30 January 2011

Ballard Designs Knock Off!

Well y'all.

I spent the better part of my day crafting my heart out.  It didn't start out so well as I had a grand idea to paint a doormat for my front door.  I went to IKEA (loveee that place),got a $5 plain doormat and got home with big plans to write something really cute on it...

Nope. That didn't happen.  It turned out HORRIBLE. I'm embarrassed to even post it, so guess what? I'm not gonna!


{Cause this is my blog, and I can do what I want!} Hehe


Let's just say that the paint didn't go in the right places and I ended up throwing it in the closet to tackle later...maybe..or maybe not. It may sit there until we move. We will see.


ANYWAY, but what I did accomplish were some C-U-T-E pillows.

I got the idea from looking at the Ballard Designs catalog.  When I saw them, I knew I had to have them...except not for $59 a piece. NO WAY JOSE.

I made a quick trip to Hobby Lobby (well actually, my trips there are never quick because I go down EVERY aisle) and bought some burlap.  It was only $3.99/yard! I got 1.5 yards but that's because I have another Burlap project in the works...for the pillows it didn't even take a yard.

The project was very easy, just a little time consuming..but I had all the time in the world (hubby is out of town for the weekend) so it didn't bother me!

Here is Ballard Designs version of the pillows that I made:

You can find them here.

Aren't those just delicious? I LOVE burlap..and I love pillows.  So that made me one happy girl.  My husband is always like "Why do we have so many pillows everywhere?"  I just compare the pillows to tennis racquets and say "the more the better"...he understands then.

Now, without further ado...

here is my version:



 OMG-i'm in love.

I chose to do a more "whimsical" font than what Ballard Designs had and I used black paint instead of brown.

What do you think??  Do you like em?

Here's a short tutorial of how I painted the letters on..and if you're like me and don't sew well at all, you can use Liquid Stitch to make the pillows. That stuff is awesome.



So, i cut out a stencil from a regular piece of paper and used a paint pen (pictured above left) to trace the letters.  Then I filled in the rest with paint.  I wanted to make sure my lines were really straight so that's why I used a paint pen first. It worked really well on the Burlap.

After I did that, I just glued the sides together and stuffed my pillow in..and VOILA!

WONDERFUL Personalized "Ballard Designs Knock Off" pillows.



I also have a couple more projects to share that I'm finishing up, so y'all check back soon!!

*UPDATE: I've been getting several questions from y'all about the pillows, so I've decided to post the answers on here!

1. What font did you use? I opened up Microsoft Word on my computer and used the "word art" feature that can be found under the "Insert" tab (I have Microsoft Word 2007). After I opened the "word art" tab, I just typed "Mr." and made it big enough to fill up a whole page on landscape.  
*Just a note: You can make your font as big or small as you want depending on your pillow size.
Then I went back and typed "Mrs." and printed that out on a separate page. 
2. Where did you get the fabric? I got the burlap at Hobby Lobby, but I know that most Hancock's Fabric stores carry it.  I'm not sure about Joann's Fabric but to save you a trip, just call their store beforehand and ask! :)
3. What kind of paint did you use? I just used a regular acrylic paint. I know they make fabric paints for this purpose too but acrylic was all I had on hand, and it worked great!
4. Can this be done with another type of fabric? I'm no fabric expert, but I'm sure it can! Just make sure you test out a little piece first before painting so you'll know for sure.  But I would think that it would be fine to use other fabrics for this project. 

If you have any more questions, please don't hesitate to ask! :)


I'm off- gotta get crafting!

-Kait

Linked this up to:

Visit thecsiproject.com




58 comments:

  1. They look great! That so funny, we both recreated the same pillows, yet look so different!

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  2. Thanks for the tutorial. It's really awesome! Very creative and really wonderful.

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  3. I love these!!! Can't make them cause I'm not a Mrs. but it's inspired me to make some pillows for my bed. And the best part is you didn't sew them cause I don't sew! Off to buy some liquid stich. Found you through Sundae Scoop.

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  4. Awesome! They will make wonderful gifts for your brides- to- be- friends!
    You are quite handy....got it from your mom!

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  5. oh my word - I'm in love too - I think these are ADORABLE and I might just have to make a set! Definitely for next wedding present I have to whip together. Great job!

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  6. Too cute -- I like your font even better!!!

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  7. How cute! You did a great job and I like your letters better than the Ballard ones! Love that you glue instead of sew - my kind of gal!! Thanks for the inspiration!

    Hugs,
    Jennifer

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  8. I like yours better, too! The font is perfect! And thanks for the paint pen tip. I wouldn't have thought of that.

    Would love to have you drop by this weekend and link up to Passion for Paint! Links open Friday @ 6 pm PST thru Sunday nite.

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  9. Looooove this.....daughter is getting married 9-10-11 and that would be great to have on their bed when they get home from their honeymoon. Thanks for the wonderful idea.

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  10. They look great! I hope you'll come link them up at the craft catwalk!
    http://embellishinglifeeveryday.blogspot.com/

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  11. Oh my Gosh..Yours are so much cuter than the stores!! They turned out just beautiful!!! WOW!
    I know my readers would love to see this..I have a Blog Hop Monday & Wednesday Link Party each week that goes on for about a week. Would love to have you join us with your link..Terrific Job!!!
    Barb

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  12. I have been wanting to do some Mr. & Mrs. pillows for a while! Yours turned out fantabulous! LOVE them!

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  13. These pillows are super cute. I love how they turned out. A girl can never have too many pillows and shoes and bags. LOL

    Ruth

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  14. Saw you over at Todays Creative Blog and wanted to stop by ~ I literally made the same pillows a few days ago!! I loved them in the catalog too and figured I could make them for less...yours look great! If you have the chance, stop by mine @ http://nestdecorator.blogspot.com

    Kaitlyn @ The Birds Nest

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  15. These are great! Perfect complement to a bed{room}. ;) I'd love for you to link up to my new linky party, Tute {Yourself} Tuesday!
    LittleEme.blogspot.com
    The linky will be open until Wednesday evening. :)

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  16. You did an amazing job! I think they look better than the original!

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  17. the pillows turned out great. im your newest follower.

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  18. Great pillows! You really did a wonderful job:)

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  19. where's the "like" button on here? lol ;) come link up your creations at my Friday link party today www.smallfineprint.com

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  20. OMG Im in love too! Those pillows are awesome! We're new followers!

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  21. Kait, these pillows turned out just fabulous. Can you believe how much Ballard's want for a pillow and yours looks just as great. I am visiting you from Finding Fabulous for Less and am now a follower

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  22. these are fantastic! I have been wanting to do a Mr. Mrs. theme for something and this might just be it - thanks for the inspiration!!

    ~ Emily N. from "too Blessed to Stress"

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  23. lovin' your pillows more than the "boughten" ones! you did a great job, little lady -- very nice!

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  24. Love them! Terrific idea and I'm definitely trying these. Thanks! www.shadytreediary.blogspot.com

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  25. Thank goodness you used liquid glue. Now I know I can do this project. Love the inspiration!!

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  26. Love your blog!! You have such a fun personality! I love reading your stuff :) Those pillows are Soooo cute. Great job!

    stop by my shop on Etsy sometime ...
    http://www.etsy.com/shop/TheSnootiePig

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  27. I love your version! What font did you use. I'm inspired to make some myself! Thanks.

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  28. this is really really great! i love love love it! going to make them for a friend for her wedding shower! thanks!

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  30. What a great idea for a wedding/shower gift! I found your font "Harrington" and I used size 400. I plan to make these for my newly married daughter for Valentine's and for several shower gifts this spring. Thanks for sharing your idea!

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  31. GREAT IDEA. THANK YOU FOR SHARING. I AM YOUR NEWEST FOLLOWER AND I WOULD BE HONORED IF YOU WOULD LINK YOUR SUPER CUTE BLOG UP ON MY BLOG STALKIN' PAGE.

    http://alaynahoward.blogspot.com/p/blog-stalkin.html

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  32. ok more questions... how did you get such clean edges? And how many inches are these pillows?

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  33. I'm in the process of making some now. Only mine are "his" and "hers" as he hasn't popped that question yet. I love your blog, thanks for the great ideas!!

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  34. Hi! I just stumbled on your blog and I LOVE it! I now have to make about 3 things I found here. (pillows included!) Thanks for sharing!

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  35. Love! Harrington is one of my fave fonts!

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  36. Yours Look Better.........Love Them !!!

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  37. What font did you use?

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  38. What size pillows did you use?

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  39. how did you get the finished edges?

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  40. LOVE this!! I found you from Pinterest and I am defo making these tomorrow. Only problem.. I'm an Expat living in Oman and it's not easy to buy fabric so maybe I'll just buy a plain pillow already made and try craft that ;)

    Thanks

    Heather

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  41. One word: WOW! These are simply amazing! Let's see... I need a set, my bff is getting married (she'll need a set), and my BIL and SIL are about to celebrate their 10th wedding anniversary. Guess I better get started! Thanks a bunch! Found you on Pinterest.

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  42. Burlap is messy did it make a mess on your bed!

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  43. Burlap is messy did it make a mess on your bed!

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  44. These are amazing! I already know whom I could gift these pillows if I make them! It's a great idea to use liquit stitch - I didn't even know it existed! I don't sew, this is perfect!!! Thanks for sharing :) -Mika
    www.sparrowshaven.blogspot.com

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  45. Absolutely fantastic idea ! Looks very good. I will make two of those for my daughter for Christmas...Great gift idea.
    Hello from Florida

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  46. How did you finish the edges? I know you wrote that you glue them together... but they look so finished. No border? just glue?

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  47. Texas Dirt Road Diva~ I absolutey loooove this! I'm making this for my daughter for her birthday! Thanks for the great idea & the tutorial!

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  49. The font looks like Harrington. These pillows are great!

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  50. I read your whole blog. Your work is really good and inseparable .Thanks for sharing..sleeper pillow

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  51. I read your whole blog. Your work is really good and inseparable .Thanks for sharing.
    herff jones promo code

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