Buffalo Check Minnesota/Up North/Cabin Decor Ideas

I found this rustic box sign at a thrift shop a few weeks ago.

This was the back of the sign.

This little sign received a fun re-purpose.

(When you click on the bold Amazon, Old Sign Stencils or Dixie Belle Paint Company affiliate links you will be taken to the products I use for this project. If you order it does not change the price or service at all. As an Amazon Affiliate, Old Sign Stencils Affiliate or Dixie Belle Paint Affiliate, I earn from qualifying purchases.)

I purchased three 1" x 36" square dowels from Menards.

Two of the dowels were cut in half on the chop saw.

Next, my four 18" square dowels were attached to the back corners of my box sign with wood screws.

The screws were added from the outside. This was easiest, and my project is rustic.

Next four cross bar pieces were cut from the third dowel. The size of these cross bar dowels will depend on the size of your sign.

The cross bars were attached with wood screws as well.

It was now time to paint my little side table/plant stand.

I painted the little side table with two coats of DecoArt Americana Chalky Finish Paint in Rouge.

I used my *Old Sign Stencils Buffalo Check Stencil to add black checks to the top of my table with the stencil positioned on the diagonal.

I sanded the edges to smooth the rough wood, and lightly sanded the checks with 220 grit sandpaper.

I sealed the table with Varathane Water-Based Polyurethane in Satin Finish.

Buffalo Check Minnesota/Up North/Cabin Decor Ideas #cabindecor #buffalocheck #buffaloplaid #oldsignstencils #stencil #upcycle #repurpose

This little table is not a stool to sit on, but it is perfect as a plant stand or a table next to an easy chair for beverages and maybe the television remote.

For my next project, I purchased a 20" x 20" x 1/2" craft piece of Russian Birch Plywood from our local Menards.

I painted just the top of the board with two coats of Dixie Belle Chalk Finish Paint in CAVIAR.

My second project was stenciled with the LARGE SIZE Buffalo Check Stencil also from Old Sign Stencils.

Both the squares and the overall size of the stencil are larger.

*Old Sign Stencils provided me with complimentary samples. All opinions about these fabulous stencils are my own.

I taped the large buffalo check stencil onto my board on the diagonal.

I stenciled the red checks with Decoart Rouge Chalky Finish Paint. I applied two coats. (Two coats are better than one heavy coat that could bleed under the stencil).

I leave the checks a little transparent and not totally solid.

The buffalo check stenciling is complete.

I then used the 11" x 14" Minnesota stencil from Pack of 4 Minnesota State Stencils Made from 4 Ply Mat Board 11x14, 8x10, 5x7 and 4x6. I think all states are available from this supplier on Amazon.

I stenciled the "Minnesota" shape with Dixie Belle Chalk Finish Paint Drop Cloth.

I then sealed the paint and stencils with Dixie Belle Best Dang Wax in Clear.

I applied it with a fiber rag, Intex Pfc Precision-fiber Paint & Cleaning Rags, and rubbed it down with another when the wax was dry.

The finishing touch to my new Minnesota sign was the frame.

As a rule, I don't add frames to my signs, but the look of the framed signs all over the internet have grown on me. I read several tutorials on how to add a frame.

I purchased 1" x 2" furring strips at our local Menard's. The top and bottom boards were cut the same size as the plywood sign and the sides were cut two inches longer. I stained the boards with Varathane Wood Stain in Dark Walnut.

Let me just say if you are going to make a lot of frames, get a nail gun, and/or read Angela Marie Made blog for great sign frame instructions.

I love the frame.

I love the sign!

I am sure that many of you have spring right around the corner, but it's February in Minnesota. Spring seems a long way off. More ice fishing, snowmobiling, relaxing by the fire at the cabin to come. More time for buffalo check blankets and shirts!

More snow! (coming down right now)