Easy Table Runner DIY Project – Drop Cloth Fabric

First, cut a length of drop cloth fabric 15 x 60 inches. Your size may vary depending on your table. I wanted a good length of the runner to drop off the table edge.

Next, wash your drop cloth fabric so that the edges will fray and create a fringe. In addition, I used bleach to lighten the fabric. This step is optional.

Once the fabric has dried, cut off any excess strings and press your runner until the fabric is smooth. You should have a good amount of fringe around the edges, however if you desire more, you can easily pull more stings to create a wider fringe.

Supplies Needed

• Drop Cloth Table Runner
• Fruit cut into desired shapes ( I used Lemons instead of actual limes. )
• Acrylic Paint in desired colors (Lime Green)
• Wax Paper
• Art Paint Brushes

Lay your drop cloth out and place a protective barrier between the fabric and your table. I used a length of wax paper which was a perfect fit. Pour paint onto a flat surface such as a paper plate.

Now you are ready to begin stamping the fabric with your fruit. I wanted to stamp limes for my Cinco De Mayo table runner. There are two things I discovered when I began this project.

1. Limes didn’t create as dramatic effect as lemons. So I used lemon slices instead. No one can tell it was stamped with lemons.
2. Press out as much moisture from the lemon slices as possible without damaging the shape of the delicate membrane. If there is excess moisture, the paint will not adhere correctly.

Dip the fruit slice into the paint and press off any excess onto another area on the plate. Then press onto the fabric in random areas until the paint needs to be replenished.

Alternate shapes and placement until the table runner has the desired amount of stamps. Once you have the area covered, you can use a small art brush to randomly fill in areas that didn’t stamp well.

You don’t want to make the shapes perfect so use a light hand when making any adjustments. You might also like to see these Hand Painted Table Runner's.

The table runner was just the perfect accent for my Cinco De Mayo tablescape.

Note: Heat Set Table Runner - Place a piece of fabric or towel over the painted area once it is completely dry. Use a hot iron to press over the entire painted area. You can now hand wash your table runner safely.

Here is a view of the table setting. You can see more detail here on The 7 Best Cinco de Mayo Table Setting Ideas.