Tuesday, September 21, 2010

love note pillow tutorial

ilovetocreate-blog-header-alisa


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Before I moved from Oregon to San Diego to be near my boyfriend (my now husband) we maintained a long distance relationship. A big part of that relationship was writing letters, email and LOTS of little love notes sent back and forth. We both saved all those letters and notes and once in while we will pull them out, spend time shaking our heads and laughing while reading them- so naive and silly we were! These days (insert 10 years) we still write each other notes and letters. There is just something so wonderful about a hand written note.

For a while I've wanted to do something creative with some of those notes and came up with the most simple idea to make little love note pillows.

FYI- I am OBSESSED with pillows and believe that you can never have too many around the house (they are EVERYWHERE) so adding a few more to the collection is always a good thing.


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I started by selecting a couple of notes and letters that I scanned.
Or they could be photographed

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Screen shot 2010-09-20 at 3.05.52 PM


I pulled the documents over to Photoshop and adjusted the brightness and contrast- this could really be done in any photo editing program.


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I added a warming filter for a subtle sepia look.


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I enlarged the document so that I obscured entire sentences- for a little mystery :)


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I then flipped it horizontal to prepare to print.


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I used Tulip's photo transfer paper and loaded it into my ink jet printer.


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I printed it out.


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I then placed the transfer face down on unbleached muslin.


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I covered it with a piece of scrap fabric and following the directions, ironed it down.


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I let the transfer cool and I peeled off the top sheet to reveal my love note.


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I used my craft iron to melt away any obvious edges that were showing.


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Next I cut it out

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and sewed it onto the surface of another piece of muslin that I had pre cut for my pillow.


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I sewed the all of the sides together (with wrong sides facing).


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and left a hole open to so I could stuff the pillow and then sew the hole up.


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78 comments:

Unknown said...

LOVE this! Such a great idea!!!

Jo Reimer said...

Delightful idea. I might do this with letters from my parents, now deceased, or with journal pages, either written or art journal pages. Thanks for the tutorial.

Fifi said...

Such a great idea!!!

Dale Anne Potter said...

GREAT idea!
I'm wondering if Spoonflower would print out a Fat Quarter of the letter...so you could make a larger pillow.

Jenny Doh said...

Awesome project. I love it.

Sondra said...

Alissa,
You are always amazing!!! Love what you do and share with all of us. Can't wait for your new book. I love Canvas Remix.
Wishing you all the best,
Sondra

Delia said...

Awww that is so sweet. My honey and I live apart for now as well and just this morning before reading your post I was thinking I need to start sending him hand written notes. Since I don't really believe in coincidences I'll take this as a sign. ;) Thank you.

Sondra said...

So sorry! Just realized I spelled your name wrong! Sorry, Alisa.
Sondra

lindamay said...

Great Idea...I especially like the lines and the paper color, goes well with the muslin.
I think this would be a great idea as a background as well.

Anonymous said...

This is sooo cool Alisa...I had to share with the Angel at Rose Hall...a Inn that specializes in intimate weddings! I hope it brings good things your way! Its great...thanks for sharing Eden

Unknown said...

Every single blog you post is an inspiration to me! Love this, thank you!

-Kara of Peridot Snow Designs

Angie: said...

Absolutely love it!!! What an inspiration! Glad I have got some old letters somewhere!!!

Tracey said...

aww, so cute, now I wish i'd made him send me love letters :-)

Kathleen Kibblehouse said...

Great idea Alisa. Would work well for kids artwork, grandmother's handwritten recipe cards too.

Caleen said...

OH.. This is such a awesome idea.. So romantic.. I am so going to do this. You are wonderful and thank you for such creative ideas.

OrangeFarmhouse / www.moodkids.nl said...

OMG this is absolutely amazing. Going to do this tomorrow right away. Thank you so much!!!

Createology said...

This is such a heartwarming way to enjoy your love everyday. Wonderful memories of a time when you persevered distance until together. Thank you for sharing and for the tutorial. Happy creating...

Anonymous said...

I totally love this! I think I may have a note that my oldest daughter wrote to the tooth fairy when she was little. I think I may have to do this for her for Christmas. Thanks for sharing this awesome idea!

laura Mchugh said...

You are so talented and creative!!!!love everything that you post from painting, crafts, cooking, you do it all and make everything look so beautiful...Thanks for always sharing your world.....xoxox

Lisbeth Bula said...

I have toyed with a similar idea for a Christmas present. Thank you forthe lovely post with great pillows!

Noell Hyman said...

So brilliant. I'm going to share your post as my Pick Of The Week for the podcast I host every week.

I don't know how you do all you do, but thanks so much for sharing it with us! :)

Big Mook Craft said...

I just love everything you do!!!! thank s so much for sharing....

Leslie Tucker Jenison said...

What a wonderful idea, Alisa. So personal and appealing. Thanks for sharing!

We Joneses said...

really well done on this one. what a lovely thought.

Blondi Blathers said...

Wow! I love the way you think.

holly k said...

Love it!!! Such special pillows!!! :)

laurie said...

i love these!!! thanks for sharing such a great idea. i'm sure they look beautiful in your home.

Anonymous said...

This is just amazing. What treasures these pillows will be for you!

Adriana said...

You are such a sweetie for sharing this tutorial!
Thank you so very much! xxx

Unknown said...

beautiful tutorial! i too had a long distance relationship with my now husband, to have had that time apart with long phone calls and letters is a big part of our honest communication today. i so appreciate this. thanks Alisa.

Tatyana-posidelki said...

Dear Alisa! Today I found your blog and I fell in love with all your posts. Thank you for sharing your bright ideas. I will follow your creativity with the great pleasure.

Hugs and kisses from Moscow/Russia.
Tatyana

Art by Darla Kay said...

I just spent 20 minutes wandering here, LOVE your blog! Colleen from Main Street Memories led me here :) and I'm so glad!

Anonymous said...

Love this! My hubby is a letter writer and we had a long-distance dating relationship too. Twenty-seven years ago. :)

Jodi Vara said...

Love this idea, I am going to print some old letters that my great grandmother wrote me as a child and make a pillow.
Thank you,
Jodi

Gilding Lilies said...

Way cool, what a great idea! I think they are lovely. Thanks.

sarah said...

amazing tutorial and idea! beautiful work!

whydelilah said...

Wow!!! I love it! An amazing idea!!!

Kimmy said...

Wow, amazing idea!!! I love this so much I might have to steal it for myself!!!! Thanks for the tutorial!

Anonymous said...

This is really so cute! I laugh though as my husband is always grumping that we have too many pillows around (on the bed, couch, etc.)... you think he'd like them more if they all had love notes to him on them? :)

Unknown said...

such a simple yet fabulous idea! Now I just need a love note, lol!

Kerry_Kid Giddy said...

(think singing when you read this word) ***AWESOME***!!!!

that's all i have to say. - ok - that and the fact that I"m totally making some of these for my hubby!

Cindy Lietz, Polymer Clay Tutor said...

What a sweet idea! Having little reminders of your love around the house, is a positive and heart warming thing. I bet children would love to have this sort of thing as a gift from a parent. The way you blew up, cropped and filtered the writing made it a graphic piece of art as well. Just love what you do!

Anonymous said...

kind of adore this idea- especially since I never do anything cool for our anniversary and i have tons of old letters from the dating days! thanks for sharing this!

britt said...

such a lovely idea. thanks for the tutorial!

meg duerksen said...

this is very cool.
love it.

Unknown said...

Alisa, i find your blog in a raining day... when I see your creation I see the sun!!
:)
I love your ideas, I think your creation are amazing, wonderful... I don't have word!
I'm a young italian girl, I love sewing and create. Now I want to change my style and design. I find in your blog a new ispiaration!
Thank soo mutch!

Evelyne said...

Bellissimo !
I love this idea ... and all your creations, by the way !
you're a great artist !

Terri said...

This opens up a whole new realm of possibilities with ink-jet iron on transfers; I've never considered doing a whole picture of something I have created. Thanks a lot!
Oh -- it's fun to let go; talking about your weekend in Oregon. We can never let the little girl inside of us go.
Terri

jackie said...

Nice work. Lots of us will be copying your idea.

Teresa aka Tess said...

Fabulous....oh my gosh what a lovely gift this would be of grandma's resipe's ttransfered to little pillows. All of the family would recognize her handwriting even if I tweeked it...

Dawn said...

I love this idea ~ so sweet. I'm going to have to dig up some old letters and try my hand at a project like this (we're doing a handmade Christmas this year) ~ it would be a good handmade "guy gift" for my husband ~ thanks for sharing!

Leah said...

so cool! i love that you showed the process - thanks!

Carrie said...

I love this idea of the love notes, I am totally trying this. My mom just told me last night how to run the muslin through the printer and print right on the material. She cut freezer paper to 8 1/2 x 11 and irons on the muslin. Load it into printer and you have printed photos or text on your muslin. I did it and it looks amazing.
Love you blog.

Sew-Over-It said...

I made some for my anniversary, and love this idea! Thanks for sharing, check out my version, I linked back to your site too! Thanks again. :)

http://sew-over-it.blogspot.com/2010/11/love-notes-and-special-date.html

Angie said...

I love this! After 5 years, my husband still carries his hand-written wedding vows in his wallet. I need to get my hands on them and make a pillow or 2! Thanks for sharing. Your blog inspires me so much.

Anonymous said...

I love this idea and it's PERFECT for us -- we also started our life together in a long-distance relationship and have many notes/emails between us. Thanks for the idea!!

Maggie @ Vittles and Bits said...

These are stunning! Not only beautiful, but so special. I love this idea!

Anonymous said...

I so love the pillow you did. I am so glad I seen your blog posted on facebook I will be following you fun Idaes!!

Anonymous said...

Your pillows are just lovely! I linked this up to my "letters and numbers" project post too, come on over and check it out!

Tricia said...

These are too cool~ great job!!
xo~
T

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Carmen said...

Enhorabuena desde Burgos. Es una idea estupenda y muy bien explicado el PAP.
Gracias por compartir ideas y un saludo
Carmen

karen said...

Wow! These are SO inspiring! The possibilities are endless! Adore this idea! Thank you so much for sharing!

karen
www.artforcoffeessake.blogspot.com

COFFEE. CLEAN. CUPCAKE. said...

omg adorable! love love love and can't get enough of your wreaths! i want to make every single one of them!

Kelly said...

Lovely idea, and fantastic tutorial! Will definitely be giving this a go!

Cheran said...

Wonderful idea - I have two pillow forms just waiting to be covered! Also, discovered a cheap way to purchase pillow forms. My local Kroger/Fred Meyer was having a clearance sale on some very ugly pillows - but they were DOWN and had an insert. I gave away the covers and kept the inserts, 14" down for $6.00 each! Yay!

Jennifer Carroll said...

Hi Alissa! Great, great post! Thank you so much! I just shared some of it on my blog. http://jennifercarroll.net/blog/

Alishia said...

Wow this is amazing probably one of the best ideas I have seen in a while!! Can't wait to do this with my husband's deployment letter

Kristina said...

This is such a wonderful idea. I'd like to do more stuff with image transferring, it looks so great.

Michelle said...

I love this idea. This would be a great way to preserve some of my kids art too. Make them into pillows. LOVE IT!!! Thank you for sharing.

Mistie said...

Love the personal and romantic feel of these pillows.

Unknown said...

I super heart this!!!!

Kathi said...

This is such a sentimental project. I love it. What a great shower gift it would make for my son and his fiance. Now, how do we get 23 year olds to actually write on paper!

Unknown said...

THIS is amazing! I so love it! I will be making some with our love letters! Thank you for the tutorial!!! Melanie

lisa b said...

Beautiful and personal

Brendadlr said...

I know this was posted back in September, 2010, but I just saw it now via a post on Pinterest. What a beautiful idea.

I lost my husband less than 2 months ago, and this idea has touched my heart. He was diagnosed with Lymphoma just around the time you posted this craft.

I will be making some of these for the little dream RV we bought together, and which he made me promise not to sell. We put 17,000 miles on it in the 1 1/2 years prior to his diagnosis. Eventually, I'll be back out traveling and camping in it. As hard as that will be without him, having these beautiful, personal pillows will be bringing him along with me, not only in my heart and in spirit, but tangibly and beautifully.
Thank you SO much for this idea, and for the tutorial on how to make them. I love it so much.

Anonymous said...

What other fabrics would work, I wonder? Kind of short on muslim. As is, I have no muslim

Anonymous said...

What a fantastic idea! My husband and I dated long distance too in college so I have our love letters. I MUST do one for him on Valentine's Day this year! Also, thought it would be a great idea for say, Father's Day...my daughter also drew the greatest cards for her dad! What a great gift that would make! Or, for a grand parent! The ideas are flowing!! So, thanks for the ideas! Vickie (surf2create.com)

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