This simple DIY holiday glitter pillow is done in just minutes and makes a great update to any Christmas decor. It also makes a great gift!
Easy Holiday Decor: Glitter Pillow
Do you get together with your girl friends and drink – I mean craft? If you’re looking for an alternative to a gingerbread house decorating party, consider this quick craft that will be ready to go by the time you call your cab.
Quick. Crafts. Rock.
Most of the crafts I do are multistage ones because I’m often fitting them in between hugs from adorable little ones, dinner prep, and play dates. I often have to plan out craft tasks in 15-minute increments to stay organized and get them done. Today, however, I fit in not one, but two quick crafts and I am riding a serious creative high right now. Love, love, love anything that can be done while the family is calming down before bed.
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Back to this awesome holiday glitter pillow… If you sew, you can make up a quick envelope or zipper-top pillowcase (home decor 100% cotton works well). Or, if you’re like me and love an inexpensive shortcut, go ahead and pick up some pre-made ones at the craft store for about $5 each. They are in the needlework and embroidery section of the craft store, next to the pre-made dinner napkins, baby bibs, and flour sack towels.
If you’re crafting alone, go ahead and put on The Jackson 5’s “I Want You Back.” Goodness, I’m really loving the Guardians of the Galaxy: Awesome Mix Vol.1 (partner link)
. No kidding – I’m dancing while I’m typing this, so if there are any typos, blame the Jacksons.
Supplies
Everything is available in a craft store or Amazon (partner links included for your convenience). If you’re setting up a crafting party, this is a very cost-effective little project for everyone and let’s just face it: gingerbread houses are fun, but glitter is fun and fabulous!
- Pillow cover. I used a pre-made 16 inches x 16 inches zipper-top pillow case purchased from JoAnn’s.
- Tulip Fashion Glitter Shimmer Fabric Paints Gold
and Tulip Fashion Glitter Shimmer Fabric Paints Silver (Be sure to get this style of glitter paint!) - Paint Brushes. I used two sizes (a smaller brush for the thinner sections and outlines).
- Font / Print-out
and 
(Be sure to get this style of glitter paint!)Open Microsoft Word and choose a font and size that works with your pillowcase (mine are below). If you aren’t addicted to downloading fonts yet, let me get you hooked: it is awesome and easy. Think easy peasy, lemon squeezy kind of easy, y’all. Download font, double-click and wham-O – it’s on your computer and can be used in your computer’s programs and online editing programs like PicMonkey.
For this “joy” pillow, I used DJB Dear St. Nick Font at size 355 in Word to get the size I wanted for my 16-inch square throw pillow case. This font is a free font available from DaFont or FontSpace and is a great go-to cursive handwriting font. If you have a cutting machine, you could use it and know that I’m a bit green with a bit of envy. It’s okay though, ‘cuz my envy is holiday green.
Get Ready for Some Ridiculously Easy Crafting
Trace around each of your cut out letters very lightly with a sharp pencil. I used a mechanical pencil so it would have a very fine point.
Open the pillowcase and insert a piece of cardboard or wax paper between the front and back to protect from any paint bleed through. I like to use clips to make sure it doesn’t move, but you can choose to live dangerously.
Paint. I made sure to go over the outline a little bit so that you couldn’t see it through the glitter. The picture below is after I’d done the first coat and you can still see it.
I used two coats on everything and then went back and touched up any spot that looked less-than-glitterific. Glitterific, ya’ll. Glitterific.
Seriously easy. And seriously sparkly. I let it dry overnight and am now planning to decorate the back with a “joyeux Noel” or a “merry” in the silver glitter paint.
Because it’s the season of giving, feel free to give your friends and followers this awesome tutorial by sharing it on social media. Below is a handy-dandy Pinterest image, but feel free to share on your favorite social platform. We sincerely appreciate it.
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Chithra Rajan says
I love this pillow! It has such a easy, calming vibe to it. I think that making gifts yourself is very meaningful…I am new to your blog and can’t wait to check out more of your gift ideas!
Emily, Our house now a home says
This is beautiful! I love the sparkle and gold.
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Kristen from The Road to Domestication says
What a great way to decorate a pillow! Thanks so much for linking up to the #homematters linky party! We hope to see you again this coming Friday!
Kristen from The Road to Domestication invites you to read Sparkle & Shine for the Holidays…with Chairish!
Lorelai @ Life With Lorelai says
Wow, this is so cute and so easy! I love this pillow. :) Thanks for sharing an excellent tutorial at the #HomeMatters Linky Party.
~Lorelai
Life With Loreai
Lorelai @ Life With Lorelai invites you to read Celebrating St. Nicholas Day – December 6th
Amy | Canary Street Crafts says
This is so pretty, Sarah. And definitely glitterific!! :) Pinning and sharing. Thanks for linking up with us at Your Turn To Shine!
Amy | Canary Street Crafts invites you to read Inexpensive DIY Christmas Garland
Denyse @ Glitter, Glue & Paint says
Sarah, you had me with the glitter….how adorable! I’d love for you to link up to Project Pin it. Have a super Sunday!
Hugs,
Denyse
Jen says
This is adorable! Fifteen minute craft increments are right down my alley!
I really like your font selection.
Jen invites you to read Idina Menzel Holiday Wishes
Sarah Nenni-Daher says
Thanks, Jen. It’s sad, but I actually get more done when I know I only have 15 minutes to work on something. Time crunches bring out my productivity, it seems.
Courtney at A Life From Scratch says
Love it! Could definitely make a great, simple gift. Thanks for sharing on the Weekend Re-Treat! If you get a chance, I’d love it if you stopped by my blog. Have a great weekend!
Courtney at A Life From Scratch invites you to read December round up.
Sarah Nenni-Daher says
Courtney, Thanks for dropping by. I just shared your wonderfully festive holiday bark on Twitter and Pinterest. So colorful and fun!
Michelle@TheRibbonRetreat says
I seriously love this pillow. I love that you hand painted your word and those fun polka dots at the top. Great job and beeeeautiful pillow! Thanks for sharing! PINNED!
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Amanda @ Dwelling in Happiness says
LOVE this, Sarah! It’s so pretty! I’m loving the gold glitter. AND washable – even better! :) Pinned!
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Amber says
How pretty!!
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Jenna says
I love me some gold glitter. This pillow is fab!
Jenna invites you to read DIY Christmas Garland
Melinda @Home.Made.Interest says
Stopping by from The Weekend re-Treat link party. Love gold and glitter. Put them together and it’s heaven!
Melinda @Home.Made.Interest invites you to read Delicious Holiday Recipes – Pesto and Sundried Tomato Cheese Spread
Lauren @blesserhouse says
Very cute! And I love that it’s washable!
Lauren @blesserhouse invites you to read Your Turn To Shine Link Party #10
Sarah Nenni-Daher says
Thanks so much, Lauren. I love the washable aspect, too. With kids and pets, the option is a wonderful one at the least.
Bre @ Average But Inspired says
Hi, Sarah! I LOVE this project! Printing the words and tracing is such a great idea. I have been wanting to make some holiday pillows so I may need to find a JoAnn’s and get those pillow covers to give it a try! If you have time, we’d love for you to share this at On Display Thursday, too! http://www.averageinspired.com/2014/12/display-thursday-link-party-no-22.html
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Sarah Nenni-Daher says
Will share at the party, Bre – thanks for the invite and for the kind words.
Jamie | anderson + grant says
I love the look of this pillow for Christmas. It looks like something you’d find at Pottery Barn or somewhere like that.
I haven’t used glitter fabric paint in years, but as a kid, my grandma and I used to work on craft projects like this using glitter paint. You’ve brought back some happy memories for me!
Jamie | anderson + grant invites you to read Your Turn to Shine Link Party #10
Sarah Nenni-Daher says
Thanks, Jamie. I must say that glitter fabric paint has come a long way in the years since I used it last, as well. Now, it’s so smooth and easy to get a clean, consistent design – color me quite impressed with this stuff. :)
Thanks for stopping by today!
Sydney @Tastefully Frugal says
What a great idea!! I’m really starting to love gold and this pillow looks so cute! Pinning
Sydney @Tastefully Frugal invites you to read Peppermint Lavender Bath Bombs
Sarah Nenni-Daher says
Thank you so much, Sydney. I am just getting into gold myself and little (and temporary) additions like this are the perfect segue. Thanks for stopping by today.
Rebekah @ Charming Imperfections says
Sarah, I love this pillow! and I’m all about the quick and easy crafts. Found you on Your Turn to Shine.
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Sarah Nenni-Daher says
We love it, too, Rebekah – uick and easy crafts are the best! Thanks for stopping by from the party.
Heather {Woods of Bell Trees} says
Ooh la la I’m in love! I want one now! :D Great job Sarah!
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Sarah Nenni-Daher says
Thanks, Heather. Easy projects make me happy and this one fit the bill. I wish I’d done something different on the top corner because it just looks a little “off,” but there’s always next year.