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01 April, 2012

Ballard Inspired French Bunny Pillow

CONFESSIONS OF A PLATE ADDICT Ballard Inspired French Bunny Pillow I know I always say that I am excited about my latest project, but I love this one! He’s just in time for spring, but can live at my house all year long…my frenchy bunny pillow! I’ve had him on my mind ever since I saw…



ballard bunny…these pillows at the Ballard Designs web site! I immediately fell in love with all of them, but especially the bunny! They are hooked wool and a little pricey for me at $54, so I decided to make my own version.

CONFESSIONS OF A PLATE ADDICT Ballard Inspired French Bunny Pillow My main problem has been finding the just right bunny, but when I saw these little guys in this vintage print at Reusable Art, I knew that with a little work, I had found him!


CONFESSIONS OF A PLATE ADDICT Ballard Inspired French Bunny Pillow
And after some tweaking, here he is! I added the frenchy label as well. He is backwards so that he can be used as an iron-on transfer. Now I've got my bunny graphic, so I am ready to make the pillow! 
First, I printed the graphic on transfer paper in 8 x 10 size using Photoscape. I trimmed closely around the bunny and cut the lettering away so that I could space it a little higher for my pillow.

002 Next, I cut my fabric one inch larger than my pillow form. On one of the pieces I drew a pair of stripes around the edges with a pencil. I taped the edges of the stripes and filled in between my tape with a fabric marker. NOTE: For a no-sew pillow, just use a pre-made pillow cover in a neutral fabric such as those sold at Hobby Lobby. Be sure to place wax paper inside the cover while you are adding the stripes.

008Then, with a little help from my handsome co-host Baby Kitty, I sewed the pillow cover on three sides with wrong sides together, turned it right-side out, pressed it and ironed on my transfers, following the package directions. For the no-sew version, remove the wax paper and then follow the directions on the transfer paper package to iron on the bunny graphic.

CONFESSIONS OF A PLATE ADDICT Ballard Inspired French Bunny Pillow Finally, I popped in a down insert (a Goodwill find for under $3.00), hand-stitched it closed and voilĂ ! What do you think? Not bad, huh? And for waaaay less than $54!
Note: Since I created this pillow, I have begun using envelope-style closures to finish them. This allows me to remove the covers to store them and saves lots of space since I seem to have a pillow addiction as well! You can find a tutorial for envelope-style closures here.

CONFESSIONS OF A PLATE ADDICT Ballard Inspired French Bunny PillowIsn’t he just the cutest bunny ever? He looks right at home on my frenchy chairs on the patio! Now I am thinking about that cute sheep and the duck…hmmm

Thanks for stopping by! I hope you enjoyed a little peek at my frenchy bunny pillow! Please visit these wonderful bloggers and their beautiful blogs to see what they are up to and to find a list of this week’s participants!
Stephanie Lynn at Under the Table and Dreaming for the Sunday Showcase Party
Sarah at Thrifty Decor Chick for Before and After Monday (first Monday of the month)
Mary at Boogieboard Cottage for Masterpiece Monday
Susan at Between Naps on the Porch for Metamorphosis Monday

Beth at The Stories of A2Z for Tutorials and Tips Tuesday
Linda at Coastal Charm for Nifty Thrifty Tuesday

Anita at Cedar Hill Ranch for Cowgirl Up on Tuesdays
Kristin at My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia for Tuesday’s Treasures

Kim at Savvy Southern Style for Wow Us Wednesdays
Judy at DIY by Design for Swing into Spring and the Bunny Blog Hop

Debbie at Debbiedoo’s Blogging and Blabbing for the Copycat Challenge  
Gina at The Shabby Creek Cottage for Transformation Thursdays and Spring Linky Party
Cindy at My Romantic Home for Show and Tell Friday
Courtney at French Country Cottage for Feathered Nest Friday
Jen at Tatertots & Jello for the Weekend Wrap-Up Party

Heather and Vanessa at At the Picket Fence for Inspiration Friday
Debra at Common Ground for Vintage Inspiration Friday
Sherry at The Charm of Home for Home Sweet Home Friday
Donna at Funky Junk Interiors for Saturday Nite Special

French Country Cottage for the Six Days of Spring Party
See you next time! A la prochaine!

85 comments:

  1. I can't believe how wonderful your pillow looks!!! I like it a lot better than the one from Ballard. Wow!!!

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  2. Yes, I'd pick yours, too. That is really cute, Deb. Next to cats, I love bunnies. Hugs, Deb=^..^=x6

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  3. Debbie, it is fabulous. Love the bunny and your pillow turned out fantastic. What a great pillow. Hugs, Marty

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  4. What can I say...I'm in love. Maybe BK was just a little jealous!

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  5. Hi Debbie,
    I love this pillow!!!! Love, Love, Love it!!!
    Yours is prettier than PB's. Great job.

    hugs
    Sissie

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  6. How cute is this!! You always amaze me with your great ideas!

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  7. Brilliant! So pretty and such a fantastic price:)

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  8. He IS the cutest thing ever. You did a wonderful job. I love bunny anything-year round and not just at Easter. xo Diana

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  9. You pillow looks way better than the $54 one. Good job!

    Judy

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  10. Wonderful! Yours just like Ballards
    without the wool.

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  11. Beautiful, Debbie! Another fantastic project on a dime! I love yours better, because I actually like the fabric you used better than theirs.

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  12. Debbie this is way too cute girl..I always love seeing what your up to..Many Easter Blessings to you and your family this Easter my dear friend..Hugs and love Gloria

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  13. What a wonderful project! I just LOVE it and want to make one of my own. Are we allowed to grab the graphic you made?

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  14. I like your pillows WAY better! I never thought of using a fabric marker for srtipes. Great idea!

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  15. So cute!
    How did you make the transfer???
    ♥'s
    Sherry

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  17. Ok, you lost me about halfway thru the directions, because I am print/copy/transfer challenged - LOL. But I will say that this could possibly be your BEST knock off project yet. Deb, its perfect. I actually like your bunny better. You are amazing! Like we have told you before, you should write a book - "Copycat It Better!" LOL

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  18. Debbie, I like yours much more than the Ballard's one. Great job.

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  19. Debbie you are super talented!! Love your version!

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  20. So fantastic. Thanks for sharing your tutorial!

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  21. Is there anything you can't do, Debbie? I'm always amazed with each new project. Not only do you come up with the ideas, you actually make them. And they turn out fabulously. This little bunny is sheer delight.
    ~ Sarah

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  22. Really cute, Debbie. You make it look so easy! That's quite a bargain, as well! Linda

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  23. Debbie, The pillow is so adorable! Thanks for sharing the graphic.
    Hugs, Sherry

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  24. Debbie, you are the best copycat I have ever seen!

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  25. Very impressive project. I like your bunny pillow better than Ballard's. It's so much cuter.

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  26. Yours is WAY, WAY cuter than the Ballards one!! Way to go, good job!

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  27. You are so good at that...how do you do the border..you make it look so simple...wow...love it

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  28. You are just so clever and talented Debbie! I really love this amazing pillow...well done my dear!
    Hugs,
    Cindy

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  29. Way to go, Debbie! This is so darn cute. So glad you shared the graphic. :-) Sue

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  30. Your bunny is adorable- I think he's better than the original inspiration pillow. Thanks so much for the resource also- Reusable Art looks like a great place to find images.

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  31. Debbie your bunny is so cute and just in time for Easter. Expect to see him/her used many ways throughout the year :)

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  32. Oh my word, Debbie, your pillow is beautiful! You always impress me with your clever talents! laurie

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  33. Wow! And I haven't even used transfer paper yet! Love it!

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  34. Your el conejo is just wonderful! I wish you lived near so you could teach me how to do all your fabulous projects!
    Hoppy Easter!

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  35. This is my favorite pillow I've ever seen! Ever, anywhere. I ADORE it! The graphic is perfect, the typography is perfect, and your version rocks the one that inspired it. What is it about the French word lapin that is just so wonderful? Fantastic work! Thank you so much for sharing it.

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  36. holy crap! sorry. but wow...yours is SOOOOOOO much better than the ballard designs one...better than anything i've EVER seen. and the black frame around the entire thing? genius. pure genius. i just wish whatever you had would seep through my computer and infect me. i would love this pillow...absolutely love it...but i don't know that i'm as smart as you. sigh. thanks for the tutorial and some day....i may just get brave enough. this was amazing, girlie.

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  37. That is so beautiful and definitely better than the Ballards version! Not just because of the price difference either! :-) Well done!
    Vanessa

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  38. Wow! what a great knock off! I love your pillow! Thanks for sharing the graphics.

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  39. adore it even more than the original!!!!

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  40. Wow!! I just love your pillow what a great idea. Go girl!!!!
    Thanks
    Bernice

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  41. Your pillow is absolutely gorgeous. Much better than the original. Thanks for sharing at the Bunny Blog Hop!

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  42. Stunning LOVE it !! WANT it !! love your little helper, i have a few 'paper sitters' myself...LOL

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  43. I don't know what kind of exclamation I can make to you, Debbie, that hasn't already been stated above! Just that I have been anxious for another knock-off and today I found it - just in the nick of time for an Easter Gift (to me??? or maybe someone else!) Je l'aime!

    Mary in Oregon

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  44. I think he is just gorgeous and appreciate you sharing your art file so I can make one of my own.

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  45. Your just SO clever...I just love your designs better than the pricey ones!! xoxo

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  46. WOW you are so talented!! I would love if you link this to the French Obsession Monday!
    My readers would love it!

    Xo
    Frenchy

    http://lechateaudesfleurs.blogspot.com

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  47. Oh and new follower! Love your blog!
    Follow me back!
    Xo

    http://lechateaudesfleurs.blogspot.com

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  48. WAY way BETTER than the Ballard's pillow! This is so professional looking -- you did a beautiful job!

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  49. My goodness, Debbie, you never cease to amaze me. Your pillow turned out better than Ballard's. I'll bet you could sell a boatload of these! I'd be first in line.

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  50. Wow! I love it. Great recreation and I like it better than the original too. highpointcircle

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  51. you are amazing!! Thank you for sharing your "how to's" and photo.
    I love your blog.

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  52. I think your pillow looks just as good as Ballards. I'm going to have to try this, for some holiday pillows.
    Paula

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  53. Oh my gosh you never cease to amaze me. The pillows are fabulous. I would love it if you would share this at our What’s It Wednesday blog party. Hope to see you there.

    Paula
    ivyandelephants.blogspot.com

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  54. Awesome! Simply amazing! laura@imnotatrophywife.com

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  55. OMGoodness, that pillow is adorable Debbie! I just love it to pieces. Thanks for sharing and the inspiration, Gail

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  56. You amaze me with the way you can think of to imitate & even improve on the things you see!
    Thanks so much for telling us & showing us just how you did this darling pillow.

    I intend to try it, too....you make it sound so easy.

    Hugs & Happy Easter, Debbie,
    Rett

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  57. What a beautiful pillow, just beautiful! And the kitty is very cute too :o)

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  58. Oh Debbie, you always have the coolest projects!! Love this bunny pillow. I need to make some of these. Great job!!

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  59. It is adorable - and even nicer than the Ballard's one! I love your kitty helper too!
    -Shelley

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  60. Debbie,
    That pillow is so~o~o adorable!!!
    You have such a great way of re~creating ideas into your own home decor!!! Handsome Baby Kitty!
    Fondly,
    Pat

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  61. Adorable!
    I would love for you to stop by and link this up at my party happening now!
    I would love to have you there!
    Stacey of Embracing Change
    http://staceyembracingchange.blogspot.com

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  62. I like it better than the original! SO much better!

    --Jenny of Sweet Home, Rich Life
    www.sweethomerichlife.com

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  63. I just saw this over at homestoriesatoz and had to jump over and tell you how much I love this little pillow! Cute picture with your cat :)

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  64. Debbie,
    You sure did one heck of job on that cutie pie...he is soooo CUTE!!! Hop over on Friday, because you have been featured at Coastal Charm:) Please feel free to grab my starfish featured button for your blog.

    Blessings,
    Linda

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  65. Wow! I like yours better than the original! Great job!
    Susan
    Homeroad

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  66. Debbie, Yours is soooo much better than the one from Ballard's. LOVE it!!I like the sheen of the material much better than the wool one. Baby Kitty is doing a good job of holding down the transfer. He's so funny.

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  67. I concur...Yours is terribly fabulous and much better than the original...so why don't you go ahead and sell them for $40 a piece like Ballard would! You will be rich in no time flat:) If you have a sec hop on over to my party going on all weekend to share!
    Kim
    http://too-much-time.com/2012/04/get-schooled-saturday-17.html

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  68. Your pillow is WAY cuter than the Ballard one!!! I love it! Since I can't do this my self I am going to see if I can con my mom into making one for me!!


    :) Michelle

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  69. love your pillow! Better than the original, and i would love to feature it, if that would be ok with you please let me know
    lauren

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  70. Looks like most of us love your pillow alot better than Ballards, I sure do. I love to read the comments about projects, yours are a hit. I sure enjoyed looking at so many of your projects, admire your talent.
    You have inspired me. At this time of year I get the itch to make new pillow covers for living room and bedroom and your bunny pillow I think is going to be in both places. Thanks for the awesome tutorial. I'll have to get a black fabric pen to do the stripes, what a smart technique. Just found your blog tonight so will be looking forward to seeing many more of your wonderful projects.

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  71. This pillow is so much better than ballard's! Just beautiful!!!! I would love to have this on my family room sofa.
    Thanks for the great tutorial! I think I can do this. No wonder you love this project.... I do to! Thanks sooo much!This is one of the most inspiring posts I have seen all spring!
    Yvonne

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  72. Another fantastic project! It is better than Ballard's! Thank you for joining me at Home Sweet Home!
    Sherry

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  73. Love the pillow. Great job. I would also like to make one.

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  74. I think your pillow is cuter! I pinned it, in hopes that I will remember it for next spring!

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  75. WOMAN...THIS IS AWEsOME.
    You did such a great job.
    I really and truly like yours better.
    What a FUN party Debbie has for us ea month. I love it.

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  76. You are just simply amazing Debbie! Your version is much prettier, and the price tag is even sweeter of a deal. I love that Kitty helps too! Thanks for sharing again in the copy cat party.

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  77. Wow...YES!!! He is the very cutest little bunny!!! :D And he looks great on your French garden chair. LOVE this copycat and post!

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  78. What a cute pillow, thank you for sharing the instructions with all of us.

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  79. So sweet...I think I like it much better than the $54.00 pillow! I just love pillows, they can make such a BIG impact and punch for the money and can be switched out so easily! Thanks for sharing!

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  80. This turned out so cute! So with that transfer paper, can I print that on my ink jet printer? I've never used it before. Little Bit from www.DecorateWithaLittleBit.com

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  81. LOVE LOVE LOVE! I've been wanting a french bunny pillow forever but too pricey for me. Thanks for sharing your reverse image so I can make one!

    Have a blessed Easter!
    Hugs, Sherry & Marie

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Thanks so much for stopping by and taking the time to comment! I appreciate my wonderful readers!... Debbie