Last year I got the prettiest watercolor inkblot art print from Minted and it has to be one of the most asked about pieces I have. So when I was playing around with water-coloring on fabric a few weeks ago (remember my watercolor dot napkins?), I tried my hand and creating my own watercolor ink blot and I LOVE the way it turned out. So much so that I made a few different “blots” and turned them into the most awesome pillows ever.

So obviously the whole point of ink blots is that they are up to interpretation by the viewer, but I can’t help but see Lisa Frank-esque animals in all of the ink blots. What is even more fun is that when you turn them around the animals transform into different animals. They are definitely a fun addition to any space and such a conversation starter!

The Supplies:

• White Cloth napkins (I get mine from Cost Plus World Market for 6 for $9.99)
• Acrylic Multi Surface craft paint in a variety of colors
• Paint brush, paper plate, and cup of water
• Plain white paper and a rolling pin
• Backing fabric (optional for pillow making, you can also use another napkin instead of a printed fabric)
• Trim (optional, I used mini pom pom trim I found on Etsy and gold piping I made myself)
• Pillow Insert or Polyfil
• Sewing machine

 Let’s begin by making the watercolor ink blots. You will need to wet your napkin completely and then ring out any extra water. Fold your napkin in half and lay out on a table or surface you don’t mind getting paint on.

Begin by watering down your paints a bit and then randomly adding paint to your napkin. Use the extra water to blend the colors and bit and be sure to add a few dark paint spots around the napkin for depth. I also added a few watercolor spots for extra interest.

Once you have your paint the way you like, cover the napkin with a piece of white copy paper and use your rolling pin to roll over the image. This will help push the paint through to the other side and create the “ink blot” effect. Now open your napkin to reveal your image. Lay your napkin out to dry and make a few more while your at it.

Once your napkin is dry, spray it with a bit of water and iron out any wrinkles. Then cut a similar size piece of coordinating backing fabric (or use another plain cloth napkin). Sew up your pillow by placing the right sides together and sewing around three sides (be sure to insert your trim in-between the seam before sewing, if you are adding trim). Turn your pillow case right side out and stuff with poly fill or your pillow insert and then machine or hand stitch the pillow case closed and you’re done.

Aren’t these so fun? I love that no two are the same and that they are really up to interpretation on what you see. For example, I see leopard with it’s tongue out in the above photo and a tiger with a little hat in the one above that. But turn the tiger upside down and it looks like an angry bird (see the pillow on the floor below).

So tell me, what do you see?