Thursday, April 1, 2010

It's Craft Time - Bath Mat Pillow


So I had this white shaggy bath mat that I purchased for our bathroom. I don't know what I was thinking, but it was way too small. As I was folding it to put it in the bag to return it, I noticed how cute it looked, almost the size of a pillow. Ding, Ding, Ding, Ding.... Why not make it into a pillow? I loved the fluffy texture (I have this thing about texture). And I have been wanting some "summer" looking pillows. A match made in heaven.


But what to use as a pillow form? I didn't have any spare ones laying around, especially a rectangle. And then I remembered this guy, shoved into the back of the linen closet. My taste had changed and it no longer worked for me. I unzipped the cover and wrapped the bath mat around it to see if it would fit. It was a little snug, but I thought I could make it work.


This project had to be easy. I wasn't going to cut the mat to fit a special pillow form. If needed, I would have purchased some of that craft filling stuff and used that.

It was easy enough to whip stitch the ends right sides together. Then I turned it right side out and shoved the pillow form in. Oh oh, the length was OK, but the width was tight, very tight. I had to pull the edges of the pillow closed and shove the form in as I stitched. My hands cramped up and I had to stop every few inches and rest them.

My super bright son was watching me struggle and suggested I use a binder clip to hold the pillow edges together while sewed. It worked like a charm and made the rest of the end go so much easier. A binder clip - who would have thunk it?


I was crafting at night again and had to use a flash so the pictures aren't stellar. My project cost $6.99 for the bath mat and I had the pillow form already. I know, kind of expensive for my craft projects, isn't it? I'm usually well under $3. I think it was worth the splurge.

I like my pillow. It's very plump and shaggy and very summery looking. It makes me wonder what else I can make out of a bath mat? Wouldn't a stuffed bunny rabbit look cute or a cat or lamb? I think some catnip mice for my cat Starbuck would be much appreciated. I couldn't keep her away from the pillow as I stitched.

Have you used a bath mat for something other than as a mat? What else do you think can be done with one?

Linking up to these fabulous parties.


46 comments:

  1. Oh that's so cute!!! No, I haven't used a bath mat for anything other than a bath mat, but I love your idea!

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  2. A binder clip?!?! What a brilliant idea! He is a smart kid!

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  3. Love the texture element it brings! I will be keeping an eye out for some bargain bath mats!

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  4. That's adorable! And what a clever use of a rug!

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  5. I love it! Great idea. :) Thanks for linking up today!!

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  6. You clever girl! I love these rugs ad it made an adorable pillow1 such great texture, too.

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  7. I like that! Clever idea. Came over from BNOTP.

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  8. What a neat idea! I love how it turned out!

    Happy Met Monday!

    xoxo
    Jane

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  9. Beautiful post thanks for sharing. You have a wonderful blog and I am a new follower. Hope you have a chance to come say hi at my blog. Cheers, Lia

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  10. Hey, I have that bathmat! Such a cool idea and I love the fluffy texture. So creative and clever!

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  11. LOVE this... I love texture, and especially love different textures on pillows- what a great idea!
    We have a Friday Fun Finds party- if you're interested, we'd love it if you'd link to this!

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  12. Wow I love this!

    I would love it if you joined my "Saturday is Crafty Day" party on April 24th! Stop by my blog for details.

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  13. How clever! And looks great! Thanks for sharing @ ANYTHING RELATED!
    ~Rebekah

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  14. That is such a cute idea and I see pillows like this everywhere! Great project!

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  15. What a great idea! And your son is a genius. Tell him thank you for me, ok? I will be using that tip in the future.

    Thank you for linking this to A Little Craft Therapy with Life in the Pitts.

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  16. What a great idea!! Thanks for linking @Creative Itch's "Sew Cute Tuesday"!!

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  17. Oooh! I have that same mat, too small, and ready to be returned! I see a pillow in my future! I'm hosting my first linky party on Friday! I hope you'll post this! http://becca-homeiswheremystorybegins.blogspot.com

    Becca

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  18. What a clever idea - I am sure it is super soft! Thanks for linking to Be Inspired today!

    Chelsea

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  19. I love this:)
    xoxo
    B's
    www.itsybitsybrianna.blogspot.com

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  20. What a fun idea! Thanks for joining the party!
    -Jill

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  21. GENIOUS! I LOOOOOVE that! I'm textural as well so this is right up my alley! I LOVE your bunny idea, what little one wouldn't LOVE that bunny! The pillow would be a great gift too! AWESOME! I am so glad I found this on The Picket Fence. I'm now a new follower!

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  22. Cool pillow and I especially love the chair and ottoman!

    Stop by Pandora's Box to enter a giveaway! ~patti~

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  23. What a creative idea! It does have a wonderful texture.

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  24. Great idea to cover it with a bath mat! i'm sure it's nice and cozy to put your head on!

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  25. Great idea to re-purpose the bath mat into a pillow! I would love to know about that awesome green chair and ottoman. It looks very mid-century modern.

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  26. You named your cat Starbuck? That's great!

    I like your pillow. Very clever.

    Your son is quite a guy. He is obviously in tune with your crafting. That was good advice he gave you!

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  27. I love that. I bet my cats would love to snuggle with it. Tell your son he'll make a great engineer someday. Smart thinking!

    Thanks so much for linking up to Finished for Friday!

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  28. This pillow turned out great.

    Thanks for joining Get Your Craft on Thursday. Please join me next week for another great party!

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  29. That is one great idea! I personally would never have thought to use a bath mat but it works so well. Well done!

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  30. I love it! I actually have a rug just like this that is due for the garbage right now! Maybe I will recycle it!!~ Thanks so much for sharing with us, come back and share your talent next week!! :)

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  31. Very cute idea! I never would have thought of it! :o)

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  32. great idea! I love those fuzzy bathmats!

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  33. What a great idea! I bet it's super soft!

    Thanks for linking up to Make it Yours day! Enjoy the rest of your weekend!

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  34. Great idea!!! Love the texture it gives! Thanks for linking up!!

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  35. Thank you for bringing your hodgepodge to the party! Will be drawing the winners soon!
    ~Gay~
    itsahodgepodgelife.blogspot.com

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  36. This is such a great idea!! Love it. Thanks for sharing!

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  37. I love this. What a clever idea!! Thanks for sharing at 'Look at me, I'm SO Crafty!' at Fun to Craft.

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  38. I featured you!
    ~Gay~
    itsahodgepodgelife.blogspot.com

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  39. Ingenius! What a designer you are!
    Paul;a Grace ~

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  40. What a fun pillow--I love it! Thanks for sharing.

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  41. What a great idea - man, I don't know how some of you come up with your ideas - I would have never thought of that! Thanks for planting your creative seed at Plant a Punkin Seed Party! Come plant another seed on Friday - can't wait to see what you come up with!

    Kristi
    Punkin Seed Productions

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  42. Hi Kat
    This is my first response to any blogs and I had to write to you because I did exactly the same thing a couple of months ago with what looks like the same bathmat! My daughter had sent it over for "the dogs to lie on", but as soon as I saw it I loved the texture and it's now on the bed in my white-on-white guest room. Great minds think alike :-)
    Rosie Begonia

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  43. Great pillow, thinking out of the box! I love the texture too! I am so glad i found your blog! I am a new follower. If you get a chance I would love for you to peek at my blog www.thepolkadotcloset.blogspot.com

    Thank You Carol

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  44. So fun! It looks like something you want to snuggle up to. I really enjoy your blog. Thank you for hosting great parties.

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