Natural Elements Floorcloth

Turn a vinyl remnant into this
attractive floorcloth.

• Primer
• Vinyl remnant
• Paint roller
• Off-white and tan exterior latex paint
• Pencil
• Straightedge
• 1-1/2 inch-wide blue masking tape
• Crafts knife
• 2-inch flat brush
• Satin-finish polyurethane
• Squeegee

Practice on a scrap to perfect
your technique.

1. Prime the back of a vinyl remnant from a home center. Allow to dry.

2. Roll on off-white latex paint. Allow to dry.

3. Using a pencil and straightedge, draw a grid of 1-foot squares. Tape off every other square in the first row. Skip a row; repeat taping odd-numbered rows.

4. For a comb, cut 1/4-inch notches from a squeegee. Brush tan paint in the first square. Pull comb through the square. Wipe paint from the comb. Work in smooth, even motions with a firm stroke. Practice first on scrap to perfect the look you want when dry. Tape off uncombed squares and repeat the same technique for even-numbered rows to form a checkerboard pattern.

5. Apply paint to uncombed squares of checkerboard. Pull comb at a right angle to previous combing direction. Drag comb through paint again, across the lines just combed. Wipe the comb after every drag to avoid paint accumulating in the notches.

6. Immediately place the comb in the original position and pull through part in a zigzag motion. This makes a herringbone pattern. Repeat the technique for unpainted squares without disturbing still-wet squares. Allow to dry. Remove the tape. Seal with two coats of satin-finish polyurethane.