• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Home
  • DIY Projects
    • Homemade Bath and Body
    • Sewing - Fabric Crafts
    • Flower Crafts/Decor
    • Thrift Store/Vintage
  • Gardening
    • Flower Gardens
    • Container Gardening
    • Houseplants
    • Indoor Gardening
    • Landscaping
    • DIY Garden Art
  • Decorate
    • Spring Decor
    • Summer Decor
    • Fall Decor
    • Winter Decor
    • Home Decor Projects
  • Recipes
    • Breakfast Recipes
    • Lunch Recipes
    • Dinner Recipes
    • Dessert
    • Salad Recipes
    • Soups and Stews
    • Side Dish Recipes
    • Appetizers and Snacks
    • Healthy Recipes
  • Holidays
    • Valentine's Day
    • Easter
    • Mother's Day
    • Halloween
    • Thanksgiving
    • Christmas
Hearth and Vine
menu icon
go to homepage
  • About
  • DIY
    • ...Flower/Gardening Crafts
    • ... Bath and Body
    • ...Sewing/Fabric Crafts
    • ...Thrift Store/Upcycle
  • Gardening
    • ...Flower Gardens
    • ...Container Gardening
    • ...Indoor Gardening
    • ...DIY Garden Art
  • Decorate
    • ...Home Decor Projects
    • ...Spring Decor
    • ...Summer Decor
    • ...Fall Decor
    • ...Winter Decor
    • ...Room Makeovers
  • Recipes
    • ...Appetizers and Snacks
    • ...Dinner Recipes
    • ...Side Dish Recipes
    • ...Salad Recipes
    • ...Dessert
    • ...Drinks
  • Holidays
    • ...Valentine's Day
    • ...Easter
    • ...Mother's Day
    • ...Halloween
    • ...Thanksgiving
    • ...Christmas
  • Subscribe
  • Instagram
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
  • subscribe
    search icon
    Homepage link
    • About
    • DIY
      • ...Flower/Gardening Crafts
      • ... Bath and Body
      • ...Sewing/Fabric Crafts
      • ...Thrift Store/Upcycle
    • Gardening
      • ...Flower Gardens
      • ...Container Gardening
      • ...Indoor Gardening
      • ...DIY Garden Art
    • Decorate
      • ...Home Decor Projects
      • ...Spring Decor
      • ...Summer Decor
      • ...Fall Decor
      • ...Winter Decor
      • ...Room Makeovers
    • Recipes
      • ...Appetizers and Snacks
      • ...Dinner Recipes
      • ...Side Dish Recipes
      • ...Salad Recipes
      • ...Dessert
      • ...Drinks
    • Holidays
      • ...Valentine's Day
      • ...Easter
      • ...Mother's Day
      • ...Halloween
      • ...Thanksgiving
      • ...Christmas
    • Subscribe
    • Instagram
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
  • ×
    Home » DIY Projects

    DIY Leaf Pillow

    by Patti Estep · Aug 4, 2024

    Jump to How-to Card
    Begonia leaves print on cream pillow cloth.
    A drop cloth pillow cover that has been printed with real leaves.

    This DIY Leaf Pillow tutorial is very easy to tackle using simple materials and leaves from your own backyard. It's a great project for sewing beginners and anyone who loves to craft with nature.

    DIY leaf 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 the costs down, I decided to use drop cloth fabric and cover both the cushion and existing pillows.

    However, I still felt like there needed to be a little color so I ended up printing the pillows with craft paint and leaves from my begonia plant.

    This post contains some affiliate links (that means if you make a purchase after clicking a link, there's no additional cost to you, but I will earn a very small commission.) i.e. as an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.  Click here to read my full disclosure policy.

    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

    Pinning the drop cloth fabric around an old pillow.

    Making a Leaf Print Pillow

    First, wash and dry the drop cloth material.

    Wrap some of the drop cloth around the pillow and pin it in place. I find this works better for me than measuring and cutting. Folding it over the pillow will give you one edge you won't have to pin, cut and sew.

    Newsletter Signup
    Join Our Newsletter List!

    Be the first to receive new posts and get access to our Subscribers Only Page.

    Trimmed pinned drop cloth fabric around old pillow.

    Next, cut the cloth just outside the pinned area (about 1/2 inch).

    Open end of pillow case made from drop cloth material.

    Remove the pillow, and sew. Leave several inches of one side opening for turning, and 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 to prevent the paint from bleeding through.

    Prepare a plate with shades of green paint (I also used some 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. If you don't have a brayer you could use a small bottle, can, or rolling pin.

    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.

    Once the fabric has dried you can stuff the pillow inside and use a needle and thread to handstitch the opening closed.

    DIY Leaf Pillow on couch.

    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 look on the couch on our screened-in porch. 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
    • Fabric Photo Transfers
    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 hour hr
    Active Time1 hour hr
    Total Time2 hours 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.
    You can make the pillow any size you want even if you don't have an old pillow or pillow form. Just cut out the size you want and sew the edges leaving a small opening as shown above. However, instead of stuffing the old pillow inside you can use poly fill and then sew up the edge.
    Tried this project?Tag @hearthnvine on Instagram
    Green leaf printed pillow on cream drop cloth fabric set on a couch on a porch.
    « Smashed Zucchini - An Easy and Delicious Side Dish Recipe
    How to Make Resin Coasters with Seashells and Sea Glass »

    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. Carole West

      August 06, 2024 at 2:29 pm

      Patti, this is a beautiful project. I am thinking this same idea would look neat on a comforter. Something to think about as my bedroom still needs some help.

      Reply
      • Patti Estep

        August 06, 2024 at 4:34 pm

        Thanks Carole. I bet it would be beautiful, though I've seen your painting talents and know you could make something gorgeous.

        Reply
    2. Beverly

      August 05, 2024 at 2:24 pm

      5 stars
      Gorgeous pillows! I am inspired to try this out - I am a sucker for anything involving a leaf pattern.

      Reply
      • Patti Estep

        August 05, 2024 at 2:27 pm

        So glad you like it Beverly. This is an older post and can I tell you they still really look good. Enjoy!

        Reply
    3. 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
    4. 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
    5. 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
    4.50 from 2 votes (2 ratings without comment)

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    Primary Sidebar

    Begonia leaves print on cream pillow cloth.
    A drop cloth pillow cover that has been printed with real leaves.
    Patti Estep Profile Picture

    Hi!

    I'm Patti

    Join me to create lots of fun DIY projects, including crafts, gardening, home decor, and tasty recipes

    More about me

    Popular Posts

    • Baked zucchini bite on a slated tray with a bowl of horseradish sauce.
      Make Tasty Zucchini Bites in Under an Hour
    • Three tin cans in descending sizes hanging from twine.
      DIY Wind Chimes with Tin Cans
    • Blue jean crossover bag
      DIY Crossbody Bag from Jeans
    • Ham barbecue sandwich on plate
      Chipped Ham Barbecue Sandwiches - A Pittsburgh Favorite
    • Echievera planter
      What to do With a Stretched Succulent
    • Make a Mason Jar Oil Candle Lamp with botanicals and essential oils. ~ gardenmatter.com
      DIY Oil Candle - Gifts for the Holidays

    Footer

    Begonia leaves print on cream pillow cloth.
    A drop cloth pillow cover that has been printed with real leaves.

    ^ back to top

    About
    Contact
    Privacy Policy
    Disclosure Policy

    Sign Up Here!
    for our
    newsletter &
    special offers

    Follow Me

    facebook
    Pinterest
    instagram

    As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. i.e. as an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Copyright © 2025 Hearth and Vine

    Rate This Recipe

    Your vote:




    A rating is required
    A name is required
    An email is required

    Recipe Ratings without Comment

    Something went wrong. Please try again.