An easy project to dress up your room or any area in your home. You can even use your bold creation as a wall hanging!

Floor Cloths date back to Colonial times. In early America, carpets were found in homes of the very wealthy. Fabrics from the sails of sailing ships such as canvas, was often recycled into Floor Cloths for daily use in Colonial homes. Today these cloths can be appreciated for their eye appeal as well as their sturdy nature. They can be easily cleaned because they do not trap dirt or pet hair. And best of all you can design and create it yourself!

Designing YOUR Floor Cloth
Designing your Floor Cloth means you get to pick the color, shape, and size. Before you go to the craft store to buy your supplies you should have a pretty good idea what you want your Floor Cloth to look like. Pick a shape: Do you want it to be square, rectangle, maybe a star or even a leaf. Color is very important. This can include a background color and you may even want to put a contrasting border color around the edge of the cloth. What colors and designs will you put onto the rug once the background design is done? Will you be painting flowers? Shapes? A favorite pattern, such as a plaid or polka-dots? What color will the design be? Next you will have to pick a size. Will it be big enough to “fill” the floor space where you will place it once it is done? Or are you going to hang it on a wall? By making some of these decisions before you go to the craft store you will have a good idea what to buy and how much money you may need.

Before you begin this activity, read through all the steps to see where you may need help. Ask a friend or family member to go on your shopping trip to a craft or fabric supply store.

SUPPLIES:
Cloth canvas (you pick the size!)
Ruler
Scissors
Assorted colors of acrylic paint
Chalk (for sketching out your design)
Water / small cups
Water-based varnish or polyurethane
Newspaper, rags, paper towels

Step 1: Once you have obtained all the materials needed for this project and you have chosen an area to work, you are ready to begin. First, take your ruler and measure the size the canvas is that you want to work on. The one chosen as an example is 24” wide and 36” long. Remember other choices are to cut your canvas into any shape, a leaf, a flower, a star, anything that you wish. Remember this is your individual design!

Step 2: Cover the floor or table area you are going to work on with newspaper, so you will be ready to paint. Choose a wide brush and paint the entire background of your canvas. You may need to put two coats of paint. You can also paint a border around your cloth.

(Now put your project aside until the paint on the canvas has completely dried).

Step 3: Once your background and border has dried, you are ready to take your chalk and draw your design onto the canvas. Create and design any picture or pattern you would like. Once you have outlined your design, take the paints and paint it in. You can even outline your design in black paint to really make it bold to look at.

Step 4: Once your design is completely dry, you are ready for the finishing step. Using a clean brush, apply at least two coats of either water-based varnish or water-based polyurethane to protect your design. Water-based products do not have a strong odor.

Allow the cloth to dry completely before using it. Once it is dry, you are ready to use your creation as a Floor Cloth anywhere you chose or even hang it on your wall!

Helpful Hints: You can make a Floor Cloth as a gift and personalize it for the occasion and person. For Mother’s Day you could design a flower shaped Floor Cloth like a large daisy or sunflower for Mom. Or for Dad on Father’s day a football shaped rug designed with a favorite team’s name and colors. Or simply put large hearts on a plain square cloth for any special someone in your life to give as a gift of appreciation. Have fun creating!!! Because you have sealed your creation, cleaning it is easy. Just wipe it clean with a damp cloth or sponge. Before finalizing your design, remember to consider the colors of the area where the Floor Cloth is going. You will want the colors and design to “match” or compliment the overall colors and design of the room.