Hi Collegiettes!
I’m finding that as the semester draws to a close, I’m having more and more trouble concentrating. I’m a graduating senior so as the days go by, I’m especially bothered by assignments and deadlines. News Flash: Senioritis is real, people!
I thought that a great way to motivate myself would be through arts & crafts, so I came up with this pillow. I figured it would be the type of thing I’d see every morning while making my bed and every night before I went out (gotta seize all those last opportunities to party!), and it would motivate me to live to the fullest during my precious last few weeks in Gainesville.
Let’s get started!
You’re going to need some fabric (a nighttime and a daytime color; they don’t necessarily have to be Gator colors), a pillow form or old pillow you want to cover, scissors, paint/paintbrushes, and a glue gun.
First, you need to cut your fabric so it’s slightly bigger than your pillow. Make sure you leave enough room on all the sides so that you can “stitch” it together with glue.
Once you’ve cut both of your pieces of fabric, go ahead and paint your design on each piece. I’m studying French, so I figured it would be more fitting to write my message in French than in the traditional Latin (carpe diem). This is totally up to you, though. If you like Spanish, Latin, or even Pig Latin better, then go for it!
Next, you need to “stitch” together your fabric. Once your paint dries, put the painted sides together, and begin gluing the pieces together. Use the pillow to be sure you’re gluing a rectangle that’s the right size.
Slide your pillow in once you have three sides done. By then you should have something like the above picture. This last part is a little tricky, and I’d actually recommend making the bottom of the pillow the last part you stick together just in case it comes out not-so-pretty. Fold each piece of fabric down, and glue them together so that the glue doesn’t show. Remember, this is DIY and handmade so if it’s not perfect it’s okay! It just adds character and charm.
Now go make your bed, and showcase your lovely inspirational pillow. I hope it motivates you to make the best of the rest of the semester!
XOXO,
The Crafty Gator