How to Make a Canvas Rug

Canvas rugs are a great, low cost accessory to add to your indoor or outdoor living spaces. These canvas rugs are very durable and you can make one for a fraction of the cost of a store bought rug. The best part--since you designed it you have a custom canvas rug that fits your style.Making a canvas rug will require a number of days drying time in between paint applications, some simple items that you can pick up at your local craft store and your imagination.

Things You'll Need

• Drop cloth
• Canvas or Duck cloth, cut to desired dimensions plus a 6-inch margin
• Yard Stick
• Tape-masking or duct
• Paint roller
• Roller tray
• Gesso or primer
• Liquid acrylic paints
• Paintbrushes in a variety of sizes
• Design elements (stencils, pencils, stamps, masking tape)
• Polyacrylic varnish
• Wide paintbrush
• Scissors
• Yardstick
• Pencil
• Double-sided carpet tape-length to match dimensions of finished canvas plus 4 inches

Instructions

Priming

1. Lay the drop cloth out on a level surface large enough to lay the canvas out. Keep in mind that the gesso will have to dry overnight, so make sure that you can leave the canvas where it is for 8 to 12 hours. Your canvas rug will need to dry in between each paining. Simple designs will need approximately 12 hours drying time plus a minimum of 24 hours drying time for the coats of varnish. More intricate designs will need 12 hours for each layer of paint on the design plus a minimum of 24 hours drying time for the coats of varnish.

2. Lay the canvas out. Measure in six inches from all edges. Fold over--a yard stick can help to make a sharp fold line--and secure with tape.

3. Turn the canvas over. Smooth out any wrinkles. Sweep off surface. Use the yard stick to press along the hem fold to make it a sharp crease.

4. Pour gesso or primer into roller tray. Using paint roller, roll gesso onto the canvas. Clean roller tray and roller.

5. Let dry overnight.

6. Most designs benefit from putting a base coat of paint on top of the gesso, so that the white of the gesso will not show through the design. If you do not want the white gesso as the background for the design, pour background color acrylic paint into roller tray. Using a paint roller, roll background paint onto canvas.

7. Let dry overnight.

Designing

1. Keep in mind that this is your canvas rug and you can put on it whatever you want. Classic canvas designs include stripes, stars and leaves. For a nautical themed area, a compass rose, for a child’s room, bright shapes and colors, for an outdoor kitchen, fruits and vegetables--the options are endless, because you are designing it yourself. Great resources for graphics include rubber stamps, stencils, and everyday objects you find around your home, such as round coffee cans or even tracing around some of your favorite objects, such as a bookend or your child’s favorite puzzle pieces. Rubber stamps can be used with the acrylic paint to stamp desired images on the canvas rug. Rubber stamps have some great graphics, especially for borders or groupings on canvas rugs. Stencils that can be found in your local craft store are also a great resource for graphics.

2. Layout the design on the canvas with pencil.

3. Using the acrylic paints, paint the design onto the canvas rug.

4. Let dry overnight or approximately 12 hours.

5. Repeat as necessary to apply multiple layers of design.

Finishing

1. Apply varnish per the instructions on the varnish. Some will be applied with a paint brush and some are sprayed on.

2. Let dry overnight or approximately 12 hours.

3. Re-apply the varnish and let dry overnight. A minimum of two coats of varnish should be applied. The more coats of varnish you apply, the better your design will stand up to foot traffic and the easier it will be to maintain your canvas rug.

4. Turn the canvas rug over. Trim the hem to 2 inches outside the fold line.

5. Prepare corners by folding at hemline on each side of a corner. Excess canvas will stick up vertically from your fold. Mark a line where the canvas bends upright. Cut. Repeat on remaining corners.

6. Affix carpet tape to underside of hem, between hem and canvas rug. Press firmly. To help the tape stick well, rub the edge of the yard stick along the hem, pressing firmly.

7. Let dry an additional 24 hours or as per varnish instructions. Now you are ready to put your custom canvas rug in place and beginning enjoying your efforts and artistry.

Tips & Warnings

• For smaller canvas rugs, a paintbrush can be used instead of the roller.

• Gesso is now available in spray cans, which can be handy for smaller projects.

• A hot iron can be used to make a sharp crease on the hem fold.

• These rugs can be slippery, use a rug mat underneath the canvas rug to hold it in place.

• Canvas will not, under normal wear and use, unravel. Instead of hemming your canvas rug, you can use pinking shears to cut the ends and add a little more interest to your finished product.

• Think outside of the box. This is your canvas rug to fit your space-think stars, diamonds or even triangles. Warning-the hem on a circular rug can be difficult to get to lay flat, if you want to make a circular rug, use pinking shears to cut out your canvas rug and omit the steps to make the hem.

• These rugs can be slippery, use a rug mat underneath your canvas rug to hold it in place.

• Always use primers, paints and varnishes in a well ventilated area.

• Always use the proper safety equipment when using primers, paints and varnishes