Learn to make your own barn quilt block with Adornit Wood Barn Quilt DIY blocks,

These painted Adornit Wood Barn Quilt DIY blocks glow with the luminescent Color Shift Paints. The black background and solid colors are reminiscent of Amish quilts. Their name refers to large quilt blocks painted on the side of barns across the county. To read more about the history of barn quilts, click here.

Here are the supplies used:

• Adornit Wood Barn Quilt DIY 12″ x 12″ Martha Washington
• Adornit Wood Barn Quilt DIY 12″ x 12″ Missouri Star
• Adornit Wood Barn Quilt DIY 12″ x 12″ Square & Star
• Color Shift Paints – Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Blue and Purple Flash
• Black acrylic paint
• White enamel paint 
• Paint brushes – I used mainly stroke brushes, shaders, and a liner
• Colored pencils or markers (optional for planning color placement
• Jute for hanging (or other method)
• Strong adhesive or hot glue gun and sticks for securing jute to back of wood

I drew the blocks using a quilt ruler; the blocks are based on a four-patch. I colored them in trying to balance the warm and cool colors – and be true to the original design of the block. Knowing they would be hung in a row, I planned the colors so the Missouri Star would be in the center with the other two on each side.

First, let me say that I am not an experienced painter and…

I am also …

a very messy painter!

After showing my first attempts to my husband (who is a skilled and tidy painter), I was relieved he did not say “This is why I don’t let you paint a room”. Instead, he tactfully explained that the wood first needed a primer coat. He offered to paint the entire front with a matte black paint. This would also solve the problem of how to fill in the grooves cut into the wood to make the quilt block pattern. My coworker (and Customer Service Manager) Kim then politely suggested I tape off the areas to be painted.

I thought it would be best to paint each section with an opaque layer of paint to help cover the black before adding the Color Shift Paints. Kim suggested adding some of each color to the white paint like paint is added to the primer coat for painting walls. I started by adding some Blue Flash to the white enamel paint for a base coat. I thought the tape made it harder to see the exact edge of the section, but the edges were clean and straight when I removed the tape.

Similarly, I added some Purple Flash to the white enamel paint for the purple sections. I painted this without taping and did okay.

I proceeded to paint the three quilt blocks. I used a few brushes at a time because I could do an area, let it dry while painting other colors, and return to paint another coat. It took 3-4 coats (not counting the base coat) for each color. I repainted the black areas a couple of times to tidy those areas. I was finally pleased with each color section figuring it was the best I could do – but the grooves were a mess! .

I assumed a black Sharpie permanent marker would do the trick, but it did not work well. The regular tip was too wide and left marks on the colors. Fine-Tip Sharpies and paint marker pens did not have enough paint in them to cover the area. Worst of all, if I got the black permanent marker on the colored area, it was very hard to cover up!

The solution turned out to be very carefully painting the groves with a  fine, short liner brush with the background acrylic paint. If I messed up, I easily wiped the area clean of paint with a disinfectant wipe I had handy. Now the blocks are finished – and disinfected!

The love the way the luminescent Color Shift Paints glow – and the colors shift with different angles and light.

To secure the black jute cord to the wood blocks, I put a glob Loctite Stik’NSeal adhesive in each corner at the top, curled an end of black jute in it, and let it dry overnight.

Now my wooden quilt blocks are hung over my desk – under my CREATE letters – to add glowing color to my work day. To read about the CREATE letters, please see Part 1 and Part 2 of my blogs about making them.

The new quilt blocks coordinate with the rest of my desk – to read about the projects for my recent desk organization, click here.

Note: To hang the wooden quilt blocks outdoors, like on a fence or patio, I would recommend making the project weather resistant with waterproof cord, silicone sealant, and indoor/out door glaze or varnish.