Indiana Love Sign {Paint Stick Project}

Back in September I hosted a State Pride Tour with a bunch of other DIY bloggers.  It was seriously so much fun creating a project that culminates the place you call home.  I decided to tackle another Indiana project that honors Indiana farming.  One of the main crops in Indiana is soybeans.  In fact Indiana ranks 4th overall in soybean production.  Did you know that Plaid makes Soy paint?  My guess is – many of those beans came right here from my great state.

I will tell you I was quite impressed with these paints.  They reminded me of chalk paint – I hope they make them in bigger sizes to use on furniture in the future. Hint! Hint! Plaid – I will buy them! They go on smooth with a matte-like finish and distress really easily like chalk paint does.  The colors are vibrant and only take one coat with no primer.

Supplies:

15 – 5 gallon paint sticks

Soy paint

Frame (or make your own!)

Foam brushes

Wood Glue

Silhouette machine or vinyl stencil (you can buy it here!)

Nickels for spacing

Since I love me a good 5 gallon paint stick project I decided to take 15 paint sticks to show off 15 of the soy paint colors.  (In case you were wondering – I inherited a box of paint sticks to use for projects!) Paired with a barn wood frame (how apropos to showcase barnwood on an Indiana project) and a vinyl stencil I created I a colorful work of art for my home.

I found the barn wood frame on clearance without a picture in it at the Hob Lob last summer for $1.  I just cut it up and made it the size I wanted and then wood glued it all back together with some clamps.

Next I cut the 5 gallon paint stick handles off which left me with about 17” in width (This width determined my frame size).  Then I painted all the sticks with the different soy paint colors.

After they were dry I took a sanding sponge and distressed each one and then lined them up the way I liked them color wise.

Next I wood glued them onto the frame with a nickel spacing between each one.

I let that dry overnight and then I cut out my “IN love” file with my Silhouette machine and applied the vinyl to the paint sticks.

With a foam brush and the black soy paint I gave it a couple of coats.

There was a little bleed through.  Nothing a little distressing didn’t make look perfect!

Squuuueeeaalll! I love love love it!  I adore how bright and colorful it is –especially paired with the weathered frame.  It is the epitome of Indiana!

Since moving to Ohio I made a smilier sign using the same process here.

Disclaimer:  This project was sponsored by the Indiana Family of Farmers.