How to Make Spiderweb Doormat
Spiderweb doormats not only serve as a decoration for costume parties, Halloween celebrations and other theme events, but can also add to the exterior design of a home in autumn. In addition, spiderweb doormats can serve as novelty or commentary items---for example, marking the doorway of the office of an arachnologist or entomologist. Whatever your reason for wanting a spiderweb doormat, you can easily make one with a black or brown doormat and paint and craft supplies. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Spiderweb pictures or graphics
- Paper
- Colored pencils or markers
- Paint, drawing or graphic design software
- Newspaper
- Cardboard sheet (optional)
- Plain doormat
- Waterproof craft or fabric paint set
- Non-VOC exterior house paint (optional)
- Brushes
- Condiment bottle (optional)
- Glue (optional)
- Metallic glitter (optional)
- Paint mask (optional)
Instructions
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1
Study spiderweb or "cobweb" designs--real ones, pictures or graphics. Although spiderweb designs differ in shape and size, many appear irregular as spiders must rely on unevenly spaced surrounding walls/surfaces to support webs. In addition, webs rarely occur in two dimensions, but rather have three-dimensional components including depth. For the purpose of this project, focus on flat, two-dimensional designs.
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2
Decide on the design you want to use and retain the picture to reference while working on your doormat. If you want more than a spiderweb design (spiders, text or tree branches), sketch your design using paper and colored pencils or markers or in paint, drawing or graphic design software. Remember to consider the colors you intend to use for your foreground when using a black or brown doormat background while designing.
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3
Lay newspaper or a sheet of cardboard down on your work surface and place your plain doormat on top.
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4
Draw the the overall outline of your design or web framework with a bead of waterproof craft or fabric paint as these paints often come in bottles with nozzle tips that when the paint pushes through the nozzle creates lines. If you decided to use an non-VOC exterior house paint so that your design can last longer outside in the elements, dip a narrow brush into the paint and to create a line-making point.
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5
Use your paintbrushes to accent or create spiderweb damage. For example, add markings to a spider or create spider legs. To create spiderweb damage, paint all of the threads of a web and, with a clean narrow dry brush, slide the brush vertically from the top to the bottom of the web while the paint is still wet. The dry brush grasps the wet paint and creates the illusion of wisps of silk thread falling downward.
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Finish painting your design and dry 24 hours or longer before use.
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Tips & Warnings
To apply paint without a brush, pour some of the paint in a clean plastic condiment container that has a nozzle tip and use as you would a craft or fabric paint bottle.
If you want tree branches in your design, paint from the edge of your doormat--to suggest branches connecting to an unseen tree beyond the edge--with a heavy paint coated brush and shake your hand slightly up and down to create irregular branch surfaces.
To highlight your design, apply a small amount of glue along the right edges of the outline and then sprinkle metallic glitter on the glue.
Application of your design using a paintbrush can take longer than using paint in a bottle with a nozzle.
Always use a paint mask when working with paint in non-ventilated or enclosed areas. Even if you're using a non-VOC paint, a paint mask can help reduce respiratory issues such as asthma that can occur from the paint smell.
