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    Home » DIY Projects

    How To Make Leaf Print Drop Cloth Pillows

    June 22, 2021 by Patti Estep 6 Comments

    Jump to How-to Card
    Leaf printed pillow cover.

    These leaf print drop cloth pillows were so easy to make. Using the natural beauty of real leaves and craft paint will allow you to create beautiful printed pillow covers from inexpensive drop cloth fabric.

    Leaf print drop cloth pillow on couch in screened in porch.

    As part of our screened-in porch makeover, I wanted to cover the existing cushion of this sofa and update the pillows. In order to keep down the costs, I decided to use drop cloth fabric and cover both the cushion and exiting pillows. However, I still felt like there needed to be a little color so I ended up with this fun leaf printed drop cloth pillow tutorial.

    Two leaf printed pillows on a couch on an outdoor porch.

    Supplies

    Cotton Drop Cloth
    Pillow Inserts or old pillows you want to cover
    Craft Paint - in a few varying colors
    Fabric Painting Medium
    Paintbrushes
    Brayer
    Leaves of any kind

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    Pinning the drop cloth fabric around an old pillow.

    Creating a Drop Cloth Pillow

    First, wash and dry the drop cloth material.

    Wrap some of the drop cloth around the pillow and pin in place. I find this works better for me than measuring and cutting.

    Make sure one edge (right side here) is about the seam allowance you want, so once you are done pinning, you can take out those pins to remove the pillow for sewing. Also, I always fold the material over the pillow so that there is one less side to pin, cut, and sew.

    Trimmed pinned drop cloth fabric around old pillow.

    When you are finished pinning you can trim the excess fabric.

    Open end of pillow case made from drop cloth material.

    Remove pillow, and sew, leave about 1/2 of one side opening for turning and to have enough room to stuff the pillow back inside. Press fabric if needed. 

    Fabric Medium and three shades of green paint.

    Printing Leaves on Drop Cloth Fabric

    I wasn't worried about this paint leaking through the fabric but if you are using a lighter fabric you may want to put a piece of paper between the front and back just in case the paint bleeds through.

    Prepare a plate with shades of green paint (I also used black) and fabric medium.

    Shades of green paint on the back of a begonia leaf.

    Coat the back of a leaf with the different shades of paint.

    Back of begonia leaf.

    I used Begonia grandis leaves because I liked the shape and the veining on the back.

    Red brayer rolling on leaf on drop cloth fabric.

    Flip it over and use the brayer, starting from the middle, and roll out in all directions.

    Print of leaf on drop cloth material next to a brayer.

    Carefully remove the leaf to reveal your print.

    Test prints of leaves with paint and different shades of green.

    Test a few color options and the amount of paint on a piece of scrap fabric, to get a feel for the brayer and the look you like best.

    Leaf printed drop cloth pillow cover.

    I also added a stem freehand with a thin paintbrush.

    I ended up making two of these to cover the pillows on my screened porch as part of our screened porch makeover. 

    DIY Leaf Print Drop Cloth  Pillows

    You see, even if you don't have an artist's hand, you can use the beauty of plants to make leaf print drop cloth pillows. I really love the way they turned out. An easy, and cheap way to spruce up our porch.

    Patti signature

    More Fun Fabric Printing Projects

    • Leaf Printing with Negative Space
    • Eco Printing
    • Flower Pounding on fabric
    • Batik Fabric Art
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    DIY Leaf Printed Drop Cloth Pillow Covers
    Print
    4.50 from 2 votes

    Leaf Print Drop Cloth Pillows

    These leaf print drop cloth pillows were so easy to make. Using the natural beauty of real leaves and craft paint will allow you to create beautiful printed pillow covers from inexpensive drop cloth fabric.
    Prep Time1 hr
    Active Time1 hr
    Total Time2 hrs
    Course: Sewing
    Yield: 1
    Author: Patti Estep

    Equipment

    • scissors
    • Pins
    • sewing machine
    • Brayer
    • paintbrushes

    Materials

    • Cotton Drop Cloth
    • Pillow Inserts or old pillows you want to cover
    • Craft Paint - in a few varying colors
    • Fabric Painting Medium
    • Leaves of any kind

    Instructions

    • Wash and dry the drop cloth material.
    • Wrap some of the drop cloth around the pillow and pin in place.
    • Cut around the pins leaving enough for a seam allowance.
    • Take out the pins and sew all around leaving about 1/2 of one side open.
    • Turn the pillow cover right side out and press.
    • For printing place a piece of paper between the front and back just in case the paint bleeds through.
    • Prepare a plate with shades of green paint (I also used black) and fabric medium.
    • Coat the back of a leaf with the different shades of paint.
    • Turn the leaf over and use the brayer to print the fabric. Start from the middle, and roll out in all directions.
    • Carefully remove the leaf and see your creation.
    • Continue with a new leaf all over the pillow.
    • Add stems freehand with a thin paintbrush if you want.
    • Once dry stuff the pillow insert inside and hand sew the opening with a blind or blanket stitch.

    Notes

    Test a few color options and the amount of paint on a piece of scrap fabric, to get a feel for the brayer and the look you like best.

    More DIY Projects

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    About Patti Estep

    Patti is the creator of Hearth and Vine, a home and garden blog filled with projects to inspire your creative side. She loves crafting, gardening, decorating and entertaining at her home in Pennsylvania. When she is not working on a project at home or searching for treasures at nurseries and thrift stores with her girlfriends, you’ll probably find her with family and friends, at a restaurant, or home party enjoying new and different food adventures.

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Mary Wilson

      June 07, 2019 at 6:21 am

      I think this is awesome. They turned out beautifully. Cant wait to see if I can do this. Thank you for and easy way of doing a pillow . Love it!

      Reply
      • Patti Estep

        June 07, 2019 at 6:23 am

        You are very welcome Mary. It's really easy. Just try a few practice prints first so that you can see just how much paint or color you like.

        Reply
    2. Lisa

      January 21, 2017 at 1:07 am

      Hi Patti

      Which is better to use, real leaves or artificial?

      Reply
      • Patti Estep

        January 21, 2017 at 8:22 am

        Hi Lisa,

        I have only used real leaves, however I don't we why artificial wouldn't work. I'd look for one that was nice and flexible. If it is too stuff it might be harder to work with. Test it on a piece of paper or scrap fabric to get the feel of it.
        Good luck and have a great weekend,
        Patti

        Reply
    3. Ellen

      August 01, 2016 at 10:24 am

      Simply BEAUTIFUL!

      Patti, which rug did you decide on on your screen room?

      Reply
      • Patti Estep

        August 01, 2016 at 11:18 am

        Hi Ellen,

        If I remember right you were a fan of the floral but I had to compromise and go with the first one. I will be showing it all on Thursday. Thanks as always for your kind words and for stopping by,
        Patti

        Reply

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