Looking for a simple fall craft idea? You can make this DIY fall pillow with supplies from your yard. Step-by-step instructions below.
This year I when I went to fall decorate, I put my messy bun up and got my sugar free hot chocolate on in the 97 degree Texas heat and pulled down 14 tubs of fall decorations from the attic…
…and sighed.
I opened tub after tub of garlands of leaves covered with glitter and pinecones and pumpkins with states on them and chalkboard pumpkins and mirrors with pumpkin sayings and acorns that looked like they just got back from Las Vegas.
I wanted to be inspired. I wanted to fall it up and toss that garland over my shoulder and hang it up over the door.
But instead?
In random, weird, completely unexpected and surprising news.
My heart longed for simple.
Can you believe it?
Me?
Simple?
What is this world coming to?
I never met a glittered pinecone I didn’t want to take home and drink apple cider with.
I think it was the totes.
All I could see when I looked at them was stuff. Stuff that overwhelmed me. Stuff that hadn’t seen the inside of the farmhouse in 10 years. Stuff that made me want to run for the decorating hills.
Stuff upon stuff upon stuff.
Stuff I was holding on to because I told myself I might need it one day.
I told myself that it might make a reappearance.
Seriously?
I know straw hats you hang on the front door are so 2001.
But just like stirrup pants and bright blue eyeshadow and Dukes of Hazzard, they might make a decorating come back.
So this year?
I’m keeping it simple.
I ordered a few new things and repurposed things I already had and I’m making a few projects that make my heart happy.
Like this easy DIY leaf pillow.
Here are the instructions in case you were planning on keeping it simple, too.
Simple Fall Craft: DIY Leaf Pillow
supplies:
pillow cover (I get mine at IKEA but you can find them here, too)
navy blue paint
leaves (from the yard or from some of those totes)
foam brush
fine-tipped paintbrush
Step 1: Add cardboard
You are using navy blue paint on a white pillow cover.
Proceed with caution.
I used a piece of carboard to protect the front from the back of the pillow before I started to paint.
Step 2: find a leaf
You can shop your back yard for this item.
But I live in Texas.
It will be a while before the leaves fall.
So instead? I shopped the totes and found three leaves that were the right sizes.
One big leaf and two smaller leaves. You want to look for leaves with a raised spine in the back.
Step 3: Add paint
With a foam brush, add paint the edges and spine of the leaf.
I just painted where I wanted the paint to appear on the pillow.
We are using this leaf like a stamp, so I painted the edges and the spine.
Be generous with the paint, so you have a clear outline of the leaf on the pillow cover. I practiced with paper before I actually stamped the pillow cover.
Step 4: Stamp the pillow cover
Flip your leaf over and stamp the pillow.
For this simple fall craft, place the leaf with the paint side down onto the corner of the pillow.
Be extra careful that you don’t flick paint onto the cover.
(Again—I suggest practicing on paper before you actually stamp the pillow cover.)
Step 5: Press the leaf
Using the end of the paintbrush, press the leaf onto the pillow cover.
Press all the edges and the spine until you are sure the outline has transferred to the pillow cover.
Next, slowly lift the leaf off the pillow cover.
Your outline should look something like this.
I wanted it to be faint, but this was a little too faint for me.
No worries.
I had a solution.
Step 6: Add other leaves
Repeat steps 3-5 with two additional leaves.
I just placed the smaller leaves on either side of the larger leaf.
I was keeping it a simple fall craft, but you could add leaves all over the pillow cover if you wanted to.
Step 7: Fill in with paint
My solution for the light outline?
I just took a smaller fine-tipped paintbrush and lightly filled in the edges on each of the three leaves.
And then? This is a simple fall craft. No worries.
I let the leaves dry, filled the pillow cover with a down insert.
And now?
Here’s the finished pillow.
It took me about 30 minutes from start to finish.
See what I mean?
2020 has been stressful enough. Who’s with me? Who’s ready to celebrate without all the stress. Who’s ready for hot chocolate and yummy fall smells and cozy blankets and apples and crisp fall days.
And simple.
With extra simple on top. 🙂
Looking for a little more fall inspiration? Here are 13 leaf project ideas from some of my favorite friends.
13 Fall Leaf Project Ideas
Gold Dipped Leaf Place Cards – Modern Glam
How to Make a Paper Quilt Leaf – Happy Happy Nester
Fall Craft Ideas – Jennifer Maune
DIY Gilded Leaf Pumpkins – Tatertots & Jello
Watercolour Fall Leaf Free Printable Series – The Happy Housie
Fall Craft Ideas for Your Table – My 100 Year Old Home
Pressed Botanical Art – Craftberry Bush
Outdoor Fall Tablescape with Leaves – Hallstrom Home
Fall Wood Bead Garland – Lolly Jane
DIY Leaf Pillow – Thistlewood Farms
Dinner Rolls with a Cut Leaf Design – Twelve On Main
DIY Leaf Trivet – My Sweet Savannah
The Worst Project Made with Leaves Ever – Jennifer Rizzo
[…] DIY Leaf Pillow – Thistlewood Farms […]
[…] DIY Leaf Pillow – Thistlewood Farms […]
These look amazing KariAnne! Rachel
Acorns that just came back from Vegas! Haha, my kind of acorn! Kari, you crack me up and your ideas inspire me everyday. Searching my backyard today.
You need to give those 14 totes to a Salvation Army so they can sell them! You can always start over if the decorations come back in style!!! Re purpose and clean out!!! Just saying...
Beautiful!
I totally loved this. (Even though I am a summer person and not looking forward to fall at all.)
So simple yet so pretty! Pinned
[…] DIY Leaf Pillow - Thistlewood Farms […]
My heart is longing for simple this year too. There's so much going on in the world that my home needs to feel calm and free from clutter and stuff. This pillow is all kinds of perfection and beauty. Thanks for joining us! xo
I am sooooo the person who keeps the 14 totes...it’s part of my three degrees in home economics “wisdom” which has created a very overwhelmed keeper of things. Working on letting go..(frozen soundtrack in the background!🤣) and I’m working on simple fall decorating over here, too. But in green, white and yellow as we transition. Always thank you for your inspiration, sweet friend!
Love the simple and easy to do! Sometimes all the totes are overwhelming. I organized Christmas decor by theme-now it is Autumn's turn. Thanks for all the great ideas!
[…] DIY Leaf Pillow – Thistlewood Farms […]
Wow that’s fantastic. I’m going to try this. Thanks so much. You are so cleaver.
Fabulous! I really like this. My home isn’t blue so I would choose something in the autumn color pallet. I’m hoping my 13 year old very talented granddaughter will make this for ME! Thank you for such specific directions. Now to get the correct pillow and cover. Sure hope Hobby Lobby is stocked.
Nicely coordinated with the room!! Very pretty and simple 👍👍. I’m thinking that I need to go and edit out a bunch of Fall stuff when I get the bins out😳
Perfection! I only wish you had posted this a day earlier when I dragged out my autumn bins, used about 75% of what I normally do and still felt it’s overkill. Time for me to edit and rethink.
Simple is what I love: especially in my tiny brick ranch!!! Thanks for a fabulous idea!
Such a cool idea. I love that you used navy to go with your decor for fall. I pinned it to my fall board :) xoxo
Absolutely beautiful friend. I love how they turned out and they still fit the color theme of your home. I would love to join you in a future hop, please keep me in mind.
Super pretty. Love the blue. So, my family likes squishy pillows to snuggle up to, but I gotta think that the paint is pretty stiff--do they just gently place the pillows on the floor??? I am joining the group of women who are wondering what magic you weave to get your family to not constantly plop pillows anywhere but where they are supposed to be.
Thanks, KariAnne, for giving us this lovely Fall pillow DIY! I love your blue pillow and it looks so cute with the rest! I just might have to make this on the weekend! Our Maple tree has been dropping its leaves so they are just a few steps away. Have a great day!
KariAnne, I need simple in my life! Leslie and I are going to stay accountable to each other. We need to keep things simple when it comes to projects!
So simple but so effective. I just might have to translate this to a springtime project.
I love it when nature is used for decor and yours is so wonderful and pretty. Thank you, i pray i can do this,lol!
Love the simple....your post at the end of a long day of numbers and agreement reviews and Zoom calls brought a smile ...and it's appreciated!! :-) keep it coming - love your posts and writing style!!
Keep it simple stupid! This motto keeps replaying in my head as I think about fall decor. I did try to get rid of some things last year and reduce the number of bins but I know I will find way too much stuff when I finally am inspired to pull them out. It would help if the temperature would not be 92!! I promise I am going to donate more and simplify more. I really think natural decorations are so much prettier and we have a big pumpkin patch this year. I hope to be harvesting all kinds of gourds next month. Love your pillow printing. Will share with my daughters who are much more crafty than me.
Karianne - I am so much older than you and this brought back wonderful days of painting with leaves on sweatshirts and other items with the different kinds of fabric paints. I love the thought. Those were the best crafts. To see it on a pillow cover, gives me wonderful ideas. Thank you for sharing your gifts and talents. You are truly a wonderful blessing.
Karianne, thanks for this idea. I love fall pillows but not the ones with words on them. And lately that is all I see out there. I can definitely wrap my paint brush around this great idea!! Thank you, thank you!
KariAnne, Simple, with simple on top. Blue, blue and white.... what's not to love? The only kind of Fall leaves we will see in Texas until sometime around... October... maybe November. And then they will be BROWN leaves. I love your blue leaves instead. Judith
What a wonderful project!! I love how your pillow turned out! I understand the stuff part. I have a storage shed full I need to go through, but that is another day for another post, lol!!
Oh, this is gorgeous! I'm all about simple Fall decorating too this year so these DIY Fall pillows are the perfect craft for me too! Thank you.
Even though I'm still in summer mode, I'm really "falling" for that pillow!!! xoxo
Totally brilliant - I love the simplicity!
What a great idea! So gorgeous for fall
[…] DIY Leaf Pillow – Thistlewood Farms […]
[…] DIY Leaf Pillow – Thistlewood Farms […]
[…] DIY Leaf Pillow – Thistlewood Farms […]
I LOVE this idea!!! The blue leaves look so pretty against the blue striped chair.
[…] has the best idea for a super simple DIY Leaf Pillow! You have to pop over to Thistlewood Farms and see how she created this sweet […]