Get your home ready for Halloween with these easy-to-make skeleton pillows. They’re perfect for tossing on the couch or setting in the rocking chair out on the porch! 

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I have all the luck. No. Really. Allow me to illustrate. Last year I purchased some cushions for my rocking chairs for Halloween…The cushions were fairly pricey, so I watched and waited until they were marked down a bit and quite possibly purchased the last two. Shipping on the cushions was delayed and they didn’t end up arriving until after Halloween. I took the box they were in and placed it on a shelf in the garage.

Fast forward to this summer. After installation on my yard was complete, I hired the landscapers to help me clean out my garage a bit too. Whelp, one of the landscapers picked up the box my cushions were in and because it was so light thought there was nothing there…it was thrown into the trash. Sad face. So here we are at Halloween again and I don’t have seasonal cushions for my rocking chairs.

DIY Skeleton Pillows

After I took down summer, everything looked a little bare and I knew I had to get something on those chairs. I ran to Ikea, purchased two large pillows and pillow forms and created these fun creepy skeleton pillows to fill the chairs. I think they’re doing the job perfectly!

What you will need to recreate these DIY skeleton pillows:

• skeleton hands cut file + skull cut file (download available below)
• pillow form and pillow case (I used these 26×26 pillow covers from Ikea, but here’s something similar on Amazon)
• black heat transfer vinyl
• electronic cutting machine (I use this moderately priced Cricut machine)
• heat source (I used the Cricut Easy Press)
• heat surface (I use the Circut Easy Press Mat)

How to recreate these DIY skeleton pillows using cut files:

1. Download the Cut File (see download buttons below).
2. Upload the design to your electronic cutting machine’s design software and create the appropriately sized layout. For this pillow project I sized the images to about 12 inches wide.
3. Mirror the image so that the text appears backwards on the screen.
4. Feed the heat transfer material into your machine with the glossy side down. Select HTV on the dial or in the media menu and cut.
5. Peel the negative space in the design off the plastic backing, leaving only the words and shapes on the clear plastic transfer sheet.
6. Place the t-shirt on a heat-resistant surface. Pre-heat the pillow cover you’re planning to transfer the design on for about five seconds and crease the center for placement reference.
   Note: I love using this Cricut mat. I can use it on any hard surface without concern AND it helps heat my projects evenly.
7. Position the design on the t-shirt sticky side down so that you see it clearly through the transfer sheet. Your text should be facing the right direction at this point.
8. Press the t-shirt firmly according to the directions on your vinyl and heat source (typically about 40-60 seconds).
   Note: I have used an iron, as well as a professional t-shirt press and I prefer the Cricut Easy Press over both. It’s easy to use, store and always creates a consistent result. 
9. Remove the heat source. Gently peel up the transfer sheet. If the HTV continues to stick to the transfer sheet, replace the cloth and iron again making sure to apply pressure.
   Note: Follow the instructions on your HTV to determine if the transfer sheet should be pulled back when the vinyl is still hot or if you should wait until it’s cooled.

Skeleton Hands Cut File

Skull Cut File

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