Floor Painting Projects

Painted Compass Rose
You need: Pencil; push pin; cotton string; fine sandpaper; <NOBR>1/4"</NOBR> wide painter's tape; latex paints: white, light blue, medium blue, tan, rust, brown; paintbrushes: <NOBR>1/4"</NOBR> artists, 1" flat; lettering stencil; stencil adhesive; water-based polyurethane sealer.

Preparing floor: Determine desired size and placement of motif; lightly sand floor in this area. Insert push pin lightly into floor at desired center of motif; tie one end of string to pin. Divide desired size of motif in half; tie pencil to other end of string so string is equal to this measurement. Holding string taut, draw circle on floor. Shorten string by about 3" and draw inner circle in same manner. Remove pin. Lightly mark outer circle in quarters, then in eighths. Using these marks as endpoints of compass points, draw compass points, referring to photograph for size and shape and placing points so they indicate actual east/west/north/south directions. Draw short points between these 8 points.

Painting: Apply tape along each circle, and also inside each circle forming <NOBR>1/2"</NOBR> bands. Break tape on inner circle where compass points meet circle. For all colors, apply one or more coats of paint as needed to cover wood, and work from tape toward center of each area. Using smaller brush, paint outer circle brown and inner circle rust; remove tape and let dry. Apply tape along outlines of white sections of compass points. Using larger brush, paint these areas white; remove tape and let dry. Outline and paint tan sections of compass points in same manner. Outline and paint medium blue points in same manner. Outline and paint light blue short points in same manner.

Stenciling: Spray back of lettering stencil with adhesive; position along outer circle so "E" is at eastern compass point. Using light blue paint and smaller brush, paint letter, working from edges toward center. Remove stencil; wash and dry, then reapply stencil and paint "W", "N" and "S" at appropriate points. Let dry.

Finishing: Apply one or more coats of polyurethane sealer to painted area, letting dry after each coat.

Painted Floorcloth
You need: Floorcloth canvas (from art supply stores or crafts stores); graph paper with 1" squares; pencil; yardstick; painter's tape; 4 shades of latex paint to suit your color scheme (we used: pale blue, light blue, brown, rust); assorted paintbrushes; natural sponge; fine-point permanent black marker; double-sided carpet tape; water-based polyurethane sealer; paste wax; soft cloth; non-skid carpet pad.

Preparing floorcloth: Measure desired finished size of cloth; add 10" to each measurement and cut cloth to these dimensions. Preparing design: Mark off an area on graph paper proportional to the size of finished cloth, so one square on paper represents one foot on cloth. Draw desired design on graph paper. Lightly mark one-foot squares on cloth, then copy design from paper to cloth one square at a time. Apply painter's tape to outer edges of areas to be painted with lightest color of paint.

Painting: Starting with lightest color, apply 2 coats of paint to cloth, working from tape toward center of each area. Remove tape; let dry. Tape off next-lightest areas next and paint in same manner. Continue taping off and painting areas in same manner until entire cloth is painted. If desired, thin a bit of contrasting paint with water and lightly sponge over painted areas to add highlights. Let dry overnight. If cloth is rippled, paint back of cloth; let dry. Any remaining ripples will smooth out when cloth is on floor. Using marker, outline painted areas as desired. For antique effect, make very thin wash with rust paint and water; brush over cloth, using paper towels to wipe off excess as you go. Let dry.

Finishing: Measure and mark 2" wide border around painted area; trim away excess cloth beyond border. Cut each corner at 4-degree angle. Place cloth face down; turn borders to wrong side and secure with carpet tape. Place right side up. Apply 3 or more coats of sealer to front of cloth, allowing sealer to dry after each coat. Using soft cloth, apply paste wax to cloth, buffing it to shine and seal surface. Cut carpet pad <NOBR>1/4"</NOBR> smaller than cloth all around. Using carpet tape, adhere pad to wrong side of cloth. Maintaining cloth: Cloth can be vacuumed and damp-mopped.

Once a year, apply a new coat of wax to cloth.