How to Make Starfish and Sand Dollar Denim Pillows

How many old pairs of blue jeans do you have hanging around at your house?  I have a bunch.  I love to upcycle items like old blue jeans, and living in Florida, I am always incorporating coastal and sea life themes into my home décor pieces.  This tutorial, how to make starfish and sand dollar denim pillows is perfectly “ME”!

Upcycle Denim to Create Starfish and Sand Dollar Pillows

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Here’s what you will need to make upcycled denim pillows:

• Kunin Classic Felt™ 9” x 12” Craft Cuts – Cream and Sandstone (one of each)
• Starfish and Sand Dollar Patterns – download below ⇓
• Beacon Adhesives Felt Glue
• Americana Acrylic Paint by DecoArt^® in Sand and Sandstone
• Fairfield World Poly-Fil^® Polyester Pillow Stuffing
• Natural Rope Trim – four sections 9″ each
• Pencil; Eraser; Permanent Marker; Scissors; Stabilo Aquarellable Pencil White; Paint Brush #2 Round; Ruler; Craft Knife and Self-Healing Mat; Scrap Paper (I used 8 ½” by 11 printer paper)

Here’s How To Make Starfish and Sand Dollar Denim Pillows:

Step One:

Measure the width of the bottom of the legs of your blue jeans with a ruler. I used old boot cut jeans, so they are 9” wide. Measure up 10” from the hem and mark with Aquarelleable White Pencil. Cut with scissors. Measure and cut four lengths of natural rope trim to the width of your jeans (mine are 9”) and set aside.

TIP: Secure ends of rope trim with liquid glue to prevent fraying.

Step Two:

Download, print and cut out  STARFISH AND SAND DOLLAR DENIM PILLOW PATTERNS or draw your own coastal themed images. Trace Starfish onto Kunin Eco-fi^® Classicfelt™ Sandstone with a permanent marker.

Trace the Sand Dollar pattern on to Kunin Eco-fi^® Classicfelt™ Cream with a permanent marker.

Cut out images with scissors.

TIP: When using a maker to measure on to felt, cut inside the lines so you end up with a clean, finished product.

Step Three:

Using patterns as your guide, paint on details using Sandstone colored paint on Sand Dollar and Sand colored paint on Starfish. Outline the edges with paint to make your images really POP!

TIP: To create perfect dots, simply dip the eraser end of a pencil and/or handle end of a paintbrush in paint and pounce onto the surface.

Step Four:

Apply Felt Glue to the inside bottom edges of the hem of the blue jeans. Carefully insert the natural rope trim. Push down gently to make sure that the glue is grabbing the fabrics, then secure thicker edges with clothespins until dry.  This creates a pocket, so you can stuff your pillows.

Step Five:

Fill both pillows with Poly-Fil® from Fairfield World.

Apply Felt Glue to the inside top edges of the hem of the blue jeans. Carefully insert the natural rope trim. Push down gently to make sure that the glue is grabbing the fabrics, then secure thicker edges with clothespins until dry.

Here is a detailed shot of the painted felt – LOVE!

These pillows were also quick and easy to make in just an evening.  Switch up the colors, sizes, and shapes to place your own personalized creative spin on this Starfish and Sand Dollar Denim Pillow project – the possibilities are endless! And Mother’s Day is right around the corner!

Designer Pillows created by some of my craftiest friends!

I am excited to share some other projects made by myself and some of my favorite people. Hop over to check out their darling ideas using Fairfield World and Kunin Felt products!

• Bunny Sock Gnome by Debra Quartermain
• Kindness Bunny by Laura Kelly Designs
• Monster Tooth Fairy Pillow by Erin Reed
• Message Pillows by Laura Kelly Designs
• Tooth Fairy Pillow by Katie Berry
• Polar Bear Hoop Wreath by Beth Watson
• Carrot Beanbags by Laura Kelly Designs
• Patchwork Holiday Pillows by Laura Kelly Designs
• Snowflake Pillow by Beth Watson Designs

Thanks for stopping by!