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ARTELLAGRAM 9-27-08:
Art Tip:
Floor Cloth Instructions
(This project is continued from the September 27 Artellagram...)
Supplies needed:
- Vinyl fabric cut to the desired size
- Acrylic craft paint
- Paint brushes in the desired sizes
- A paper plate or paint tray
- Needlework floss or yarn (a pile of unused floss in disarray works great, or purchase 6-10 skeins in various colors)
- Heavy glue gun
- Polyurethane varnish
Instructions:
- Cut the vinyl to the desired size. If you are painting on vinyl, you don't need to do anything to "finish" the edges just make sure that you cut all edges in very straight lines.
- Paint the desired design on the floor cloth. In the design shown here, a free-hand pattern is created with various colors. The charm of this design is that the elements don't have to be perfect. Lines that aren't straight or circles that are a bit lopsided just add to the character of the final product.
Naturally, you can create any design you like. Some popular ideas for floor cloths include stenciling, using masking tape to create stripes or plaid, or creating a faux finish.
- While you are allowing the paint to dry, the next step is to create the "fringe" to be placed around the floor cloth's edges. Combine colors of floss or yarn and make multiple strands of combined colors, each about 10" long. Fold each combined strand in half and glue the folded point of each strand to the back of the floor cloth.
- After the paint is completely dry, seal the floor cloth by applying a coat of polyurethane varnish and allow to dry. Depending on the look you want, you can select a glossy, semi-gloss, or matte finish for the varnish.
Alternative Materials:
There are other materials besides vinyl that you can use for your floor cloth. Vinyl is a great choice because it is inexpensive, easy to paint on, and requires no extra preparation. However, the downside is that it is not very durable, and so if you will be using it in an area with a lot of traffic, it is probably not your best option. If you use this type of floor cloth, you should use carpet tape to keep it from sliding and bunching up.
One alternative is the back side of vinyl flooring, which can be found in remnants at home improvement stores. Another option is canvas fabric, which resembles an area rug more than vinyl. Canvas is available in varying thread counts, so it just depends on the texture and weight you prefer. A pre-primed canvas will save you some steps; if the canvas is not primed you will need to apply gesso or a neutral glazing medium to both the front and back of the canvas before you start painting. You'll need 2-4 coats of polyurethane on the painted side when the design is complete.
For more ideas for art projects from Marney, check out these eBooks:
Booklarks: 200 Themes and Dreams for Art Journals
and
Paper Doll ABCs: Paper Doll Ideas, Inventions, and Techniques for Artists
Go back to reading this Artellagram
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