How to Paint Canvas Rugs
If you can't find the perfect rug for a room, then a canvas rug you paint yourself may be just the right project for you. Painting a canvas rug allows you to use your creativity to create your own decor masterpiece. If you are not sure of your artistic ability, there are many stamps and stencils available for you to design a painted canvas rug. This is also a fun craft project to get your kids involved in. Let them paint a rug free-hand for their room or bathroom. Paint the palms of their hands or bottoms of their feet to use as stamps for a fun rug that records their growth.
Things You'll Need
- Canvas, slightly larger than rug desired
- Yardstick
- Scissors
- Pencil
- Plastic drop cloth
- Primer
- Paint roller
- Acrylic paints
- Paint brushes, assorted sizes
- Ruler
- Stamps
- Stencils and stencil brushes
- Paint pens
- Water-based polyurethane
- Craft glue
- Clothespins
Instructions
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Lay the canvas out flat. Don't worry if it has wrinkles or creases, they will eventually go away as you work and paint. Use a yardstick as a flat edge to measure and a pencil to mark the canvas to the size you would like your rug, plus 1 inch more on all sides. Cut the canvas. Lay a plastic drop cloth out and place the canvas rug on top. Paint the entire top surface of the rug with primer, using a paint roller. This will seal the canvas and prevent your paint design from seeping through to the backside of the rug. Allow the primer to dry.
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2
Paint the surface of the rug, over the primer, with your background paint color. Repeat with additional coats for complete coverage, if needed. Allow the paint to dry. Using your yardstick and pencil, draw a line one inch from the outer edges of the rug. Draw your design and decide on the placement of your stamps and stencils.
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3
Paint, stamp or stencil your canvas rug. If your design has multiple layers, paint the biggest layer first and build the additional colors on top. This is much easier to do than trying to paint around small places. Be sure to allow the paint to dry before adding more layers. Outline your design and add lettering, if desired, with paint pens. Paint pens will give the edges of your painted designs a crisp, professional look.
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4
Paint the surface of the rug with a layer of water-based polyurethane and allow it to dry. Do not paint more than one coat of polyurethane or the paint may crack when moving or storing the rug.
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Cut slits from the corners of the canvas to the marked corners of the design. This will create a diagonal guide line for mitering the back seam on the rug. Turn the painted canvas rug over. Fold one edge of the canvas rug to the back one inch. Continuing the diagonal cut in the corner, cut the end from the folded edge off. This will allow the edges to miter together at the corners without overlapping. Discard the triangle-shaped tip. Fold and repeat for the remaining corners. Apply craft glue underneath the folds to adhere and clip with the clothespins until dry.
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