I don’t know about y’all?

But I am all about a little buffalo check this year.

I’m not even sure where the buffalo check obsession came from. I think it all started with this set of black and white buffalo check dishes full of strawberries that I saw online. There was just something about the crispness of the buffalo check mixed with the red of the strawberries.

And out of nowhere?

I was buffalo-checked hooked.

I started googling buffalo check ribbon and buffalo check planters and buffalo check pillows and buffalo check pumpkins.

And then?

I had a brilliant thought?

Why buy MORE fall stuff? When I could just make my own.

If you have white pumpkins like this in the bins in your attic? Get them down and get them out and buffalo check them.

Here’s my best tutorial on how to make a buffalo check pumpkin.

Supplies:

white pumpkin

skinny (about 3″) wide foam brush

black paint

a mind that doesn’t overthink

Step 1: Toss away perfection

Let me start from the outset.

You do NOT want to overthink this project. If you are a perfectionist? Those stripes will leave you bananas. It’s almost impossible to get them perfect.

Please girl.

Leave that PERFECTIONISM at the door.

The beautiful thing about this project? The stripes are so graphic and the pumpkins are SO CUTE that a little stripe that’s not perfect is not a big deal.

Just like the base molding that needs dusting on your house tour….

…if you don’t point it out no one will ever notice.

Step 2: Mark off your stripes

Start at the stem and place hash marks around the top of the stem where your lines will be. Six hashmarks is the perfect number. We are going to go back and add additional stripes between the original stripes for a total of 12 stripes.

There’s an important thing to note here about the paint.

You can use regular craft paint.

But as for me and my porch?

We are leaving these pumpkins outside. So I used acrylic house paint. Sherwin-Williams Tricorn Black to be exact. I had it left over from another project and I knew it would hold up better for outside pumpkins.

It worked really well—but the drying time is a LOT longer so make sure to take that into account if you use any other paint than basic craft paint.

Step 3: paint your stripes

This is the first stripe I painted (before I had the brilliant idea to create hashmarks at the top).

Simply start at the top and pull the foam brush about 3/4 of the way down the side of the pumpkin.

Repeat this step for each of the hashmarks at the top of the pumpkin.

Step 4: Paint a stripe between your stripes

After you paint all of the original six stripes, go back and add an additional stripe between each of the six stripes.

That means you will have a total of 12 vertical stripes.

Paint them 3/4 of the way down the pumpkin and let them dry.

See how imperfect the stripes are.

Remind yourself that THAT’S OKAY. 🙂

Step 5: Paint the stem and the bottom

Go to the top of the pumpkin and paint the stem.

Let the top stripes and the stem dry.

Then?

Flip it over and continue the stripes to the bottom.

Let dry.

Step 6: Paint a second coat

After the first coat dries, go back and add a second coat on the stem and the vertical stripes.

Again.

Your stripes will not be perfect.

Let that perfection go.

You and your stripes are amazing.

Let the vertical stripes dry.

Step 8: Add horizontal stripes

All that’s left is to connect the vertical stripes with two horizontal stripes.

Add two coats of paint, letting the stripes dry between each coat.

And then?

Your buffalo check pumpkins are ready for primetime.

I painted two pumpkins and added them to the front porch.

You don’t need many.

Because as much as I love it?

A little buffalo check goes a long way.

And the best part?

This DIY craft was FREE. I already had the pumpkins and I already had the paint.

Here’s to buffalo check.

Here’s to fall porches.

And here’s to CELEBRATING imperfection everywhere. 🙂

Want to know how to decorate your home for free?
Click here to get my FIVE BEST secrets.

Posted On: September 11, 2020

Written By: KariAnne Wood

Comments

  1. Image for Julie Julie

    THANK YOU!! THANK YOU!! This looks so doable and cute as I have the paints/brushes and pumpkins already! Definitely will pursue this weekend!

    Reply
  11. Image for Chloe Chloe

    Love these KariAnne! Of course, I may have gone a little overboard with the buffalo check earlier this year! HA! I am experimenting with black and gold for Halloween!

    Reply
  17. Image for Michele M. Michele M.

    Cute and clever. Always wondered why it is called "Buffalo Plaid." Inquiring minds want to know. FINALLY cooled off - I am actually sitting in front of an open window! Gasp! Yesterday it was almost 90. Today perfect fall. Weird. Hope your weekend is fantabulous, KA.

    Reply
  18. Image for Maria Maria

    This is the first buffalo checked pumpkin I have ever seen!!!!!!! Leave it to you to be so creative. Thanks for sharing this craft that I will keep in mind :)

    Reply
  24. Image for Rachelle Rachelle

    Kariann, just came over from Karins Kottage, Really want to try this, and I've got the tricorn black on my front door, but it looks like you used and high-gloss paint? My door was painted in a semi-gloss.

    Reply

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