Making Fun Floor Cloths

TIPical Mary Ellen : Episode TIP-902 -- More Projects »
PHOTO
Crafts expert Sharon Schuster demonstrates how to make a floor cloth.

Materials:

preprimed floor-cloth canvas (available at most art-supply stores)
scissors
pencil
ruler
acrylic paints in the color of your choice
assorted paintbrushes
brown craft paper
masking tape
stencils or rubber stamps
small sea sponge
water-based satin varnish

Steps:


  1. Measure and cut your canvas to the finished size you desire. Since there is no hemming involved with canvas, you can cut the cloth into any shape. If the cloth is not primed you will need to prime it first, then let dry. You can also buy a floor-cloth kit at most art-supply stores. The cloth in this kit is 2 feet by 3 feet and is preprimed.
PHOTO

Figure A
  • To create a floor cloth that resembles a fish pond, paint the canvas with the background color (figure A). For this design, the guest used a mixture of green and blue paint diluted with water. The water and paint mixture gives the paint a more transparent look. Two coats will be needed for complete coverage. Allow to dry--about 10 or 15 minutes.
    • PHOTO

    Figure B
    PHOTO

    Figure C
  • Paint the border next. This rug design calls for an uneven inside border. Use brown craft paper cut about the same size as the rug and tear the edge of the paper three inches smaller to create the uneven edge (figure B).

  • Tape the craft paper to the center of the canvas. Sponge on the border colors--white, green and blue--around the exposed edge for this design (figure C). Allow to dry.

  • Use rubber stamps to create the design for the center, putting two to three colors on each stamp, according to the desired color. Another option is to go ahead and lay a stencil directly onto the canvas for a guide. Fill in the stencil with your desired colors. For this design, use ferns, fish and dragonfly shaped rubber stamps. Simply paint on the eyes of the fish with the wooden end of a paintbrush.

  • Apply two or three coats of water-based varnish, according to manufacturer's directions, and allow one hour between coats for the varnish to dry.

  • To clean floor cloths, wipe with mild soap and water on a damp cloth or a sponge.
    • Photo

    Figure D
    Photo

    Figure E
  • Two other examples of floor-cloth designs are children's handprints dipped in paint (figure D) or cute animals made out of children's thumbprints (figure E).
    • Also in this Episode
    TIPical Mary Ellen : Episode TIP-902
    •One Tenderloin, Many Meals
    •Making Fun Floor Cloths
    •Marble Mania
    •Tip of the Day