Easy DIY Ruler Growth Chart
I’m in charge of the Super Saturday Craft Day at our church this year, which is a big group of ladies getting together to make really fun crafts and projects. It’s so fun for me, because it’s two of my passions together—creating and talking. ☺ One of the things I wanted to do this year was make a Ruler Growth Chart. LOVE them!! I’ve planned many of these, and when it comes to choosing projects for Super Saturday or any craft group, there are several things that I always consider:
1. It can be totally completed in the time frame we have (what’s worse than going home with unfinished projects that are just going to sit in your closet???)
2. It’s appropriate for all skill levels. Not that everyone doesn’t have the ability, just may not have the experience.
3. It will have a wide appeal.
This ruler growth chart met all of those requirements, and best of all, it is SO SO easy, Seriously. It’s also really budget-friendly–it cost less than $20 to make!!
Isn’t it ADORABLE???? I would probably made this a little differently had I been doing it on my own, and if you are, there are certainly other options available to you than the one I’m going to explain. Instead of vinyl, you could use the negative space and stencil it on. I’ve seen people use a Sharpie and paint to make the ruler lines. I’ve also made them with stripes–painted and stained–and the numbers in the striped section. There are a lot of options, but again, when planning for a large group, it’s a little different.
So…I went on the hunt for some really cute vinyl, because I knew that would be the easiest for everyone–for me, and for those making it. I found a cute little etsy shop (Little Acorns By Ro) that had the perfect thing! Plus, it’s only $9.99, and she offers a discount for large orders, which is FABULOUS for our large group.
I knew I wanted a stained board for ease, and because I love the overall look. This whole project is easy, anyone can do it, and it’s DARLING. It’s great for a one person project, or a whole group!
Here’s how I did it…
SUPPLIES:
– 1x8x6 wood board (I used select pine)
-stain ( Minwax Provincial for lighter board, Dark Walnut for darker)
-lint free rag
-vinyl (this is one I used)
DIRECTIONS:
1. Stain your board with desired stain color, using a lint free rag, and let it dry completely. I used a water based stain because it dries a lot faster, and I’m working with a specific time frame. You could use an oil based stain, but you’ll need a couple of days to let it dry completely before adding the vinyl.
If you are doing this for a Super Saturday, they will want to stain these VERY FIRST THING so they’ll have a few hours to dry, or you may want to consider having them stain them ahead of time–have them come to your home and stain it the day or two before, just to make sure. It needs to be dry for the vinyl to really adhere.
2. Once the stain is dry, you can sand the edges if you like, but I didn’t do that. If you do, make sure you remove all dust with a damp rag and let dry before continuing. Now you’re ready to add your vinyl!! The vinyl I used was SO easy. The markings came in 1 foot strips, and it came with awesome and easy-to-follow instructions. They are great for anyone–even those that never worked with vinyl before. My board was designed to be 8 inches from the ground, to allow for any baseboards. That’s why you can see that there are only 4 inches at the bottom of my board. The other 8 are at the top, above the 6 foot mark, so this board will measure up to 6 foot 8 inches.
And that’s it!!! These are perfect in a nursery, playroom, or even as decor in another room in your home. Whether you’re doing this for a large group, or on your own, they are darling. They also make GREAT gifts!!!
If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to ask!!! xo
