This is the fourth project that I am sharing in the series Girl Scout Projects to Build Character and Self Esteem. I created this pillow for my Girl Scouts (Cadettes) to put on their cots in their cabins when we go camping in a few weeks. Being a middle schooler is hard stuff. These girls are challenged each day to determine who they are in the world. These pillows offer several ways to remind them of who they are (or aspire to become) as well as that they are lovable and amazing. This post was sponsored by Fairfield World as they provided the pillow form and the stuffing beads. The ideas and opinions are my own.
To make this pillow, you will need the following:
- Fabric (two 13 by 13 inch squares)
- Kunin Group Felt for pocket, trefoil and heart beanbag (Preferably eco-fi Plus)
- 8 inch piece of ribbon
- Sewing Machine
- Pillow Form (Crafter’s Choice by Fairfield World)
- Poly Pellets weighted stuffing beads
- Page Protector
- Scissors (We love our troop collection from Fiskars)
The pillow serves three (well…really four) purposes.
The first purpose is to remind your Girl Scout that she is LOVABLE. That is the purpose of the beanbag heart that is attached with a ribbon and fits in the felt pocket.
The second purpose is to create a space for your Girl Scout to receive messages of empowerment. That is the why there is a pocket. It is a place to put messages.
The third is to create a space to remind your Girl Scout what matters. The plastic pocket is a place to insert the promise, a poem or a photograph. If you want the Girl Scout promise or law, you can grab them in this other post.
The fourth purpose is to give your Girl Scout a way to decorate their space with something that reminds them of the value of being in Girl Scouts.
Directions
- Measure and cut your fabric.
- Cut a felt pocket measuring 6 x 6 inches.
- Cut a felt trefoil to go on the pocket. If you need a template, here is a free one.
- Cut two red felt hearts exactly the same, 3 inches wide.
- Cut a 7 x 5 inch piece of plastic from a page protector.
- Sew the two hearts together with the ribbon stitched in like a beanbag stuffed with beads.
- Sew the other end of the ribbon to the top of the felt pocket. Put the heart beanbag IN the pocket.
- Sew the pocket to the front piece of fabric.
- Sew the page protector (on three sides leaving the top open) to the back piece of fabric.
- Sew the two pieces of fabric together, inside out, leaving the bottom open.
- Flip the fabric.
- Insert the pillow form.
- Fold the bottom of the fabric in and sew the pillow closed.
If you are curious, this pillow takes about 45 minutes to make from start to finish if you are making just one. If you are making multiples, it goes quicker as you do the pieces for each all at the same time.
Be sure to check back, the next Girl Scout project in this series is one of my favorites.
Cheers to empowering Girl Scouts and kids everywhere.
Laura
This is cute! We already made camp pillows when we did our rainbow bridge requirements but I may use this idea when I teach my girls to sew — straight lines only! Lol. (They’re only first year Brownies so I have time to think about this.)
What a beautiful pillow. My girl would love encouraging words on it. Anything to let them know they are unstoppable!
You could make the hearts for them and they could sew the rest. All straight lines!!! <3
Encouraging words are always a great empowering tool. We are going to be painting some soon. <3
I think I would use the following phrase, its the theme this year for one of the companies that I work for and I feel like it really resonates: “Beautiful girl, you can do hard things.”
These are perfect. We have a grandma who sews and is always wanting to help. I don’t think she is online. Can I have permission to print this post for her?
These are fancy. My girls would love them so much. Now to figure out how I can get them made.
I would tell my girls that they can do anything because they’re awesome!!
Great message!
Love these! An awesome craft for a few younger girls in my troop (s)
Looking for a straight line sewing and embroidery project for our Cadettes. The fact that this will also speak to middle school self esteem issues makes it even more appropriate. Thanks Laura.
You are welcome. If you want to get the trefoil on without having to sew it, use Aleene’s Fabric Fusion adhesive sheets. They are AH-Mazing!
Cute pillow! I’ll have to save this idea for when our Scouts get a little older!