DIY Stenciled Drop Cloth Table Runner

I fell in love with today's craft tutorial when I first saw it. Brittany from Pretty Hand Girl is going to show us how to make a beautiful stenciled table runner. This project could easily be tailored to any holiday or event. Please help me welcome Brittany to the blog today!
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DIY Stenciled Drop Cloth Table Runner
{Guest Post by Pretty Handy Girl}

Hi y'all! I'm Brittany, aka Pretty Handy Girl. Normally I'm serving up DIY tutorials on my blog, PrettyHandyGirl.com, but today I'm honored to be guest posting for Amanda. With the holidays fast approaching, you might be looking for some great DIY gift ideas for those tough to shop for people on your gift list.

These stenciled table runners are just the ticket for anybody who likes to host parties or just make their table look festive. I'll show you how to make this super easy table runner using a painter's drop cloth and sample paints. And you'll have plenty of leftover cloth to make three more!
                           


You can purchase almost all of the supplies at your local home improvement store (I got my supplies at Lowe's.) The cloth is cut from a canvas drop cloth that was folded into fourths. To make them look and feel more like french grain sack material, the drop cloths are washed 2-3 times in the washer with bleach added to the cycle. The result is a lighter and softer canvas that mimics linen.

                       


 I used some leftover latex paint for two of my runners. Plus, I bought a sample of Valspar paint in "Bright Red" for the red one.
                           

Each sample jar holds enough paint to print two runners.

   
Materials:

• 9-ft x 6-ft 8 oz. Canvas Drop Cloth - pre-washed and cut into four 27" x 6' strips
• 8 oz Paint Sample
• 4-in Cabinet/Door Foam Roller
• Paint tray
• Royal Studio Design Stencil - Lisboa (You don't have to use a stencil, use what you have. Or tape off stripes with painter's tape!)
• Painter's Tape
• Wet wipes

Instructions:

Cut your drop cloth into four lengths measuring 27" x 6' long. Fray the edges of the canvas runners. Trim any long threads.


Fold the canvas runner in half length-wise and iron the fold. Open up the runner, fold it in half width-wise and iron the fold. This will give you a center mark to line your stencil up with.


Line up the stencil on the center creases. Put a piece of painter's tape on each corner to hold the stencil in place.


Roll the foam roller into the paint and roll off any excess. Paint over the entire stencil being sure to get equal coverage and not to run over the edge of the stencil.


Carefully lift the stencil up and off the runner.


Line the stencil up next to the first print. Make sure the stencil overlaps correctly.


Roll paint over the entire stencil again.


Repeat on the other side of the first stencil print. Three Lisboa stencil prints should fit perfectly on the runner.


After the paint has dried, you may wash the runner again to soften the paint. The edges will fray a little more, but I tend to like that look. If you don't want the runner to fray you could turn the edges under and sew a seam.


The blue runner would fit in nicely with New Year's Eve or Easter decorations.


I'm in love with these runners. They are so pretty that I want to keep them for myself. Which color do you like best? Blue...or red?

                               


Did you like this tutorial? If you want more DIY gift ideas that won't break your budget, you'll want to check out my Très Frugal series, running all November.
                    

 I'm joined by a few blogger friends to bring you 30 days of DIY gift tutorials!

 
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Thank you, Brittany! I can't wait to try this one out on my own.

What's your favorite way to dress up your table for the holidays?

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