paper floor

chewie · #1 02/21/10, 04:32 PM

not sure where to post this, so here i go...i am trying to do one of those paper bag floors. i read up on the web, and so far, mine is NOT looking like those wonderful 'easy' projects! its all wrinkled and altho that isn't too bad, i'd rather it be smooth. any one else do this?? i seen it done in a store long time ago, and it was sooo awesome.

Harry Chickpea · #2 02/21/10, 05:24 PM

Pictures?

Jan in CO · #3 02/21/10, 05:28 PM

Chewie, I was going to do this a couple years ago, too. As I recall, you wad up the paper bag so it IS wrinkled when you put it down, and when finished and covered with a couple coats of poly, it looks like patchwork leather. The only way I can think of would to maybe iron your paper bag pieces before putting them down. Jan in Co

chewie · #4 02/21/10, 08:22 PM

ok, i think i'm getting it better. (will take pix tomorrow!) i have to use my palms and reeally smooth the papers out. i didn't bother with crumpling them, they are plenty warbled on their own.

i have a huge area to do, including this bedroom. now i'm thinking about maybe doing a faux painting technique in the larger area instead, this is NOT the easy one-day project those site are claiming! or, maybe i just ain't doing it right, but for now, i am pretty sure i am! and my knees and back are not pleased, not to mention my arms and hands from rubbing all those papers down.

now, after all this whining, its looking really good!

cc-rider · #5 02/21/10, 10:16 PM

I'd love to see it! I've never heard of it on floors before. I've seen it on walls and it was awesome. I googled "forever floor" but it is made with tar paper and paint. Lots of paint. How well is it supposed to hold up? It's going to be a long time (LOOOOONG) time before I can afford a finished floor in my new house, so this might be a good alternative for awhile.

Pics, please?!?!?

chewie · #6 02/21/10, 10:47 PM

the place i got the idea from was a retail shop, which showcased handmade cedar tables, antique buffets, etc. the owner told me she was very happy with how it was holding up for her, i know it was over 7 years. i tried putting small pressed flowers on it, but those just turned black and icky, dang! this shop had fun or interesting quotes neatly written on the paper floor, in black marker. it was the neatest thing. i just love quotes, have a ton of them saved in a notebook, so since the flowers didn't work, i may do that. and the best part of this floor is if you get sick of the quote, or a part gets damaged, just slap another hunk of paper down, poly over top, and all better.

cc-rider · #7 02/22/10, 11:36 AM

How many layers of paper did you use? How many coats of poly? Tinted poly or clear? Love your idea!!

crobar · #8 02/22/10, 12:37 PM

I've never tried this on floors, although I thought of trying. However I did do a ceiling. After a bunch of experiments, I painted the paper 1st then tore it. This gives a different look, I could not find a way to keep the paper from looking like paper bags, until I painted it 1st. If you would paint it, then tear & paste, and coat with a gloss finish, I think it would look like mable. On the ceiling, I didn't want gloss. Incidently, I get a lot of compliments on the celing. I used one of those wallpaper tools to smooth it out, looks like a 10"putty kife without a handle, bought it at Walmart, came with a wallpaper kit.

Harry Chickpea · #9 02/22/10, 12:52 PM

Makes me wonder if you could do a decoupage thing like this with laser printed photos on a wall or floor? Could be fun to have a floor that is a mass of pictures of grasses and beach sand in patterns.

cc-rider · #10 02/28/10, 05:49 PM

Decades ago when I lived in an old mobile home, I was so sick of the paneled walls so I put huge pieces of cardboard on the walls (I think so that it wasn't a permanent fix, but I can't remember why I used cardboard first) and then decoupaged all sorts of glossy pictures from magazines onto it. It was really cool. Hm...hadn't remembered that until you mentioned it!

Anyway...... any pics yet, chewie???? I'm dying to see your masterpiece!