Painted Tile Floor A faux-painted terra-cotta floor is an inexpensive alternative to the real thing. A base coat of gray floor enamel simulates the look of grout, and latex paint in earthy colors stamped with foam rubber makes the tile. This is a fun way to transform a wood or concrete floor. Materials: Heavy cardboard
1/2" foam rubber
Painter's tape
Ruler and T-square
Pencil
Enamel floor paint in gray
Paintbrush
White glue
Satin wall paint in earthy terra-cotta colors (we used mustard, brick red and gray)
Razor knife
Paint palette or large piece of cardboard
Rubber gloves
Cotton swabs
Polyurethane sealer
- Measure the floor, and determine the pattern and style of tile you desire. Traditional terra-cotta tiles are usually 1' square but may be smaller.
- Wash the floor to remove dirt and grease. Let dry.
- Use painter's tape to mask the baseboards.
- Paint the entire floor with gray enamel floor paint. Let dry overnight.
- Mark guidelines on the floor for the desired pattern.
- The tile stamps are made with 1/2" foam rubber glued to a cardboard backing. Use a ruler and T-square to draw several 12" by 12" squares on heavy cardboard and foam rubber. Cut the squares with a sharp razor knife, and glue the foam rubber to the cardboard (figure A).
- Cut one rubber-stamp tile in half diagonally to create corner stamps (figure B), and cut out any other odd shapes you'll need. If desired, pinch off some of the foam rubber to create imperfections in your tiles.
- Pour small amounts of each terra-cotta paint color on a palette or large piece of cardboard (figure C).
- Do not mix the colors together. Wear rubber gloves, and swirl the paint with your fingers so the separate colors are dispersed but not blended (figure D).
- Gently press the stamping pad into the paint (figure E). Peek at the foam surface and dip again if the paint doesn't cover the entire stamping surface (figure F).
- Blot excess paint onto a piece of newspaper, and begin stamping the floor. Press the rubber stamp firmly to make sure you get enough paint on the floor (figure G), and lift carefully so the edges don't run. Wipe away any excess paint at the edges of the stamped tile with a cotton swab.
- Continue stamping, leaving 1/2" of space between the tiles for the "grout" to show, until the entire floor is "tiled."
- Allow the painted tiles to dry overnight, then protect the floor by coating it with a good-quality polyurethane.
Tips: - Use condiment squirt bottles as handy paint dispensers.
- Create several versions of stamps, and alternate them as you go.
- It may be easiest to start painting in the corner of the room and work your way out -- or to start in the center of the room and work your way to the edges, using the corner pieces as necessary.
Painting Fabric Fiber artist and author Yvonne Porcella shows Kitty Bartholomew, host of HGTV's Ask Kitty Bartholomew, how to paint fabric, using a masking-tape resist that gives clothing or furnishings a one-of-a-kind look. Materials: Natural-fiber fabric: 100 percent cotton, rayon or silk
Transparent textile paints
1/2" flat or round paintbrush, as desired
Masking tape in 3/4", 1/2" and 1/4" widths (automotive masking tape is available in the narrower widths)
Protective plastic to cover work surface
- Cover your work surface with plastic.
- Place masking tape on areas of fabric that you want to remain unpainted. Apply parallel strips of masking tape diagonally onto the fabric (figure H).
- Spread blobs of paint onto the palette (figure I).
- Brush one color of transparent fabric paint between two lines of the masking tape. Do not add water to the paint: paint that's too wet will wick under the masking tape. Continue to paint stripes of color between lines of masking tape (figure J). Let dry.
- Peel the masking tape off the painted fabric (figure K). Masking tape can be difficult to remove from fabric. Plan to complete this project in one day so the masking tape won't be left on the fabric too long.
- After removing the masking tape, heat-set the painted fabric with an iron.
Take the process one step further by applying a tape resist to the previously painted fabric and applying another layer of fabric paint. Opaque white paint mixed with the colors previously used gives an interesting effect. Heat-set the fabric between each layer of paint after removing the masking tape. Protect painted fabric to be used in home furnishings with ScotchgardB.. Hand-wash hand-painted fabric used in clothing.
| 
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
