Hey Y’all I’m excited to be planning a Welcome to Fall Dinner here at the Ponds. We plan to use the outdoor kitchen and patio area to entertain our guests and I wanted something to dress up the tables. Since the atmosphere is very casual, I decided to use table runners instead of table clothes.
Do you know how hard it is to find fall table runner’s in various lengths? Well, it’s impossible so here is how I made a DIY Hand-painted Drop Cloth Table Runner for each table. They are custom made to fit all the different table lengths for our outdoor kitchen and entertaining area. Yay!
Prepare Drop Cloth
Before you start this project, wash and dry the drop cloth. Remove from dryer while damp to avoid having to press.
First, cut your table runner’s the length and width you need from the drop cloth material. Allow about 1/2 inch on each side for hem if you plan to hem the edges of your runner.
I personally used a serger machine to stitch the raw edges and stop them from fraying. There are several options, including turning the edge under and stitching with a sewing machine. If you don’t have a sewing machine, you can use fabric glue to fold the raw edge under. Another option is to leave the edges raw and use a liquid fray block to keep it from unraveling any further.
Draw flowers on DIY Drop Cloth Table Runner
Once you have your table runners cut to size and the edges taken care of, it’s time to draw your flowers. For this step, use a dark brown or black sharpie marker with a fine point. Begin at the bottom edge of the runner and draw lines using the sharpie up the fabric at varying lengths. These will be the stems of your flowers.
Next, begin to draw the flowers themselves. Begin in the center of each flower and draw a swirling circle for the flower’s center. Then, draw larger swirling circles for the petals. I like to make some more round and other’s more oval in shape.
This is a fast process and the flowers can be messy because no two should be identical.
Hand Paint the Flowers on the table runner
For the next step, you will need to determine the colors for your flowers. I choose blue, orange and yellow. I choose to use Chalk Paint for the hand painted flowers because it’s pliable and doesn’t require a fabric medium. If you use regular craft paint, add a fabric medium so the table runner’s will not be stiff where painted.
Mix you paint with water at approximately a 50/50 ratio. You will want to see through the paint once it’s applied to the flowers. Using the same swirling motion, paint each flower. There is no need to stay within the lines as you paint. Allow your brush to just float over the drawn flowers.
In addition to the flowers, add a few leaves to the stems. For these, I used just a dab of brown craft paint to each leaf.
DIY Hand-painted Drop cloth Table runner Finished
Once the paint is dry, you can place your new DIY Hand-painted Drop Cloth Table Runner on the table. I can’t wait to use the cute table runner’s at my fall event.
The colors work perfectly with the chair cushions that I use in the outdoor kitchen.
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If you’d like to see more about the outdoor kitchen entertaining area, you can see before and after here.
Click here to see how to make tassels to add to the table runners. If you’d like to see how I planned for this party click here and here are the table arrangement details.
Click Photo for Details
You can see how I made the Earthenware Vessel from a thrift store find here.
Thanks so much for stopping by today! Your support and comments mean so much to me. I look forward to sharing my next project and adventure with you!
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I hear you Rachel about table runners being a standard size and not fitting. Great idea using drop cloth material to make some. Your handpainted ones are so cute! and love the colors! Pinned
Marie,
I really appreciate your encouragement! Thanks for stopping by!
Rachel.
Sooo adorable!!!! Luuuv it👏👏👏
Marsha,
I’m so glad you stopped by. Thanks so much!
Rachel
Good Morning Rachel
LOVE LOVE LOVE this. I just adore your sweet flowers you painted on this wonderful runner. What a great idea to make them yourself since you couldn’t find what you were looking for. It looks great on your outdoor table. Your guests will think you purchased it
have a great day Rachel
deezie
Deezie,
Thanks so much for stopping by and your sweet compliments!
Rachel.
I was wondering what I was going to do with my extra drop cloths! Excellent tutorial. Hope my drawing skills are as fabulous as yours! Crossing my fingers AND toes! Pinned. 🙂 BTW, you totally need to put this on the Farmhouse Friday Link Party – just sayin. 😉
Cindy,
Thanks for your encouragement!
Rachel
LOVE this drop cloth runner and tutorial!! I just may try this. Excellent directions and finished product!
#glad
Jill,
I am so glad you like it! 😘
Rachel
This is so beautiful! I don’t think I could draw that but great tutorial. Also, if I could only sew.
Beautiful!
.Cindy
Cindy,
This was so easy. You could easily do this.
Rachel
This turned out so pretty Rachel! Your outdoor space looks lovely. -Marie
Marie,
I really appreciate that! Thank you so much for stopping by! 😘
Rachel, this is so cute!!! I can’t wait to try and make one 🙂
Oh I’m so glad you like it. So easy. Thanks
Rachel
Luv this runner Rachel. And the colors. Pinned🙌🏻
Ann,
Thanks so much! I appreciate your encouragement!
Rachel
Love this idea Rachel!! Thanks for the inspiration.
Corine,
Thanks so much sweetie!
Rachel
I may try this with drawing autumn leaves on the runner – I need something to donate to the holiday bazaar this year. first, one for me!!!
Oh that’s a great idea. Thanks for sharing with me. I love when someone can improve on my ideas. Best of luck.
Rachel
Absolutely love this idea! Your runners look gorgeous!
Anne,
I’m so glad you like them.
Rachel
OOh I so LOVE this simplicity! Already started sketching these flowers on paper and finding I can do this! Plus I’ve taken it a step further in making a butterfly in having five together and drawing out the antenna! Either way, THANK YOU as this will also be a drawing I do on envelopes when sending cards. Shall never forget this inspiration!!
Julie,
Oh my gosh! I’m so happy this inspired you. I appreciate you sharing your ideas with me.
Rachel.
WOW!! Great tutorial – I think I may try this one day soon. Yours is just perfect choices of colors and style. Well done. Thank you for the inspiration!
Visiting from over at Thistlewood Farm’s “Thistlekeeping.” Glad to have found you!
Michele,
I’m so glad you popped over. I love KariAnne and so glad you found me.
Rachel
This is gorgeous. Thanks for sharing.
Oh, I’m so glad you like it.
Rachel
Thank you for the wonderful idea and great instructions!
Can the table runner be laundered?
Shari,
Yes, I would press the image with a hot iron before using. Be sure to place a barrier layer of another fabric between the image and the iron to be safe. The paint could stick to the iron so the barrier layer is important to protect the iron as well as your painted image.
Rachel
This is lovely! Great idea! I can barely draw a stick person but your tutorial is very good and makes me think I could give this a try. PINNED!!!
Kristi,
You’ve got this. Let me know how it goes. Thanks for your support,
Rachel