Tuesday, October 26, 2010

Paint-by-Number Pillow

This Bee Pillow is available in my Cottage Hill Store


Fess up--

I'll bet most of you painted something-by-number when you were a kid.  I did.  I think mine was a picture of a swan or something.  Anyway,  I thought I'd make a numbered pattern of a bee pillow for anyone who'd like to try it again.








Let's get started--

1.  Use painters canvas -- wash and dry to pre-shrink and soften.
2.  Cut two 19"x19" pieces.
3.  Print the pattern on legal size paper.  This is only half of the pattern.  Duh. You'll have to flip the pattern over (and possibly retrace the lines on the back with a Sharpie) to draw the opposite side.


Color Key:
                                                                      1 - black/brown
                                                                      2 - white
                                                                      3 - light blue
                                                                      4 - light brown
                                                                      5 - brown
                                                                      6 - light golden beige
                                                                      7 - rust
                                                                      8 - light gray

4.  Tape the pattern to a window.  The light from the window will help you see the pattern through the fabric.

 
5.  Tape one of the pieces of fabric over the pattern, centering the pattern under the fabric.  I drew an arrow at the center of the pattern.



6.  Trace the pattern onto the fabric.  I use colored pencils in colors close to the colors I'll be painting to make the drawing.  This way the drawn lines blend in and you don't have to worry about pencil lines.
7.  Trace the leaf design in the four corners of the fabric.




8.  Start painting.  I use acrylic craft paint when I paint on fabric.  I dip my brush in water and then mix a small amount of paint in.  It's better to use a light hand and watered down paint, building the paint up to get the look you want.  This project should have a soft, water color look so use lots of water.  This also keeps the painting from getting too stiff.





Tips -- I used less water in the paint for the smaller detail so there was no bleeding of the paint.  I added a little dark brown to suggest eyes.  I also dry brushed a little white over the top of the wings when all the paint was dry.  This made them look a little more transparent.



I'll be listing this pillow in my Etsy Store soon!!!




Here's to being a kid again!

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If you enjoyed this post (and, gosh, I hope you did) please BECOME A FOLLOWER!

67 comments:

  1. Very Pretty. I've been wanting that pillow for a long time. I don't think I ould have the patience to paint it though. Great Job!!

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  2. What an amazing pillow, tutorial, fun memory post. You tire me out, girl. The slipcover over the nightstand is cute, too.

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  3. OMG! THIS IS SO ADORABLE!!! Lindy, you did an amazing job!!! AND, I love that you showed us how to do it! I just love it!! You are so talented! Thank you for the sweet comments, too! I am going to link to this from my site! Christie

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  4. Lindy- That is a darling idea! I can't tell you how many of those paint-by-number kits I did when I was a kid! I KNOW I did one with a swam swimming on a lake with water lilies floating around it. The pillow is beautiful...and thanks for the tutorial! xxoo Diana

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  5. So beautiful. I'm not a crafty person, but you inspire me to try.

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  6. You make it look so easy! Good job!

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  7. This pillow is BEE-UTIFUL! (Sorry, I'm tired tonite and getting giddy). Great job Lindy ~ I love anything inspired by nature ~ like the birds and the bees!

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  8. What a fun idea! It would lend itself to lots of different images...but the bee is great.(-:

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  9. That's beautiful. Can't wait til you have the bee pillow in your Etsy Shop! I want one! Can you do a dragonfly too??!

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  10. Saw you over @ Christie's. This is awesome!

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  11. I love this beautiful, creative pillow. Thanks for the how-to's. It is something I would love in my home! I'm off to check out your etsy shop.
    Yvonne

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  12. I am in love with this! I loved paint by numbers and still love coloring in the kids coloring books! You are truly amazing! Thanks for the inspiration!
    Lacy

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  13. Came over from Christie's. What an awesome job you did. I love Christie's and even started to order it. I think you will have a lot of people wanting this.

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  14. Lindy, I see some folks beat me to it! I posted a link back to your site with this little bit of awesomeness! Yvonne and Kim are two ladies I so admire! I am so glad they stopped by! Here is the link http://threepixielane.blogspot.com/2010/10/bee-pillow-at-cottage-hill.html

    Thanks again!

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  15. This is great! Thanks so much for the tutorial too! I'm going to have to try this!

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  16. Very beautiful Lindy... very lovely too, you painted it very smartly like your bird pillow... And I love the chair cover too, I am sure you stitched that too and how smartly you covered a stand on which your lamp is, I really love that very much..
    http://craftaworld.blogspot.com/
    Love

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  17. Lindy, This is fabulous! I love the bee pillow. Thanks for the pattern and showing us how to do this.
    xoxo, Sherry

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  18. wow love this! I just found your blog and am adoring it! You have a new follower!

    xo

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  19. Oh, that is to die for!! Wouldn't you just make one for me?
    Found you on Backyard Wed...

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  20. What a great project!! Thanks for posting this-

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  21. You make it sound so easy! It's beautiful.

    - The Tablescaper

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  22. How fun-when I spotted this, I was totally reminded of the pillow I loved at 3 pixie lane-what a hoot!!I'm now a follower!

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  23. Wow! That's adorable! Great job!

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  24. Your bee pillow is just beautiful! I loved doing paint by numbers when I was little, too!

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  25. I love it! Great idea to share. Thanks!

    Lisa

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  26. The only way I could possibly paint anything WOULD be paint by number! LOL Seriously, this turned out really nice. Her pillow was a great inspiration piece and yours looks just as cute.

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  27. Linking up thru Tales from Bloggeritaville. Awesome Project, beautiful! Your blog is gorgeous and if you ever visit mine, I would love to hear from you.
    Blessings,
    Denise

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  28. Love this! Very cute idea!!

    Please stop by my Commercial Break Thursday and link up! http://suzysartsycraftsysitcom.blogspot.com/2010/10/commercial-break-thursday-promote_28.html

    suzy

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  29. I love this too, it turned out beautifully. Thanks for linking up.

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  30. Bee-youtiful. Sorry, had to say that. It is gorgeous; what a cool idea! :)

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  31. Okay, this is fabulous. I love the pillow, and let me say, I've got to stay and poke around a while, because your home looks gorgeous! Thanks SO much for sharing this at Style Feature Saturday! -shaunna :)

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  32. Now that turned out NICE!! My kind of painting, for sure... Thanks for sharing!! -Tammy

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  33. Very lovely job! Did you freehand the bee image? I just love it!

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  34. really well done. so unique, so simple and all that with a paint by number doodida. I bet you could easily have done without it, but sometimes we need little tools/tricks to actually dare to begin, right?!!

    anyhow, i'd like to invite you to link up and share this tute here: http://www.finecraftguild.com/diy-tutorial-party-18/ so our readers can find you also.

    (btw each wednesday is a new linky party for diy craft tutorials, so you're welcome to come back again and again to share your creative projects. )

    Love your style (of your bedroom)
    &
    HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

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  35. LOVE, LOVE, LOVE the pillow!!! I HAVE to make one of those!! Thanks for sharing! Claudia from FrenchCountry

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  36. A.MAZE.ING! Love everything about it. Really who would have thought to paint by number on a pillow? Love it!

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  37. Oh wow how cool! I love the shabby chic-ness of it. Looks great!

    popping by from m.m.m on C.R.A.F.T.

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  38. Great idea...beautiful pillow. Color by numbers was a favorite activity of mine when I was young, so I like this idea

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  39. LOVE this!! So lovely, thanks for the tutorial! xo

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  40. Stunning! I love it! I love it so much I'm thinking I'll make one with a cicada and olive branches for my Provence inspired living room

    Caroline
    http://ateliercaroline.blogspot.com

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  41. such a fun idea and turn out beautiful! love your pillow! now you make me wanna try to do this too! love how the pillow looks on the chair..

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  42. Lovely! I linked it in my post on pillows too!

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  43. Lindy! Love how this looks! Thanks for sharing the pattern!
    Kathy

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  44. Reminds me of when hand painted sweatshirts were popular, but your sweet bee is way, way cuter than any handpainted fabric thing I've ever seen. Love it, but I love all sorts of insect thing. Thanks for sharing the pattern with us.

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  45. Wow, awesome pillow! What a great painter you are! ;)

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  46. Who……WHAT…..how…..a paint by number project……that is genius!!!! I think you’ve hit the jack pot with this one. Think of all the numerous projects those of us that can now paint could tackle with paint but numbers. Love it!

    I love the bee print too. I’m a sucker for anything with bees and polka dots. :o)


    Kendra aka "Domestic Princess in Training"

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  47. Oh, Lindy, it's bee-u-tee-full. (sorry, couldn't resist). I love painting on fabric too. Especially silk!

    Love the paint-by-number! If I ever get my act together and actually put my murals into kits, I may do them as paint-by-number. That's a big 'if' though, just because it's one of many to-do's on my ever-growing list.

    Love the pillow!

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  48. Hey, Lindy! I featured this pillow over at Crafts & Sutch today. Come take a peek when you can and grab a featured button! :)

    Erin

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  49. Hey, that is a great idea;)
    Thank you so much for sharing!

    Please visit my blog!

    http://pudel-design.blogspot.com/

    LOvely greetings...

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  50. This is just so neat. I just read the entire article AGAIN. thank you for sharing it with us on FineCraftGuild at our DIY CRAFT TUTORIALS linky party. It's a very good tutorial!!

    A new party opened today, and we welcome all creative tutorials to join in this time
    :0) = http://www.finecraftguild.com/diy-linky-party-19/

    Have a creative day!

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  51. Btw. When you have some time, it would be great if you'd add a link back to our site. You can find the nifty / easy code for this in the current linky party, okay?! thanks in advance!

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  52. I so love this, very original! I also did a posting this week on stenciled curtains http://housetoyourhome.com/2010/11/02/can-you-spot-the-difference/ but your pillow beats mine hands down! This is for sure going in my saved file to try!!!

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  53. Beautiful work! Love your instructions for painting, that was awesome.

    Paint by number... boy that takes me WAY back. :)

    Donna

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  54. Your bee pillow turned out fantastic! I linked it to my "pillows' project page at my blog too!!

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  55. I'm a huge fan of bug jewellry and knick-knacks. This pillow is gorgeous. Thanks so much for the instructions.

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  56. I really enjoyed your "Bee" pillow and your directions are fantasticly clear. Lucky me, I just found your blog and became a follower. I hope you will visit me when you can.

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  57. Oh my gosh.. I had just a few minutes free and stumbled upon your blog and these instructions. I love bees and feel like I just won the bee lottery. Thanks. Love your blog. Hope you will stop by and visit mine sometime. I will become your follower for sure.

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  58. Ha.. guess I was planning on following twice.. sorry.. I am sick as a dog.. also been staying w/ my grandaughter at the hospital.. just saw the bee stuff then went up to follow and thought you looked familiar.. please forgive my brain fog.. hey look at it this way.. I admired you twice! I need to go thru all of your old post to find out if I have missed anymore treasures..

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  59. Lindy, I missed this back in October when you first posted it. Thanks for sharing this pattern. I doubt I'd ever actually do this, but I do love this pillow. You are one of the most clever ladies out there. Very thoughtful of you to share this with everyone. ~ Sarah

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I'm excited you're leaving a comment. I can't wait to read it...L.