This is Part 3 of the DIY Watercolor Table Runners Craft Supply Box by Pop Shop America. Find Part 1: DIY Sharpie Watercolor Table Runner here and Part 2: How to Turn Acrylic Paint into Fabric Paint here.

You know that feeling when you make something and you want to do a little happy dance because it’s the cutest thing you’ve ever made? That’s how I felt when I finished this DIY Watercolor Tablecloth!

It mimics the style of a series of brushstrokes and it’s reminiscent of one of the most gorgeous paintings ever created – Monet’s Water Lilies.

Before Getting Started

Before you start this project, I recommend reading through the How to Turn Acrylic Paint into Fabric Paint blog post. Make sure you feel comfortable with the basic idea of turning acrylic paint into fabric paint because for this diy, we’re going to turn acrylic paint into watercolor fabric paint!

Supplies to Make a DIY Watercolor Tablecloth with Acrylic Paint

DIY Watercolor Tablecloth Making Kit from Pop Shop America
or
Cotton Tablecloth
Acrylic Paint in an Array of Colors (I used: Baby Pink, Lemon Yellow, Lime Green, Muted Sage Green, & Lavender)
Fabric Medium (for acrylic paint)
Foam Brush
Disposable Cups
Water

Popsicle Sticks or anything to stir your Watercolor Paint is helpful too.

What Type of Acrylic Paint Should I Use to Make Watercolor Fabric Paint?

When you are making Watercolor Fabric Paint, it’s best to use a lightweight fluid acrylic paint. Deco Art, Apple Barrel, or any similar craft paint is perfect for this project.

You can use a regular body Liquitex or more professional quality paint, just expect to adjust your recipe, and add a lot more water than what I did here.

How to Make Watercolor Fabric Paint Recipe

The recipe for Watercolor Fabric Paint is:

1 tablespoon Water
1 tablespoon Fabric Medium
1 tablespoon Acrylic Paint

You don’t need to measure these supplies perfectly. Eye balling it and getting it close is just fine! Because acrylic paint is heavier than water or fabric medium, it will sink to the bottom. So I recommend adding your supplies to your disposable cup in that order. Start with water and finish with acrylic paint.

Then stir your Watercolor Fabric Paint thoroughly with a popsicle stick. Again, your acrylic paint will sink to the bottom, so I recommend stirring a lot longer than what you think you need. Try your best to scrape the bottom of the cup and lift the paint at the bottom to the top so that it blends well.

You will want the consistency of your Watercolor Fabric Paint to not be much thicker than juice. It will be slightly thicker than water, but should have a nice pourable flow to it. If your Watercolor Fabric Paint needs adjusting, add a touch more water or a touch more acrylic paint.

About Watercolor Fabric Paint Colors

You don’t have to use acrylic paint straight out of the bottle. If you are looking for a more unique color, you can mix and blend to your heart’s desire! Remember to add white to lighten the color, black to darken, and gray to neutralize warm tones.

How to Make a DIY Watercolor Brushstroke Tablecloth

Start with Your Lightest Color

Blend your lightest color of acrylic paint into Watercolor Fabric Paint. Then dip a tiny amount on your foam brush and organically paint small sections of your tablecloth.

Make sure that the sections are placed randomly, that they have different sizes and that they have different shapes too.

Continue Painting One Color at a Time

Next, wash out your foam brush and disposable cup thoroughly and start with your next color. Blend your 2nd lightest color acrylic paint into Watercolor Fabric Paint and brush it onto the tablecloth is smooth motions. Continue the process of making organic, curved, rounded shapes. If any of your 2nd color touches the first, be sure that the tablecloth doesn’t have any blank, unpainted spots there.

If needed, you can get your brush wet with clear water and help the colors blend where they touch more seamlessly. This is also a helpful hack if any of your paint is too thick.

Allow the Paint to Dry

Once you have worked through all the colors, allow the tablecloth to set and dry before heat treating the tablecloth. This will likely dry slightly slower than regular acrylic paint, because of how much moisture has been added with the fabric medium and water, but it shouldn’t take long – perhaps 30 minutes to 1 hour.

How to Care for Your DIY Watercolor Brushstroke Tablecloth

Before you use your tablecloth, be sure to heat set the Watercolor Fabric Paint. Cover the tablecloth with piece of clean cotton, like a dish towel or t shirt. Iron for 2-4 minutes on medium. Or you can place your tablecloth in the dryer for 30-40 on high.

After the paint is heat set, you can launder this tablecloth like you would any other cotton item you have! This Watercolor Fabric Paint is completely permanent and won’t lose its color.

Get Creative

First of all, your Watercolor Tablecloth, doesn’t need to be Monet Water Lilies inspired and you don’t even need to use brushstrokes! You could make stripes, or abstract shapes. You could stencil a design and so much more. Second, you don’t need to use this technique on a tablecloth! You could try this same technique on canvas sneakers, t-shirts, scarves, or anything else that’s cotton or natural fiber.

Ready to make it for yourself?

Let’s Stay Friends!

Insta | Pinterest | Enews | TikTok