I'm back after a nice break! I had eye surgery that transitioned right into our Spring break. I thought I would kick off the new week with a fun project that could also be a great personalized gift. I saw a latitude and longitude pillow at a boutique and knew I wanted to make my own version. For this project you will need a cutting machine or stencils. I used the Silhouette Cameo machine, but you could also use the Cricut machine with the Cricut software. I wanted a "typewriter" typestyle so I preferred using a cutting machine over stencils. If you don't have a cutting machine see if you have a scrapbooking friend who does. If not, store bought stencils will work fine. Just buy two different size stencil packs so your numbers are slightly smaller than your letters. Latitude and longitude coordinates can be found easily online. Have fun making these pillows for your favorite cities, home town, or places you have lived. Give two to a friend that is moving, one with their old town, and one with their new one. Give a pair to a wedding couple with their birth cities, and maybe a third with their honeymoon location. The possibilities are endless!
For This Project You Will Need:
Silhouette Cameo Cutting machine or Other Cutting Machine
*Option Two: Store Bought Stencils (Michael's, office supply stores) in two sizes
Card Stock 12"x12"
Heavy Black Cotton Fabric Like Duck Cotton
Stuffing or Pillow Insert
Fabric Paint Or
Acrylic Paint (I used a Light Gray) & Textile Medium (turns acrylic paint into textile paint)
Sponge Pouncers or Small Paint Sponge
Tape Runner ( I used Mono Tombo and it left no residue on the fabric) or you can use double stick tape
To start find out out your latitude and longitude coordinates for your city online. You can google this for several site choices. Here are a couple sites :
Once you have your coordinates (round up if needed) go into your Silhouette Machine Software.
Type the city name.
Select a type style you like. I chose "American Typewriter" type.
Stretch the city name to fit across most of the 12" diameter.
Next type the coordinates underneath the city name.
Type the degrees coordinates first then shift to a lower line for the next coordinates.
I chose to space over to the left or right a little with the second line of coordinates so they were not perfectly lined up.
After the second coordinates choose the colon for the slash mark.
Next make a degree sign.
Create a small circle shape the size of the degree sign you want.
Create another slightly smaller circle and drag it into the middle of the first circle. (you could also type a zero, and then type another smaller zero and drag it over the first).
Select both circles and copy and paste so you have two of them.
Next select the two circles and drag them to where you want the degree signs.
Once you are happy with your design attach your 12" x 12" card stock to the sticky cutting pad and have the machine cut your image.
*If you are using stencils instead of a machine you will need to create a degree sign by cutting a circle and using a hole punch for the inner circle.
Carefully peel the paper off of the sticky pad making sure to lift up on letter parts to keep them from tearing.
You will be left with your words but not the "inside" of the letters.
Take a pair of tweezers and pull off the parts of letters you will need from the sticky cutting pad.
Lay out your fabric.
Use tape runner on the back side of the cut paper making sure to run along little letter parts that might not stay down.
Turn over and press down onto the fabric making sure it is pretty smooth.
Next tape runner the "inside" parts of your letters and adhere on the fabric.
(For example I had to tape on the inside of the letter D, the letter e, and the numbers 9, 4, and 0).
When your image is ready put some light gray fabric paint (or acrylic paint and textile medium) onto a paper plate.
Dab your sponge pouncer into the paint. Be careful not to get too much paint onto the pouncer.
Dab the paint onto the stenciled area. I wanted a slightly "distressed" stamped look to my pillow so I made sure to not use too much paint, and to vary the paint. Sometimes I pressed a little harder, sometimes lighter.
Let dry and carefully peel off the paper.
Use tweezers to pick off the inside letters.
Now trim your fabric and cut another piece for the back and turn into a pillow. This part is up to you how fancy you want your pillow. I made mine a simple rectangle, straight stitched and stuffed.
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Check back soon for our next tutorial!
XOX,
The Rebel Crafter
