I love drop cloths for craft projects. I have wanted to make some grommet drop cloth curtains for a while, I’m always late to the party. When Iron Orchid Designs offered to send me some of their new décor roller stamps, I knew they would be perfect for diy curtains.
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These are the two IOD Roller Stamps I got. One is Iron Gate and the smaller one is Roma.
Using a roller stamp on drop cloth curtains
Although my drop cloths are cheap and plentiful, I decided to do a test “roll” on a scrap piece. I lined a tray with some tin foil and poured in a little Repose by Heirloom Traditions Paint This large stamp is Iron Gate, I wasn’t able to find it on Amazon.
Testing the Roller Stamp Pattern
This is the test run! Easy, pretty, and fun! The sisters said in their video that you can expect to roll about 10’ with each load.
There really wasn’t a plan, but I decided to do Roma along the bottom hem, and Iron Gate above that. I was able to load the roller stamp and easily make it all the way across the 6’ drop cloth. It’s a little wavy, but so is the hem of the drop cloth. 
Roller Stamping is so EASY
Isn’t this Repose color (gray) beautiful against the neutral drop cloth material?
Remember when I said there wasn’t really a plan? After putting the Roma, and the Iron Gate, I decided to do another Roma border. I LOVE it!
I was a little intimidated to use these roller stamps, but I shouldn’t have been. It really was fun and easy.
I hung the drop cloth curtain panels on my diy picket fence to dry. Honestly, I was just so proud of them, I wanted to show them off.
NOTE: I did not pre-wash my drop cloths. I’ve washed plenty of them before, and I know they get very wrinkled and sort of bumpy. At this point they hadn't been ironed because I didn’t want to waste my time should I screw it up. I didn’t use a fabric sealer with the paint, so I am not sure how the paint will hold up in the wash.
How to clean roller stamps
A garden hose was used to clean the paint out of the foam and the stamp. It was much easier to clean than I anticipated.
I rolled a dish towel in between the stamp and the roller a couple of times to help get any water out of the foam.
Add Grommets to Drop Cloth Curtain Panels
Now on to the next step!
I ordered three sets of these brown grommets on Amazon.
I really don’t like to sew, and since these curtains will probably be temporary and for staging projects with my portable wall I really took the easy route to attach the grommets to the top of the drop cloth.
After measuring, I knew I would have to remove about 5” off the top. I did a little “snip” and “rip” removing what I needed. I folded over the raw edge (about 4 ½”) , then folded that over again to make about a 5” .
Easy Curtain Grommet Tutorial
After doing some math (not my strong suit) I decided on 12 grommets for each 6 ft curtain panel. I started on one side, putting the first grommet slightly away from the hem, and 2 ½” from the top. Because I had three packages of the grommets I was able to use more than one tracing guide. I used my hem guide to help with the spacing. (it is typically stored with my silhouette supplies for gauging vinyl placement)
I cut through 3 layers of the drop cloth, placed the ringed grommet underneath, and the pronged grommet on top. A simple press with my palm and I had my first grommet in place.
a few things you should know:
- The grommets are plastic
- Lining all of your grommets up along your traced lines will speed things up
- Cutting the circle and immediately doing that grommet is the best way to go, one at a time
- If the grommet seems stubborn, and doesn’t want to snap, a slight twist of your palm, will line it up so it easily snaps in place.
Remember, the ringed grommet goes on the “right” side of the curtain panel, and the pronged grommet goes on the “wrong” side of the curtain panel.
You can see a purchased grommet curtain that I brought out to use for placement. It didn’t really help.
Make your own grommet curtains
And, they are done! Well, almost—I still need to iron and hang them.
Here they are hanging with my latest diy headboard bench. I actually did a video showing you how to make this small headboard bench.
Now I can say I’ve made grommet drop cloth curtains with fun stenciled (roller stamps) using paint! aka painted drop cloth curtains.
There are so many ways you can use these roller stamps. My friend Wendi from H2o Bungalow made these awesome DIY Napkins.
How would you use these fabulous roller stamps?
gail
LYNN STEVENS
Hi Lynn
I I'm wondering if I should wash my drop cloth I love the look but I can't take the smell. I bought the same brand that Gail bought....any ideas ?
LYNN STEVENS
Hi Gail ,
I love this look ! I love my new drop cloth curtain. I knew it needed a little something... I can't take the smell though and I'm too afraid to wash it. Do you think if I washed it and I earned it would be okay?
Gail Wilson
Lynn,
If you're going to wash it, I recommend washing it several times - maybe with a little bleach. You can just wash it several times, or wash/dry wash/dry wash/dry. They come out of the wash very wrinkled and a little stiff. 🙂 I've washed and ironed a fair share of drop cloths! 🙂
good luck!
gail
Lynn Fowler
Hi Gail, I tried to email you an answer to how well the painting will hold up on your curtains if washed. For some reason, the email didn`t go through. Soooo, if you heat set the paint with an iron, they are washable. I have even used a little bleach in the wash with my pillowcovers I had stenciled and they did fine.
Gail Wilson
Great to know Lynn! Thanks for sharing your tips for heat setting paint on fabric. I appreciate it.
gail
Mary-the boondocks blog
Gail this is such a fun idea. The stamp really makes the curtains look extravagant. Why they look like they came from a high-end store. Great thinking.
Gail Wilson
Thank you Mary so much for your kind comment. I appreciate you taking the time to leave a comment.
gail
Serena @ Thrift Diving
These are so cute, Gai! When I used my roller stamps, I didn't get such good results because I was trying to do a whole PANEL of curtain and not just the bottom and I couldn't figure out how to overlap them so they'd look right. I like how you just did one pass, and used the other one on the top and bottom. I'll give it a go again. These are super cute! I actually need curtains in my other room, so I'll do this. 🙂 Sharing on my FB page!
Gail Wilson
Thanks for sharing Serena! 🙂 This was really a lot of fun! I hope your next project goes smoothly!
gail
Lynn Fowler
I have painted lots of fabric with regular acrylics and latex house paint. I always let the paint dry then cover with another piece of fabric and heat set the paint with my iron. Works great. I also have DIY drop cloth curtains in my family room. Love them. The paint treatment you did looks great.
Gail Wilson
Lynn,
When you heat set with the iron, does it make it washable? I've done printing on fabric (with a printer) and folks are always asking how to make it washable. . .
gail
sally
I absolutely LOVE this tutorial Gail and just in time for me to make my drop cloth curtains. thank you for making our products shine like you always do!
Gail Wilson
Sally, I love all your products, but this might be my favorite ever. Sooo easy and lots of bang for your buck! 🙂
gail
Linda Manuel
Got to find those stencils and do this! I have already made the drop cloth curtains and this sure would dress them up.
Gail Wilson
ohhh, Linda--they aren't stencils, they are paint roller stamps. So much easier than stencils. Load it with paint, then go all the way across the bottom in one swipe. sooo easy!
gail
Patty
Gail they are absolutely beautiful. I have two "Frenchie" chairs that I bought used several years ago. They have a beautiful silk fabric on them but because of age they split and need to be re-done. I could see them done with this method but with blue paint. Thanks for sharing.
Gail Wilson
Patty,
That sounds very pretty with blue paint. These are so easy, and can be done anywhere, on furniture-walls . . . the ideas are endless!
gail
chris aka monkey
wow gail these turned out so cool, i have wanted to make drop cloth curtains for my grandsons room because they are little hellions, but other grommet posts made it look to hard and using those stencils will make them look so much better xx
Gail Wilson
Chris,
I hate to sew! 🙂 I had to find a way to do this without sewing. I know some people use fusing tape instead of sewing....
Donna Moore
Love what you did. Just the inspiration I needed to do my own DIY draperies. Beautiful. Thank you for sharing.
Gail Wilson
So happy to inspire you Donna! These roller stamps aren't just for fabric. They can be used on furniture, walls and more!
gail
Melissa
Gorgeous!
Dee
What a cool project. Love the width of the stencil. Good job.