How To: Ruler Growth Chart Tutorial
Ruler Growth Chart ~ Giant Wooden Ruler Growth Chart ~ I wanted one....bad! I have been seeing those funky growth charts all over the place. Up until now I have been marking the kid's height on a wall and want to paint that wall soon so I thought I better come up with a better solution. I wanted to make a wooden ruler growth chart myself and found that it was easy, inexpensive, and fun! My total cost was about $11.00 and total time was less than 1 hour.
Materials needed for Wooden Ruler Growth Chart:
Wooden Plank ~ I used a 6 foot x 1 inch x 7 ¼ inch pine board plank from Home Depot {I placed mine 6 inches above the floor which allows for a final marking of 6 feet 6 inches}
Wood stain ~ I had some Minwax Wood Stain in Sedona Red on hand from another project so used that
White craft paint
Black craft paint
Black Paint Marker ~ paint markers are so handy and are great to use for any tasks that require precision with paint i.e. lines
I made stencils using my Cricut machine for the numbers but you could freehand the numbers or use other stencils
Ruler and speed square
Paintbrush and stencil brush

*If you don't have a Cricut machine you can use this wonderful Growth Chart Stencil from Stencil Revolution - it would save you a lot of time! 🙂
Steps for making your Wooden Ruler Growth Chart:
1. Apply stain to wooden board/plank. Wipe off the stain using a soft cloth or rag. The longer you leave the stain on the darker it will be. Allow to dry.
2. I waited a few days for mine to be thoroughly dry and then marked a strip down the center using painter's tape. I then dry brushed the white craft paint into the center portion. The reason I did this was so that I could mark my children's height and see what I was marking {so that it stood out}.
3. Once the center portion was dry I marked my Wooden Ruler Growth Chart starting with a 6 inch allowance at the bottom and noting where each foot would be.
4. Once again using painter's tape I taped my stenciled numbers in place starting with the number 1 six inches from the bottom and working my way up.
5. I used black craft paint to stencil the numbers on to my plank.
Once dry, I removed the stencils.
6. Next, using a ruler I used a pencil to lightly mark each inch between feet.
7. Using a speed square and the paint marker I marked a hash tag for each inch making the 6 inch line {half foot mark} 1 inch long, every third inch ½ inch long and all other inches ¼ inch long.
8. I added a metal hanger to the back and added a stamp, signature and date for a final touch. I then hung the Wooden Growth Chart on my wall making sure to place it 6 feet and 6 inches from the floor.
I'll be posting some pictures of additional decor I added around the ruler tomorrow.
In the meantime, I am linking this project to the following lovely sites and The DIY Club Monthly Project Tutorial Contest
This is a fabulous idea! I really hate those paper growth charts. I never put them on the walls because they always tear so quickly. We've never marked on the walls because we always lived in an apartment or in base housing. This is an /excellent/ option! Thanks for sharing! 😀
I hate the paper growth charts also...that's what I had for Joe. Now, I need to transfer all the markings from my wall to my new growth chart. oi!
Great idea! Wish I would have done this when my children were little. Thanks for linking this in to "I Did It!" Tuesday. 🙂
Great job! I just made one too for me to have and use here when the grandkids come over, I'll be posting about it next week. I made 8 a couple of Christmas ago for the grandkids. They are really nice to have. Thanks for linking with me.
I've been wanting one too! One of these days!! 🙂 Laurel
I hope you get the chance to make one yourself or buy one soon ~ it was very honestly an EASY project. : )
This is so cute. I should make one for my daughter's room.
That looks adorable! Great job. Megan
This looks A-mazing! Such a great way to save your kid's growth.. love it! We do the wall thing right now.. guess I better upgrade!
Thanks so much for sharing with the Pink Hippo Party!
xoxo
Amie @ Pinkapotamus
That is just cool!
Love it!
Thanks for sharing!
Stacey of Embracing Change
What a fun growth chart...it is vintagey and fun and just perfect!
Thanks so much, Holly! : )
I love how you could take this growth chart with you, if you had to move.
Love your growth chart - it turned out great! I have this linked to my oversized ruler growth charts post too today, well done!
Thanks so much! : )
Hi there! Stumbled across your blog and love it!
A few months back I asked my husband to help me make one for our boys and we had fun preparing the board, but got stuck on creating a neat, professional way to put on numbers and tick marks. We tried numerous methods, and weren't happy with any of them, so decided to design a DIY vinyl decal that you can just transfer onto the board and were finally happy with it!
Since then, knowing how popular this project is, we actually opened a shop on Etsy to sell the decals for other DIY-ers who wanted to make a board but didn't have the time to hand draw out or stencil numbers and tick marks. If you'd like to take a look, or recommend the shop in your post to others who might be frustrated by the same step as an option, it's: http://www.etsy.com/shop/LittleAcornsByRo
Maybe it will be a help to others out there!
Thanks and best wishes!
Ro