I love this project! It was quite a bit of work because I stenciled 6 curtain panels!
Sounds like a lot of work, right?
Let me tell you, it was 100 percent worth it and I'd do it again in a heart beat!
Why? I needed a large quantity, 6 panels to create the looks I was after. This way I got exactly what I wanted: a beautiful damask curtain on a linen-like fabric with the exact shade of gray I wanted. In my eyes, you cannot beat it!
First, here's a few pics of my inspiration curtains.

This is from Shanty 2 Chic and the fabric is Waverly Bedazzled in Silver. Love it, but it costs $30 a yard (sometimes it's on sale for $20). Um, thanks, but no thanks.
You can kinda see these curtain panels from The Lettered Cottage in this pic. Similar feel, right? Cream and "greige" on a textured cotton or linen, beautiful and vintage-y.
Last, but not least-Stephanie's curtains- from Frugal Home Ideas.
{PS she's sharing a no sew curtain tutorial on that post}
I choose a damask pattern because I wanted something that looked a little aged, and I thought Anna Damask Allover Stencil from Cutting Edge Stencils would do that perfectly.
When I add something new, I am always mentally trying to balance something new {looking} with something old {looking}. I want a room that looks both modern and vintage. For me, damask equals an aged element. I also wanted a soft, scrolling pattern to balance all the hard elements in my space- the metallics, the modern lines, and the typography everywhere.
Materials
6 Curtain Panels from Ikea
Gray Craft Paint - 2 bottles per curtain
Fabric Paint Additive- 2 bottles
Paint Roller and Stencil Pouncers
Stencil
Painter's Tape
Stencil Adhesive
I've done some stenciling before {like the Greek Key Fabric stencil I made}, but I watched the tutorial from Cutting Edge Stencils, just to be certain I didn't have any mishaps. Since I was doing a product review, I wanted to make certain I was reviewing the actual product and not my user error!
[1] Lay out your fabric on a flat surface with paper or cardboard underneath, something to catch the paint that may soak through the fabric. I created a faux flat surface for my stenciling by using a zillion pieces of free cardboard from Ikea. I knew I was going to have 6-8 panels to paint, so I figured that good surface preparation was worth it. {Yeah, I use Ikea's free supplies- All. The. Time.}
[2] Tape down all the side, making sure the fabric is laying flat and not pulled or stretched in any way.
The better you line up your fabric and secure it, the better your results will be. Prep work is uber important.
[3] {If you haven't stenciled a lot before now, watch this video.}
Prepare your paints following the mixing directions. I used Americana in Slate Gray and Martha Stewart's Fabric Additive for paint. See that little gray dot? That was my only test swatch on the fabric. In hindsight, I'd say I'm lucky I like the end result as much as I do! Ack!
[4] Spray the back of your stencil with stencil adhesive, this is especially important if you have a very detailed stencil with a lot of open cutouts. The more you move the roller to paint all that pattern, the easier it is for the stencil to shift. With the stencil spray adhesive I didn't have a single problem with the stencil shifting.
I followed their directions {from the video} about how to load the roller for stenciling and how to roll off any extra paint {see the paper towel with paint on it?} And guess what?! I did not have any paint bleeding under the stencil for my whole project!!
[5] Use a roller to do all-over stenciling like a damask, space out your stencil- you know, plan your attack. I started the top of each panel with the same part of the stencil for each of the six panels, so when you look across the room the pattern would line up.
I used the roller from Cutting Edge Stencils and it worked very well! It's different from other rollers in that it has a rounded end and is made of the perfect foam density for stenciling.
[6] Go back to fill in the top, bottom, and sides. Make sure to line up the stencil with the cutout indicator marks.
You can see how the cutouts line up perfectly with the already stenciled curtain. This was at the bottom of the curtain and everything still lined up perfectly. I'm telling you- taping everything down is super important!
[7] Let your curtains dry overnight, at least, then iron them to set in the paint. Since mine were the Lenda curtains from Ikea they also needed to be either hemmed or ironed with the fabric tape to create a hem. Not bad for 10 bucks a panel.
Would you believe I did not have a single mishap using this stencil, not one "oops", or "uh-oh"?! You know I need at least two tries to get a project right almost every single time I try one- well not this time!! Slow and steady, friends- slow and steady!
There was one setback- none due to the stencil or the stencil painting process.
I didn't know how much paint I would be using AND even if I did, I still bought out every bottle in each store that sold them locally and therefore, ended up running out {three times!}
So, now YOU know, for a stencil as complex as a damask- you will need 2 bottle of craft paint per panel, ok? OK.
My only other negative comment, cleaning the stencil is so not my favorite. There, I said it. It just wasn't fun. But I've heard they have a "stencil cleaner" - so now I would highly recommend getting it, if you're doing an extensive stenciling job.
First, the overlapping stencil was nearly impossible to mess up. The indicator cutouts telling you where to line up the stencil worked great. Not a single problem and I had to move the stencil between 20-30 times per panel! I know what you're thinking... sounds like a lot of work, but it totally worth it and with the roller it went pretty quickly.

Wanna see some befores and afters? I think the dining room is a more dramatic change, since there were no curtains before. I LOVE the change!! It feels so much softer and a lot less like a condo.
BEFORE:
AFTER:

This angle probably bothered me a TON more than it could any of you, since you're not living in the space. The prior curtains were silk- nothing to complain about right? But they were way to plain with white builder paint and I was dying for a change. This was worth the wait, I love them!
BEFORE:

AFTER:

Look how pretty the curtains are with the light coming through!! I am
Everyone that has come over since the panels
Would you believe I also made the curtain rods, too?
It was super cheap and easy, only 20 bucks for both! You can catch that tutorial here.
I really love how our curtains turned out. So very beautiful! I love how it looks in your room! Just perfect!
ReplyDeleteAbsolute beauty !!!!Love how the pattern just falls soo perfectly with the folds.. amazing transformation. yeah all that rolling on the floor was worth it !!! You should do a happy dance everytime you walk past those curtain beauties. I dont think I'll have the patience to do this though..merry christmas!!!!!
ReplyDeletebabita @ CSU.
Love! Nice pics too...
ReplyDeleteThe curtains look amazing - you must have so much patience. Started following you recently and really admire your style. thanks Fiona
ReplyDeleteWOW! These look amazing. I would have never guessed you made them! They look so rich and very elegant! Great job. Found you on Thrifty Nifty Things!
ReplyDeleteThat turned out really good, and your house is beautiful!
ReplyDeleteWOW! What an amazing project - I'm so impressed that you found a way to get EXACTLY what you wanted at a decent price and put in so much hard work to get such a fabulous result! Go you!!
ReplyDeleteThanks for linking to a Round Tuit!
Hope you have a great week!
Jill @ Creating my way to Success
http://www.jembellish.blogspot.com/
Lovely and what a patience ful project...I came here via BNOTP... its so lovely and transform your room in a beautiful way just lovely ...Thanks for sharing your hardwork dear...
ReplyDeleteHappy if you come to see me at
http://craftaworld.blogspot.com/
with love from
Farah
Great drapery panels! You did such a beautiful job stenciling them.
ReplyDeleteThat looks fabulous!I know from experience how much work stencilling is, and am not sure if I would have the stamina and energy to tackle a huge project like this one, but it is so worth it.Your curtains look a million dollars!
ReplyDeleteThis is awesome! What a great tutorial!
ReplyDeleteLaura
www.happyroost.blogspot.com
The curtains have totally changed the look of the room. Great job.
ReplyDeleteLove the gray that you chose to use. These turned out wonderfully!
ReplyDeleteOmg! I love these curtains! They are so beautiful! Great idea! I love your blog too! Thanks for sharing! I found them on Tip Junkie tonight!
ReplyDeleteYou did and amazing job! I've never used a roller when stenciling,great tip and nice tutorial. Please stop by for our Ramsign sign giveaway if you get a chance, Laura
ReplyDeletesimply gorgeous! you did a beautiful job--hands down.
ReplyDeleteit's always worth the effort when you love the result. and with a result like this?!?!?!
beautiful!! great job :)
I'm in love the curtain panels!!! Great job!! I was just looking at this stencil to use on an accent wall in our bedroom.
ReplyDeleteI'm also intrigued as to how you made the curtain rods! Can't wait for that one.
this is great, absolutely gorgeous! I'd love you to add it to my What We Wore and Made link party over at http://raegunwear.blogspot.com/search/label/WWWMW
ReplyDeleteI absolutely love your curtains!!! I would love to make a set just like them for my house! I really, really love damask print!!!
ReplyDeleteThey turned out beautifully! Love the damask stencil! Thanks for such a detailed tutorial!
ReplyDelete~Judy~
Becca, these are so gorgeous! You did a wonderful job, thanks for such a thorough tutorial...you gave us some wonderful tips! Thanks!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful! I have been wanting to stencil curtains for our bedroom but just haven't had the time, now I really want to do it, right now! Great tutorial and thanks for the tips!
ReplyDeleteSO pretty! I really need to add some panels to my kitchen. Great job! I love your stencil choice :)
ReplyDeleteThis is completely amazing! I love the pattern, color and how the room all came together! Perfect! I would love for you to come link this up at our link party...junkintheirtrunk.blogspot.com/2011/12/link-it-up-wednesday-7.html
ReplyDeleteOh these are fabulous! I have always wanted to do this and you have given me some real encouragement through this demo. Thank you so much. I love Cutting Edge Stencils...they have such a great selection. Kristine
ReplyDeleteThese really are just gorgeous and I just got a stencil form cutting edge and am trying to figure out what to do with it...hmmm maybe curtains!
ReplyDeleteWOW! I can't get over how pretty the curtains are..thanks so much for linking up all the time..this project was one of the most viewed projects and will be featured...you are so talented!
ReplyDeleteThese curtains look amazing. I may try these on my existing panels.
ReplyDeleteRuth
these are amazing! i am saving this tutorial for when i'm in a really patient mood! :)
ReplyDeleteI love these curtains! You must share them on my linky party too! Here is the link www.thesouthernproductqueen.com So cute! Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteYour curtains came out perfect. I love the stencil pattern. I am going to have to try this one. I have been looking for the perfect curtains and have yet to find them. I have a gorgeous allover stencil from Royal Design already and I pass Ikea every evening. Thanks for the inspiration and thanks for sharing at DIYbyDesign's Fall into Fall party.
ReplyDeleteThis is amazing! I love how it all turned out! I would love to feature this project on my blog. Let me know if you are interested and I will get all the details to you! Thanks for linking up to our party!
ReplyDeleteI love these drapes. I will be featuring them at my Winter Blues Wednesday party that opens tonight at 8pm EST. Please stop by and pick up an I've Been Featured button. Thanks so much.
ReplyDeleteWow, The panels are gorgeous and what a great job you did! Just beautiful.
ReplyDeletexo,
Sherry
I didn't read through all the comments, so maybe someone already posted this, but there is a great product to help you clean up stencils.
ReplyDeleteIt's called EZ Clean Stencil Prep
http://store.fauxline.com/
You roll it on the stencil and let it dry BEFORE you stencil. So worth it. Stencils clean right up and you can reuse them tons more times.
Nice tutorial!
These are AWESOME!!! Thanks for the inspiration...these are going on my to-do list for 2012. Thanks!!!
ReplyDeleteKrista@ mk inspired
new follower:)
ReplyDeletekrista@ mk inspired
Those are beautiful! Great job!
ReplyDeleteA M A Z I N G!!! I can't believe how fab these turned out. You did an awesome job. Thanks for sending me the link.
ReplyDeleteThe curtains are so cute! Thank you so much for linking up to "Strut Your Stuff Saturday." We would love to have you come back next Saturday and share more of your incredible ideas. -The Sisters
ReplyDeleteThey really look fantastic and I am so glad to see someone doing stenciled curtians! I have been debating stenciling the curtains I just made but this gives me new hope!
ReplyDeleteNice Job!
What patience you have! These look beautiful! Great job.
ReplyDeletemaxwellhouseinteriors.blogspot.com
I am so inspired by this!!! This opens up so many possibilities!!! Love love love it!
ReplyDeleteI have a project party every weekend if you want to join here.. http://www.bubblynaturecreations.com/2012/01/vanilla-bean-iced-coffee-and-project.html
Have a great day!
-Rachel
I'm SUCH a sucker for anything damask!!!
ReplyDeleteActually, I just did a damask wall art tutorial & I'd be honored if you'd check it out!
http://ourminifamily.blogspot.com/2012/01/diy-damask-wall-art.html
Your newest follower,
Cathy Mini
I think is AWESOME! I would love to paint fabric!!! I love DAMASK!!!
ReplyDeleteI’m stopping by from TT & J… and would LOVE for you to come by and link this up at my “Create and Inspire” Party!
http://www.littleinspiration.com/2012/01/create-and-inspire-party-and.html
I am now following and looking forward for more of your awesome posts!
Thanks,
Angie from A Little Inspiration
TOTALLY worth it! They look fantastic and I know it can be so hard to find that perfect fabric.
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for joining the party!!! I am beyond thrilled you made it! :) Have a great weekend and enjoy your lovely curtains!!!
ReplyDeleteI have been thinking about this as an option for some drapes on a budget, and yours turned out beautifully! Well done!
ReplyDeleteThose are amazing!!! I am so inspired. I have been trying to think of how to jazz up some drop cloth curtains and I am stealing this idea! Would you link up to my party too?
ReplyDeletehttp://daysofchalkandchocolate.blogspot.com/2012/01/latest-and-greatest-13.html
pinning this! And I'm your newest follower!
Love the new curtain panels! You certainly can't beat the price you paid, especially for the perfect shade of gray!
ReplyDeleteyour DIY curtains are BEAUTIFUL! I'm curious how much the total project cost you. I'm in need of curtains for our front room ASAP, but am not able to afford much.
ReplyDeleteI love your curtains panels! And your living room, great great job! Oh and the source of that photo is http://frugalhomeideas.blogspot.com/2009/11/easy-no-sew-curtains.html
ReplyDeleteGorgeous! Attempting to make mine today with my stencil from Cutting Edge- love 'em!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the inspiration :)
xoxo
I have to say "WOW!!!" the wt's are way beyond gorgeous!!!!!
ReplyDeleteWow what an impressive project! Your curtains look beautiful and make such a statement! I'm sure it was a ton of work, but the finished product is gorgeous! Well done!!!
ReplyDeleteWow!Excellent job! The curtains turned out beautifully. I've been searching and searching for curtains or fabric for my living room we are currently making over. I won a Large Stencil from Royal Design a few months ago and I think I will be using it FINALLY. It's really huge and I won't have to move it around but 4 or 5 times on the panel I choose. So excited to try this. Thanks for sharing it
ReplyDelete~Judy~
Wow!Excellent job! The curtains turned out beautifully. I've been searching and searching for curtains or fabric for my living room we are currently making over. I won a Large Stencil from Royal Design a few months ago and I think I will be using it FINALLY. It's really huge and I won't have to move it around but 4 or 5 times on the panel I choose. So excited to try this. Thanks for sharing it
ReplyDelete~Judy~
I am so glad I found you a while back. You are my kind of gal, fearless and wanting to have the look with little money. These drapes turned out totally awesome and That is the exact stencil I was thinking of buying for a guest bedroom wall.
ReplyDeleteFinally done with mine- thanks for the great tute, Becca! Gave you a shout out on the post today :)
ReplyDeletePS: How did you do your bay window curtain rod?? Make it? Order it? I have a large bay window and I would love to do that vs. 3 smaller ones! Thanks again girlie!
XOXO
Hi Becca! Congrats on being chosen as a feature at Under the Table and Dreaming link party. I stenciled some curtains (just the inside edge and bottom) with my last house and the folks that bought it wanted to curtains to stay...I was proud. Yours are WAY more complicated...you did a fabulouis job.
ReplyDeleteI ADORE these curtains! Please stop by my linky party happening now to link them up! I would love to have you!
ReplyDeleteStacey of Embracing Change
Your curtains looks really great. I am definateky putting that on my to do list! Thanks for linking up to my Creative inspirations party - please come back this week as I would love to have you there!
ReplyDeleteStacey of Embracing Change
Featured you today! Great job!
ReplyDeleteStacey of Embracing Change
I have to agree with your visitors, I can't believe the pattern is painted on. Great job.
ReplyDeleteTraci
What a beautiful room. I love everything you've done with it.
ReplyDeleteSonya
www.sosimplerooms.blogspot.com
These curtains are beautiful! Your tutorial is great too - I am going to try painting my own damask fabric for chair slipcovers. Thanks for linking up @ the Delectable Home!
ReplyDeleteWowsers! Those are gorgeous! Thanks for linking to Handmade Tuesdays. You should be proud of your tedious work because they turned out gorgeous!
ReplyDeleteBecca, this rocks! I am featuring you at Thrifty Thursday... again :) I love your projects, in case you can't tell.
ReplyDeletePrintable Decor
Saved By Love Creations
Absolutely Gorgeous. Found you at the CSI.
ReplyDeleteKelly @ The Creative Chickadee
Fantastic work!
ReplyDeleteThat fabric medium is very important to keep the fabric soft. I have done some of this in the past.
I have a stencil from Cutting Edge (which looks like yours) that we are going to use on the MBR walls. I would love to do fabric to match (I need EIGHT panels in there,) but I don't think I could crawl around on the floor that long anymore!
Wow, so very beautiful! I LOVE Damask! Great job!
ReplyDeleteamber
So pretty! I'd love for you to link 'em up to my link party today!
ReplyDeleteHope you have a great day!
Okay, you got a blogging hat-trick!
ReplyDeleteI just featured you for the third week in a row.
I was going to leave you a comment saying, "I LOVE this project, but I can't feature you three times in a row1 And then I thought, 'Why the heck not?'" : )
So...yeah. You're featured.
Love your tutorial. I have several of the Cutting Edge stencils and I love taupe and grey combos.
ReplyDeleteCheri
I thought I would make it an even 75 comments even though your original post was in December! What a fabulous job. You should be featured in the stencil company's brochure or website! Are you? Michele (not David!)
ReplyDeletei'm so excited that i found this!! we're redoing our master bedroom and i'm so doing this for our windows!! thank you!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful job, as usual! This has been on my DIY to do list. You beat me to it - and I'm so glad! Thanks for the tutorial! ;)
ReplyDeleteLove this post, please link it up with me Wednesday on Wow Us Wednesday.
ReplyDeleteI can not tell you how excited I am about this project!!! I have the same curtains from IKEA....I was going to paint stripes on them but decided not to because I wanted something more like what you have done. So stinkin' excited!! This is def going on my todo list. Love your blog! Found you from www.akadesign.ca
ReplyDeleteO M Goodness! I love your curtains! Since Fabric for my bedroom curtains is going to cost $240 and I can get the same look for $40, I'm going to paint mine! And a dust ruffle! Great inspiration!
ReplyDeleteWishing you (more) blessings!
Linda at The French Hens Nest
I realize this post is very old but I hope you can still answer a question. I clicked on your link for the Anna damask stencil and it says it comes in two parts. Was yours a two-part stencil, a big part and then a small fill-in part?
ReplyDeleteAlso do you remember what brand of spray adhesive you used? I love your results and am hoping mine come out as perfect as yours did
ReplyDelete