Modern DIY Handpainted Napkins

Here are the steps for the painted table cloth and napkins I made on Hallmark's Home and Family....Hand painted and stenciled table lines have an age old tradition, but are often very expensive or very traditional in their styling.  Here's how to use some leftover house paint and masking tape to make your own. You can use leftover latex wall paint from the breakfast room walls to make matching linens or give new life to that stained tablecloth that's been stashed in your bottom linen drawer.  The secret is fabric medium which is added to the paint to keep it pliable and let it work on the fabric and heat sealing it afterward with an iron.

MATERIALS
- Table cloth and napkins
- Masking tape, round labels, stencils
- Latex paint
- Fabric medium
- Iron

STEPS

If you're using new table linens, make sure you wash them to remove the sizing before you begin.Spread out the piece to be painted and lay out your pattern.  For the table cloth I did on Home and Family, I ran 2" masking tape 3 inches apart around the perimeter of the table cloth.  I then placed 2 1/2" oval precut labels from the office supply store.For the various napkins I used a mixture of 2" and 1/4" masking tape and letter stencils.  Just remember that wherever you place the tape will remain the fabric color.  Also, make sure that you get a good seal between the tape and the fabric with your finger nails so that paint can't seep underneath the tape.Mix your paint with the fabric medium following the directions on the medium. It's usually 2 to 1, but can vary by brand.Roller or brush the paint carefully over the taped area.  Completely cover the area with out building up too much paint.When the paint is mostly mostly dry carefully pull off the tape.  Doing it while it's still a little moist will keep the paint from chipping when you remove the tape.  Once the pieces are completely dry, set the paint by pressing the painted area with a warm iron.