Pillow Craft: Button Blooms

Festoon a pillow with button blooms—add a dose of whimsy to your décor.

YOU'LL NEED:

• 8" x 18" throw pillow with removable cover in a solid color
• Ruler • Chalk • Fabric glue • Green rickrack, 2 yards (you will have some left over)
• Scissors
• Hot-glue gun
• 100 pink buttons (assorted sizes and shades)
• Sewing needle
• Thread (to match pillow cover)
• 3/8"-wide light green ribbon, 1 foot3/8"-wide light green ribbon, 1 foot
• ½"-wide dark green ribbon, 1 foot

1. Remove pillow cover and set pillow aside. Lay cover on a flat surface.

2. Make border: On each side of pillow cover, measure 2" in toward center and mark with chalk. Connect marks to form a 14" x 14" square.

3. Use fabric glue to attach rickrack to pillow, covering chalk line. At each corner, fold rickrack over on itself in a uniform fashion and keep gluing, creating a continuous border. Trim excess rickrack and add extra dab of fabric glue to secure border end in place.

4. Decide where you want to situate flowers. Use chalk to draw two freehand circles, about 3¾" and 5" in diameter.

5. Apply buttons: Use small dabs of hot glue to lightly hold buttons in place. Start by gluing them along chalk line, then fill in circle, slightly overlapping them as you go. Try to leave no fabric showing. Repeat on smaller chalk circle. Secure all buttons in place using needle and thread.

6. Create stems: Cut ribbons (light green for small flower) so that they are slightly longer than distance between flower bottoms and rickrack border. Apply fabric glue to one side of ribbon and attach to fabric, tucking one end under buttons and other end into border.

7. Place pillow into finished cover and fluff.

Want your home to feel fresh and spring-like all year? Check out these home inspiration tips.