Painted Bird Pillow Project

Home Decor gets a Spring update and designer look with beginner painting strokes!

DecoArt Products Required

So Soft Fabric Acrylics

• DSS1- White
• DSS42- Primary Blue
• DSS58- Baby Blue Deep
• DSS19- Avocado Green
• DSS75- Green Apple
• DSS24- Lamp Black

Supplies

• Transfer pencil
• Flat Brush, chisel blender brush, liner brush
• Iron and ironing surface
• Sewing machine and thread
• Hand sewing needle and thread
• Fabric glue
• Waxed paper
• Scissors

Surfaces

12 x 16 pillow form

Fabrics- 1 yard green fabric with white polka dots, 10" x 8" rectangle of natural muslin or other smooth cotton fabric

1 yard 7/8" satin blue ribbon

Instructions

• Cut two 13” x 17” rectangles from the polka dot fabric. Using a ½ seam allowance, press and pin edges as needed. Repeat steps for natural muslin and pin on edges to center of one of the pillow rectangles.

• Place waxed paper under the pillow rectangle with muslin. Use pattern provided and transfer pencil to transfer bird pattern to muslin as shown.

• Load flat brush with white fabric paint and basecoat bird. Before paint is dry, blend primary blue and baby blue deep to color bird with blender brush. Use liner brush to create stars on bird with primary blue. Outline bird with liner brush and primary blue. Use liner for legs and Lamp Black.

• For flowers, use primary blue and C-stroke first. To create c-stroke, use chisel brush as if you were writing the letter “C.’ Stand the brush on its chiseled edge and draw a line. Without lifting the brush, begin turning it inward and down. Apply pressure on the brush while turning it so the stroke becomes wider. Curve the stroke around and inward to create the bottom.

• Repeat steps, blending baby blue deep with primary blue, filling out flower bunch. When dry, repeat steps in random places with green apple. Use tip of liner brush and green apple for flower centers. Create flower stems with liner brush and avocado.

• Create worm on pillow as shown with green apple and S-Stroke. (To create an s-stroke, paint a thin, downward line from 11:00 to 4:00 and gently change direction to form the middle section of the S while dragging brush down toward 7:00. Gradually increase pressure on brush so the hairs fan out. As you reach the center of the stroke, gradually release your pressure on the brush.) Use liner brush and black paint

• With liner brush, alternate Avocado Green and Green apple to create grass blades at bottom. Let paint thoroughly dry.

• Cut pieces of ribbon to fit edges of muslin and glue in place, over lapping ribbon. Remove pins as needed. Use sewing machine and thread to sew ribbon and muslin to pillow. Sew right sides of pillow together, three sides only, leaving bottom open for turning. Turn pillow right side out and insert pillow form. Hand sew bottom of pillow with thread and whipstitch.