DIY Buffalo Check Sign
How to paint a buffalo check sign
To know me is to know my obsession with buffalo check. Today I am going to show you how to paint buffalo check using painters tape. Now I made this sign with Fall in mind but I kept it transitional so it can work for every season.
Like buffalo check? Learn how to paint a buffalo check mason jar here. If you have a Cricut you can see how I made a buffalo check stencil here.
This week I am teaming up with a group of my favorite bloggers for a Fall Ideas Tour. We have 29 bloggers sharing ideas for mantels, tables, and porches, as well as some wreath and DIY/craft ideas. A big thank you to Angie from Postcards from the Ridge for putting this together. Be sure to stay until the end of this post to see a sneak peek of their Fall projects.
Buffalo check seems to be everywhere this fall so why not create it ourselves with some paint and Frog tape.
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Here’s what you’ll need
- Blank sign (this one is from Joanns)
- Frog Tape
- Stain
- Polyacrylic
- Foam Brush or Rag
- White Chalk Paint
- White and Black Acrylic Paint
- Paint Brushes
- Wreath
- Fall Words
Prep Your sign
Let’s start by prepping our sign. Now I want a two tone farmhouse look for this sign. In order to accomplish that we need to stain the frame. Let’s tape off the inside of the sign and use a rag or foam brush to apply stain to the frame. I used a Minwax dark walnut stain. Let it dry completely and seal it with a coat or two of polyacrylic.
Once the frame is dry paint the inside base of the sign with white chalk paint. Let dry completely.
Mix Paint colors
Now you are going to need 3 colors to make this black and white buffalo check. A light grey, darker grey and black. Now you can do this by purchasing all the colors or mixing your own with white and black paint.
Tape off Horizontal Stripes
Starting at the top of your sign tape horizontal stripes. Pressing them down smoothly on the wood to create a seal. Use a piece of tape as a spacer in between stripes. This is more efficient than measuring and marking spaces with a pencil.
Paint horizontal Stripes
Using your lightest grey paint the horizontal stripes. Be sure not to over saturate your paint brush. A few light coats can help with bleeding. Also check out this technique for painting crisp lines.
remove tape
Remove painters tape while it’s still a bit wet. Let the paint dry completely.
Tape off vertical Stripes
Starting at the far side use your space tape flush against the side. Then start to tape your vertical stripes.
Paint Vertical Stripes
Using the darker grey start to paint your vertical stripes. DO NOT remove the painters tape. Let paint dry completely.
Tape horizontal stripes.
Starting at the top of the sign start to tape your horizontal stripes.
Paint the check
With a thin amount of black paint on your brush start painting the open squares on your sign. Apply two thin coats of the black paint.
Now here is to see if we did it correctly. Peel back all of your painters tape. And just like that you have created your own buffalo check sign.
Now theres a few options for embellishments for your sign. If you have a Cricut you could vinyl it or cut bass wood or chip board. Or if your like me you can use lettering that you found in the Target dollar spot from a few years back.
Tuesday – Tablescapes
Sand Dollar Lane / Aratari at Home / Nourish and Nestle
JenRon Designs / Salvaged Living / Our Southern Home
Wednesday – Wreaths
Petticoat Junktion / Lora Bloomquist / Exquisitely Unremarkable
Bliss Ranch / The Interior Frugalista / Chatfield Court
Thursday – Crafts & DIY
Domestically Speaking / DIY Beautify
Homeroad / Christina Faye Repurposed
not pictured Weekend Craft
Friday – Porches
Thank you for teaching me how to paint a buffalo check pattern. I’ve always wondered how to do that. Your sign is going to be great to use in any season for decor!
Not to sound silly or anything, but I could never figure out how to paint buffalo check before! Such a cute idea and now I’ll be painting everything in site buffalo check!
Pam, you are not the only one! Raising hand over here too!
This gave me an idea for an old window my husband brought home from his moms, so thanks!
Michelle,
Buffallo check is so fun and looks great everywhere in the house. Love that you chose green for your accent color. And, the wreath tips for later is perfect.
It was hard to wrap my head around but once I did a light bulb went off. Working on editing a video for this post so it’s even easier!
Your “how-to paint buffalo check” tutorial makes you the reigning crafty hero. It’s so easy to do….once it’s step-by-step in you post! LOL…. Thanks so much for sharing this lovely Fall project. It’s fabulous. Happy Fall.
Great fall project and it turned out great. I love it I will pin it my Fall Seasonal craft board!
Beautiful! I just picked up a few trays at Goodwill and was wondering what to do with them. Now I am thinking buffalo check!! Thanks for the great tutorial. Happy Fall!
Yes! Paint all things buffalo check.
What what, you mean I don’t need a stencil for that? Michelle, you just rocked my DIY world and now I want to buffalo check all the things 😉 Love your sign – thanks for the tip!
No stencil needed! It was pretty easy you just need patience for the paint to dry.
I have tried — and failed spectacularly — to paint buffalo check. Thanks for showing us how to do it the right way! Love your project and your buffalo check obsession!
I was so afraid of failing but it went really seamlessly once I figured it out.
Oh how I love buffalo check… you’ve inspired me to paint some too!! VERY CUTE!!!
Such a cute sign and I love your buffalo check tutorial!
You make it seem so easy! Thanks for the tutorial! And you like Buffalo Check? Hmmm…who knew? 😱
I’m a buffalo check and houndstooth fan all day long! Love your painting and your sign!
Michelle, this sign is adorable. I love the fact that you can change what you have on the front and use it year round. And thank you for your excellent tutorial for painting buffalo check. I’ve never tried it but you make it look like something I can do without going crazy! Happy to have you on the tour with us!
Thanks for a great tutorial! I want to paint buffalo check on everything now!
What a sweet project and thank you for the tutorial, like Pam, I had no idea how to figure this technique out!
Hey there !
What did you do to keep the wreath in place? Nail? Glue?
Thank you for the demonstration, this is such a cute idea!
A command hook. The small wire one.
Would you mind linking the exact colors you used? I love the look you have and would like to replicate it! Thanks!
I actually mixed the colors myself to get the right shades that I wanted.