How To Paint Buffalo Check Plaid

An easy tutorial on how to paint buffalo check plaid with painters tape. 

Buffalo check plaid is everywhere and it has been my favorite for years. Today I want to show you how to paint buffalo check plaid using painters tape. I have done this method a few times over the years and thought I need to share this tutorial. 

I am working on a door sign for Fall. I picked up this wooden pumpkin last year at Hobby Lobby and new it would be perfect not only for my front door but to also paint it buffalo check plain. 

Now I use painters tape to make my plaid pattern but you can also use your Cricut and make a vinyl stencil. Read about that here. Want to make a buffalo check mason jar? Check out how to here. 

HERE’S WHAT YOU’LL NEED

• Frog Tape
• White Chalk Paint
• White and Black Acrylic Paint
• Paint Brushes
• This SVG file

Let’s paint some plaid. All you really need is some painters tape, paint brushes and paint. Now I will tell you the best tape to use is Frog tape. The paint blocking technology is just superior for crisp lines. 

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.

Base Color

We are going to start by painting the base of your sign white. Now if you are making a red and black buffalo check you would paint the base red. 

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. Check out this technique for painting crisp lines. 

REMOVE TAPE

Remove painters tape while it’s still a bit wet. 

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. 

Want to put the pumpkin spice and everything spice saying on your pumpkin? Check out this free SVG file from Elise Creates.

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