| Sometimes one of the toughest decorating | | | | and not cut, as that will give the natural edge you |
| challenges we have when we are on a budget is | | | | need for the look. Only use the scissors to create |
| replacing old, worn, or ugly flooring. If you have | | | | a straight edge on some pieces to line up against |
| vinyl flooring that has seen better days, or you | | | | cabinets, walls, or a change in flooring. Now |
| just want more of a natural or luxurious look in | | | | crumple each torn piece tightly, then smooth out. |
| your rooms, hold on to your hat! I am going to | | | | This will give it texture. |
| show you how to create a faux leather floor | | | | Pour a small amount of polyurethane onto the |
| from ordinary paper bags from the grocery store! | | | | floor where you will place your first piece, and |
| Tools Needed | | | | smooth it out with a brush, although I preferred |
| Paper bags or a roll of brown Kraft paper from | | | | to use my hands. Lay the piece of paper down, |
| the postal supply aisle (enough to cover your | | | | add a little poly to the top of the paper, and |
| entire floor, with some overlapping) | | | | smooth down. Kind of like decoupage! Now |
| Gallon of water based polyurethane (I | | | | continue to lay down papers each one slightly |
| recommend Minwax Polycrylic, or Minwax Fast | | | | overlapping the other. Smooth out bubbles as you |
| Drying Polyurethane) | | | | go. Your hand is the best tool for this! |
| Scissors | | | | If you find bubbles forming underneath as the |
| Old work clothes | | | | poly starts to dry, poke the bubble with a pin, add |
| Strong Knees and Back! | | | | a little more poly, and smooth down. |
| First off, put up the "Room Closed" sign! I did my | | | | Once you finish covering the whole floor with |
| kitchen in the evening so the last coat of sealer | | | | paper, let the poly dry. If you want a darker |
| would have a chance to dry well before the kids | | | | color, you can stain this with wood stain and a |
| and the dogs hit it in the morning! Even better if | | | | soft rag at this point. Recoat the poly once each |
| you can keep it closed off for 24 hours or more. | | | | hour until you have 4 to 6 coats of poly |
| Now, clean the floor thoroughly...tsp is a great idea | | | | protecting your floor. This should be allowed to |
| here! It is normally used on glossy paint surface, | | | | dry hard, at least overnight, longer if possible. |
| but will work well for these purposes. Rinse well. | | | | When you notice the floor getting dull, clean and |
| Let dry. | | | | add a maintenance coat of poly. Repairs are easily |
| Tear your brown paper into irregular sections in a | | | | made with another torn piece of paper bag laid |
| size that is easy to handle. It is important to tear, | | | | right over the existing treatment. Seal with poly. |