You can paint your cloth in so many ways. When the cloth is painted and dry, seal it with a few coats of sealer, making sure to let the sealer dry between coats. If your cloth is on a frame, use an exacto or carpet knife and cut the cloth away from the wood. Apply the contact cement to both edges. When the time is up, fold the edges and press them together.
Younger artists can paint small placemats on small pieces of canvas.
You can also use old pieces of linoleum to make floorcloths. Turn the linoleum upside down and paint the underside with whatever design you choose. Here's a tip from Bonnie Merchant . Bonnie is an artist from Oregon. She makes and sells jewelry and ornaments using polyshrink and paints and she also makes floorcloths.