Keep wood from scratching: How to make a rock-look table runner with felt

If you like the look of stone but don't like scratches on your furniture, you will love this felt table runner. For the most realistic-looking rocks, use a dark gray felt in which wool hairs are visible. Other color options are tan, dark brown and white. Should you opt for white, use black paint to enhance the look.

This table runner will help protect wood surfaces from scratches and water rings. Choose whatever length you like: Long for dining room and coffee tables, and short for end tables. To keep the runner from sliding, slip a few rubber jar grippers underneath, or glue them to the runner's back.

Materials
- Thick wool felt, dark gray
- Scissors
- Tailor's chalk
- Soft matte fabric paint, white
- Paint palette
- Small artist's paintbrush
- Hot-glue gun
- Hot-glue sticks
- Jar grippers

1. Cut one piece of felt into quarters. Place one quarter on top of another.

2. Use the tailor's chalk to draw the outline of an oblong rock on the top quarter. Include a few indents to emulate a real rock. Cut through both quarters around the outline.

3. Repeat steps 1 and 2 for as many small rocks as desired, varying the shapes.

4. Draw the outline of a large oblong rock on a full piece of felt and cut it out. Repeat for as many large rocks as desired.

5. Pour paint into the palette. Apply spots and streaks of white to simulate rocks. Let the paint dry.

6. Set down one large rock horizontally. Angle another large rock so it touches the left bottom of the first rock and points inward under the first rock. Angle a third large rock so it touches the right bottom of the first rock and connects with the second rock.

7. Apply glue to the inside rims of the large rocks where they meet one another. Press small painted rocks onto the glue to hold the larger pieces together.

8. Continue laying out a pattern of rocks, emanating from the center three from step 7. Use both small and large rocks for the bottom. Use small rocks to cover gaps as desired and to hold the bottom rocks together. Do this until you have reached the desired length and width of the runner.

9. Place or glue jar grippers under the runner to keep it from sliding.