t pre-buy or stock toiletries! I hate having to store a lot and won’t buy toothpaste until we’re within a week of running out. Same for most toiletries and groceries! I do have 4 sets of sheets for our bed though… (2 summer and 2 winter)

    Reply

  37. Abbie says

    Love it! I see a project in the future. I’m getting ready to move into a new apartment next month. Apartments translate into the need for me to find ways to add color on not so colorful walls without painting ;-) I’m working on ideas for inexpensive, colorful wall decor. My current landlord allowed me to paint the house I was renting however I wanted. I’ll miss that!

    Reply

  38. bfish says

    I really like how the pillow came out! Had it been a “perfect” stencil job with no bleed it wouldn’t be half as attractive (IMO). You successfully married graphic exactness with the abstract.

    Reply

  39. Haley says

    I stare at those grates every time I go to Home Depot, trying to think of a compelling enough project to go ahead and buy some already (they’re so pretty). And now you’ve given me two really awesome projects with the same supplies – gotta love a twofer! I can imagine using the painted grate as a magnet board after bordering it with some quarter round moulding or putting some twinkly lights behind it and using as a mood light.

    Absolutely love it, especially the imperfect nature of it. It looks 100% intentional!

    Reply

  41. Amelia R. says

    Yeah! Very reminiscent of Hubble Space Telescope images. Looks like NASA’s site is down due to government closures, but I thought of those photos immediately when you mentioned constellations. I LOVE how your pillowcase turned out.

    Reply

  45. Kerry @ First Time Fancy says

    I LOVE this! It turned out so great! The bleeding gives it a great look. I think it works especially with all of the colours and how some blend together and others don’t. Everything just works so well, so pretty and fun! :)

    Reply

  46. Sharee A says

    Very creative! i bought that same grate from Home Depot and made an earring hanger with it. I cut it with snips to fit inside a painted picture frame. Secures it in place and my daughter can now display her pretty dangle earrings on it.

    Reply

  48. Gina | The Julian Home says

    Wow. Love this tutorial. Love the colors you chose. Love the grate pattern you picked. This seriously looks like some high-end designer stuff you’d purchase at a store. Pregnancy has had a very positive effect on your DIY skills girl!

    Reply

  49. Emily says

    Too cute!
    So is this going to be your “pretty” pillow to take to the hospital for baby #2? Or maybe Clara could help make another one when it gets closer to time? ;)
    The bottoms of those plastic baskets that strawberries come in would be cool too!

    Reply

  50. Andree says

    Funny you sad at first (I totally would have had the same reaction! Ah, perfectionism!) but my honest first look made me love it without a doubt! I loved the irregularity and first thought you’d found and bought the pillow!

    Plus, my 6 year old’s reaction was “Aaaaahhh!!! I LOVE IT! I want one too!!!” So there you go, out of the mouth of babes :)

    Reply

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