You can use the back side of an inexpensive piece of sheet linoleum...just coat with a primer and paint with your pattern, use several coats of clear polyurathane to seal when finished.
hope this helps.

That could be really fun. Kathie, I've seen that done on HGTV a lot, using the back side of vinyl flooring.

Teachbls, have you googled floorcloths and looked under Images? I'll bet there's a lot of eye candy for you there, and probably some tutorials as well. I'll be very excited to see what you do. I love those stencils too, and I have collected maybe three from snooping around the Internet. You can also make your own stencils with a stencil cutter, which is like a woodburner.

Here is the link to my very favorite stencil place in the whole wide world...

Here is a link that might be useful: Fabulous stencil library! British...

teachbls, I have a floorcloth like the one mentioned by poster #2. Let me know if you're interested and I'll post a photo. It's is a runner that's in front of my kitchen sink over a hardwood floor.

Pam

There's a fabulous how-to/inspiration book out there by Kathy Cooper of N.C. (In fact, it's up on ebay--2 of them--not my listings! just a fluke! LOL!)

When I was living in N.C. and taking a metal-jewelry class at an arts center, I passed by her classroom and was sucked right in by her and her students' fabulous work and how simple it was to do, apparently. I just admired the work, didn't actually make one, tho.

She tends to do more fanciful stuff, bright colors, etc., but the how-tos are clear.

Wow, thanks for the very helpful responses. Yes the stencil sites are just amazing - I could kill hours (and think I did, just yesterday) fawning over all that stuff. The possibilities seem just endless. Pam,I would love to see a picture of your floorcloth. I did look at the Kathy Cooper site as well, you're right, pammyfay, it is very informative!

Thanks a bunch, everybody - and TIA to anybody else willing to share!

Robin

I have made these floor clothes in the past and here is the best way to do it. You have to find an artist's supply store and purchase "duck cloth". It comes on a bolt, like fabric and very wide. Then get a can of artist's "Gesso". Use a paint roller and put several coats on the duck cloth. The best way to do that is to lay it out on a garage floor. The Gesso makes the cloth very stiff and ready to paint. From there you can tape off a border or two and do some stencil designs if you like. I tried the vinyl floor type and it did not work as well. It came out too thick for a floor cloth. The duck cloth is what they use for the professional ones. It's kind of like artists canvas, the kind you see stretched over a frame. I wish I had a picture of mine but I landed up giving it to someone. Also make sure you cover with non yellowing polyurethane when completed to make sure it will hold up to the traffic. Several coats will be needed. Good Luck!

Here is a link that might be useful: Christy's Thrifty Decorating