FUN WITH KIDS -- DECORATED PILLOWCASES
(or decorated by yourself!)
There are all types of decorations you can do to pillowcases. The most fun I have ever had is watching kids painting on, stamping, and sewing on a cheap cotton pillowcase and then celebrating the finished project! Kids (of all ages!) have wonderful imaginations and love to create fun things to decorate their rooms. These pillowcases are so fun for them to do.
(Note: As an adult, I love decorating anything and this is a fun and easy way to decorate different rooms in your house!)
MATERIALS NEEDED:
1. solid colored pillowcases (or make your own pillowcases to match certain rooms)---these can be any type of fabric you want to use although cotton does tend to work best with younger kids.
NOTE: these can also be like the decorator pillowcases that fit a pillowform inside them instead of regular bed pillowcases
2. any materials to decorate with----beads, non-toxic paint, permanent markers, crayons (***these you have to heat set into the fabric---explanation at the bottom of the page), ribbons, buttons, lace, embroidery/cross stitch thread, or anything else you can think of to decorate with.
3. cardboard---cut to fit inside pillowcase so that each side can be decorated without paint or markers going thru to the other side.
4. any stencils, stamps, cookie cutters or whatever you might want to use as guides for different shapes
5. paintbrushes if using paint
6. needles, scissors and thread if using beads or other objects to be sewn onto the pillowcases
INSTRUCTIONS:
---- If using paints or markers, cut cardboard to fit inside pillowcase and begin decorating. Allow at least 24 hours to dry thoroughly. Wash usually in cold/warm water by hand.
-----If sewing objects onto pillowcase, you don't need the cardboard, just a needle, scissors, and thread and your imagination.
-----You can also combine painting/marker/crayon decorations with sewn decorations. Usually paint (or use the markers or crayons) first, allow to dry thoroughly (heat set the crayon design) and then add your sewn decorations.
----Help your kids use their imaginations (or use your own imagination) and create a unique and beautiful gift for themselves (or yourself) or someone else!
****NOTE ABOUT HEAT SETTING CRAYONS:
If decorating with crayons on cotton fabric:
---once you are finished with your design:
1. set the iron to the cotton setting
2. lay a cloth or towel across your ironing board to protect it
3. put a folded cloth in your pillowcase underneath the crayon design so nothing will go thru to the back of the pillowcase (hint: color one side at a time if wanting to decorate both sides)
4. lay the pillowcase face up (design side up) and then lay a sheet of typing paper or computer paper on top of the design totally covering the design
---if it doesn't cover it all then only iron where the design is covered
(crayon can mess up the faceplate of the iron!)
5. Iron only where the design is covered by the paper. This removes the wax from the fabric but leaves the color and sets the color into the fabric.
Wash by hand in cold water.
I hope you enjoy this project!
fi aman Allah,
Melissa
