Make Your Own Family Floorcloth

Last summer, when her mother-in-law was visiting, Cyndi Dabney of Gallatin Gateway, Montana, wanted to find a way for her two kids, Alex, 13, and Cameron, 10, to spend some quality time with their grandmother, Mal. "My kids can't just sit still and talk," says Cyndi. "They need to be doing something. I wanted a project that would corral them so Mal could find out about their lives, and they could find out about hers." The idea Cyndi found--hand-painting a canvas floorcloth together--turned out to be the perfect solution. Not only did the process of making the cloth fuel plenty of family conversation, but the end result turned out to be an heirloom piece of art that the family has come to treasure.

Canvas floorcloths have been around for centuries. Traditionally used to protect and decorate floors, the thick canvas rugs are attractive, as well as sturdy enough to hold up to lots of wear and tear (they clean up with a wet mop). And, as the Dabneys discovered, they're also a great family craft project. For one thing, the rugs are inexpensive to make. While colonial floorcloths can sell for hundreds of dollars in antiques stores, the Dabneys' cost just $30. For another, the project is easy enough for kids to do and amazingly open-ended. The blank cloth can be a canvas for just about anything a family imagines--from painted-on game boards to family portraits to bold geometric designs. For their floorcloth, the Dabneys chose a folksy interpretation of Noah's Ark. Mal, an artist since college, handled the more detailed work, such as the ark itself, while the kids, Cyndi, and dad Page worked on the animals and palm trees. The family had so much fun they went on to make another cloth later in the summer, this one depicting their favorite vacation activities. "While we painted, we spent a lot of time remembering the details of our trips," says Cyndi. "We talked about everything from the colors of the fish we saw in Hawaii to what we want to do on our upcoming RV trip to Canada. We all had a blast."

Even more fun, says Cyndi, is how the floorcloths--now displayed in the Dabneys' kitchen and front hall--have become such a source of pride for the kids. "Alex makes a point of letting guests know that we all helped make it," says Cyndi. "He always points out to visitors who compliment the floorcloths, 'You know, I did the palm trees!' "

Barbara Rowley is a FAMILYFUN contributing editor. Barbara and her three-year-old, Anna, decorated their floorcloth with stars and moons.