Imagine ALL your all season home decor items having the ability to magically morph into full out fall or Christmas with the snap of your fingers.
Wouldn’t it be amazing to get rid of the big boxes of Christmas we only use 1 month out of the entire year? Only to use things we use every day instead?
Yes… why yes it would.
Well, it’s kinda sorda possible. You saw it here first with the interchangeable coffee / hot cocoa TV tray… oh… and also that wire hanger coat shelf…
And now with a reversible pillow concept…
Or everyday.
Flip it around and it’s now Merry Christmas… or… every day too!
I tend to bypass fall decorating. I generally go from summer to Christmas, working on the house in between.
However, desiring something fall-ish, I thought perhaps a cabin-styled pillow design that could blend into fall AND everyday would be perfect.
But then I thought ahead. Rather than dragging all the paint out again (and cleaning up the house for an additional shoot), why not do Christmas on the back side of the pillow?
Well, not only did my plan work, there’s one more clever mix to this. Both sides are really all season designs. No need to hide this pillow anytime soon! Just flip it around and get a new look.
While the design turned out pretty cute, it’s the buffalo check pattern that was the secret sauce in this one… which was done in an additional 2 minutes! Such a custom touch for so little time.
Love the oh-so-cozy look too?
Here’s how I did it. Then below, is a BIG photo shoot scroll of fall room ideas… and you guessed it, Christmas too!
Christmas in October… who knew.
Stencil a reversible Christmas and Fall Buffalo Check Cabin Pillow
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What you’ll need: (contains some Amazon affiliate links)
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Buffalo Check
Getaway Collection – Cabin Resort
Trees – Christmas Blend Hot Cocoa OR Winter Graphics
Tours Until Dusk – from Welcome To My Garden
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Paint of choice – I used Fusion Mineral Paint’s / Coal Black / Algonquin – tan / Fort York Red
Find a local Fusion retailer HERE
White pillow covers – these are IKEA 20″ x 20″ HERE
Before stenciling your pillow cover, slip something inside it so the paint doesn’t bleed through.
I created a cardboard template I can use over and over. Plastic wrap or a bag, tin foil or a board will also work.
How to layer a pattern with a design
1. Stencil your base design in a desired colour first.
2. Leave the stencil in place, and allow the paint to dry.
3.Once dry, stencil Buffalo Check in black over top. Remove all stencils.
See the full steps in pictures on this Canadian Flag pillow HERE
How to layer the Buffalo Check Cabin Resort pillows
For this pillow, I used different stencils showcasing some colours patterned and some plain. It takes a little more planning, however the results are so much more custom! Just remember to tape off sections of each stencil to avoid accidentally stencilling more images than desired.
1. Stencil trees in tan first. Leave stencil in place.
2. Once dry, stencil Buffalo Check in black over top. Remove all stencils.
3. Stencil Cabin in black. Remove the stencil.
4. Stencil RESORT in Algonquin. Leave the stencil.
5. Once dry, stencil Buffalo Check in black over top. Remove all stencils.
Cabin cozy cute I say!
Then the pillow was flipped around, and the same treatment was done in red and black.
AND… no need to tuck this one away come January!
About Buffalo Check
Shown: Buffalo Check stencil with Fringe stencil, each sold separately HERE.
Goes without saying, Buffalo Check is the real star here. The pattern just adds so much more punch to any design.
Because this stencil is so detailed, READ THIS POST for tips on how to use it to achieve exceptional results. The key is a very dry-to-the-touch paint loaded stencil brush.
And now… bring on the picture firestorm!
For fall… and Christmas. Yep! Both!
Fall to me is about the warmth of cozy woods, a roaring hot fire, and fresh hot coffee.
The white, wood, metals and black really let the natural branches stand out.
I LOVED Algonquin, which is a Fusion tan resembling a darker canvas look.
And this little corner is all ready for fall.
A few tutorials you may remember:
Pottery Barn inspired rusty junk lamp
Wooden old gate window screens
Walls – are white-white right outta the can. Really.
The mantel didn’t change much from last Christmas!
The soil sifters are still in place, with one simple twiggy wreath.
You’d think for a decorator type I’d go a little more whole hog… but, nope. Not if I don’t have to.
Because I didn’t have a pumpkin in sight at the time, I raided one of the trees out front.
Their colourful orange berry explosion provided the perfect pumpkin splash! Without spending a dime.
The white pitchers bring out the whites in the rest of the room, and add a sense of a collected theme.
Ready for Christmas? I sure am! Note how little I actually changed…
With the flick of the wrist, the pillow was turned around, a buffalo checked crate brought in, and the tree branches changed out to evergreen branches.
Guess it’s time to wrap presents… (riiiight…)
Love your Christmas outfit pillow… wish I had mine!
The Tours Until Dusk was added to this side for a touch of sign whimsy.
The pillow covers and inserts were both originally from Ikea.
Does this little buffalo checked toolbox look familiar? It’s the first thing I tried the Buffalo Check stencil on!
I laughed when I saw the big jug. I tried to paint over the old 3.50 long ago but it bled through. Now it’s just part of the charm.
The couple of books brought a little more colour and height to the arrangement so all the jugs staggered a bit.
And that’s a fall, Christmas AND all season wrap!
What do you think of the idea of a reversible pillow? Think you’ll try it?
And here’s the post about the interchangeable all season – Christmas TV trays.
Ho ho ho… Stick around here long enough and I’ll have you cheating with everything you make…
What do you think of the reversible pillow idea? Think you’ll try it?
hey girl
love the pillow! and the big buffalo check!
but my FAVE part in this post is that lamp!!
OH my word. I am drooling all over my keyboard!
be blessed
Barb
Haha… the lamp gets a wee bit of attention when someone comes into the house. As in, I get completely ignored! Hrumph… ; )
That is soooo cute! And what a clever idea!
I love how you decorate with what you have instead of spending loads of money on what’s in the stores. It’s what most of us do. And I love, love that Canadian flag…be still my homesick heart!
The pillow is beautiful, Donna! Both sides! Happy Fall to you!
I love this great job keep it up
Great idea! I’m all about “less is more”. I find as you get older, you really do want to simplify!
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Wow, Amazing ideas. You are one clever gal. I love the simplicity of your decor. The orange berries are a great touch, really, no pumpkin needed.
Thanks for your creative sharing.
How do you keep stenciling paint from bleeding around the dteailed edges of the stencil? I have been cautious to try stenciling as I feel I would muck it up with bleeds.
Any advice welcome!
Maureen
Hi Maureen! Thank-you for the kind words!
The secret to a non bleeding stencil period is to keep the tip of the paint loaded brush dry to the touch. It takes a little practice, however once you get it, you’ve got it for good! This especially applies to Buffalo Check because of the high level of detail in the stencil. I suggest get a BIG stencil brush so there’s more paint surface, which also greatly helps.
Fabulous, I love it all. Wow!