Each spring I look forward to putting these bunny pillows out on my porch. I get compliments throughout the year from the neighbors. They like to see how my porch changes each month when they are out walking.
These bunny pillows are crowd pleasers, for sure. Simple design with craft paints on a plain canvas fabric. Use the same pillow base year round and just switch out the pillow cover for an easy transformation that doesn’t take up a lot of storage space.
Supplies
- Cotton canvas fabric (enough to cover pillow front and back)
- Fabric Shears
- Tape measure
- Sewing Pins
- Thread to coordinate with fabric
- Zippers (optional)
- Images of cute bunnies (see below for pdf images)
- Pencil
- Painter’s Tape
- Small artist’s brushes
- Acrylic Craft paints (browns, burnt umber, black, white, pink, green)
- Paper plate, or something to use as a paint palette
- Cup of water to rinse brush
Instructions
Step 1:
Before cutting the fabric, decide how you want your pillows to close. With a zipper, envelope closure, or salvage edge closure? Check out this post here from back in October that shows you how to finish off in these three styles. Once you decide, then proceed.
Cut out the fronts and backs for your pillows. Be sure to account for the seam allowance. For example, if my pillow is 18 inches squared, I would cut out a 19 inch square to accommodate a half inch seam allowance on all sides.
Choose images of bunnies that you like, or use the same bunny image for two pillows. (I Googled “cute bunny photos”) Here are some bunny sketches I made from the photos I found online. You can print them off and trace onto your pillows to use as a guide. Bunny with tall ears, Floppy ear bunny, Bunny Feet
Step 2:
Draw or adjust the size of the pdf print outs to fit the pillow and trace onto the fabric with a pencil. Be sure to leave a good margin all around the fabric edges so none of the image gets cropped off after sewing.
TIP: Center and have the image slightly higher up on the pillow. Remember that pillows are puffy once the inserts are in the cases. If the image is too low, part of it will always be hidden.
Step 3:
Once the images are on the fabric, tape fabric onto a board or hard surface with painter’s tape. Painter’s tape is low tack so it will not damage your board or fabric when removed.
TIP: This is a drawing board featured in the picture, but you can also use thick cardboard or a table.
TIP:Â Paint will most likely bleed through to the back side of the fabric. Place wax paper or aluminum foil between the fabric and the work surface as a paint shield.
Step 4:
Identify what colors are the under painting, or the base colors, in the photos. Use those colors first to fill in sections of the image that have shadow or are the darkest. I also did the pink that will be covered slightly with hair later. Be sure to paint in the direction of how the hair would grow so that the brush strokes work with you efforts. Raw canvas soaks up quite a bit of the moisture in the paint, so feel free to wet the brush with water to help blend colors.
I realize this seems like an over simplification of the process. Remember, it will take practice before painting becomes easy and quick. Most importantly, this is to have fun. Keep in mind that I took years and years of art classes and have spent hundreds of hours drawing and painting. So no comparing, that is the thief of joy. You can do this.
TIP:Â Stop trying to paint a bunny. Just look at it as a blocks of color and try to imitate the color shape. You can even turn the image upside down and paint the whole thing upside down to keep your brain from telling you how it should look.
Step 5:
Once all the dark undertones are painted, fill in with the medium tones. Remember to do the brush marks in the same direction as the rabbit’s hair. Blend the medium tones over and also with the darker areas. Water down the paint and add multiple coats if that makes it easier for you. Do this for both pillow fronts, or for each rabbit.
Step 6:
The other darker areas were more like blocks of hair that were being painted. The lightest colors of paint will most likely be painted with the skinniest brush. These details are more of the highlights and individual strands of hair. Now is the time to use the long, thin brush to water down paint and drag individual whiskers in long, continuous strokes.
Although I am showing these images side by side, I did paint them one at a time. Just didn’t want to overwhelm you too much with the thought of simultaneously painting two different rabbits.
Step 7:
Water down some of the burnt umber or black paint and paint along the bottom edge of the rabbit to give him a shadow or the look of standing on the earth. Use a medium bright green paint and a thin brush to drag the brush vertically to make grass. The nice thing about grass is there is no right or wrong to the length or width of the grass blades. Once you are happy with it, remove the tape, separate from the work surface and let dry completely.
Step 8:
Take each pillow front and pin together with a pillow back, having right sides together. Add a zipper to each pillow, if desired, and then sew along the edges with a half inch seam allowance.
Clip each corner, being sure to not cut through the stitching. Turn right side out and insert pillow form.
AHH! You guys these pillows are just too stinkin’ cute! I love how the simplicity of the rabbit on the natural background keep them from being cutesy but at the same time they are adorable. These pillow covers are perfect for spring and are a great welcome to Easter.
You know I love a good pillow display to make a welcome seating area for the front porch. Make a porch a welcome place and you’ll make a house a home. 💙
Check out the posts below for more great DIY ideas. Be sure to follow me on Instagram, Pinterest and join our Facebook group!
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Yeah! These are sooo cute. I love them and they look beautiful on your front porch :).
Thank you! It is always fun to spruce up the front porch for different seasons. This was especially fun being able to pull out the paintbrushes and get a little artsy.