DIY Height Ruler for Our Toddler

Finally!  Finally we've stopped talking about it and got-it-done!  

We've wanted to get some kind of height chart for B since he turned ONE!  Yeah, like over 6 months ago.  parents of the year award.  right here.  

For months, I searched several websites that sold them and I never really could pin one down that I really liked.  

Then, I put it aside and forgot about it (which tends to happen a lot, lately) until recently.  

As soon as I saw this idea....I was determined to do it ourselves.  Instead of buying an "over-priced chart" from some company.  So, why not make it ourselves?!  It'll have more meaning, right?!  So we did.  

We got it done in one day and it was easy peasy!  Anyone can do this.  Seriously.  :)

Plus, it's perfect because we could always take it with us if we ever move.  And we can use this for all of our children.  We can just use different colored markers for each child's measurement.  It'll be neat to track the differences in their heights as they grow.

Ok, here's the down-low:  the blog that I used as my inspiration for making this was 517 Creations.  I loved her ruler and her instructions were easy to follow.  I did exactly what she did in making hers (except for the color of stain).

We started out with a 1x8x6 board of pine wood which cost around $8 at Lowes.

She used a different color stain....but since I already had an almost full can of Dark Walnut stain, I used that instead.  And I love it!  I use this color for everything I stain.  It's that perfect color of brown.....not too chocolate-y and not too cherry toned (red).

We have a ton of Jer's old white t-shirts so I used one to apply the stain.  I find it to be better than using a brush.  Plus, when you wipe it on, you wipe off the excess stain with a clean part of the t-shirt.

I let the stain set into the wood for a couple of hours.  The longer it sets the more deep it soaks in and the better it looks.  After a couple of hours you'll know if it needs more coats.  I only applied one coat.  It was the perfect color for what I wanted.  Any darker and you wouldn't be able to see my numbers as well.

I love the knots in the wood.  It gives it character.  It gives it a more "antique-ish" feel.  :)  We almost went with a better kind of wood without the knots (in fact, we bought it, which cost $23 but I ended up changing my mind and taking it back).

Later that evening, I brought it in and started making my marks and numbers exactly how 517 Creations did hers.  I started my tick marks (using a pencil) at 6 inches so that my ruler would end up being a 6 1/2 foot ruler.  I drew my "eight" marks 1 inch long and my "quarter" marks 2 inches long.

Once my marks were made, I printed out my numbers using Century font at 200 point font.  On the back, I traced them and colored/shaded them in with a pencil making sure it was really dark.

Then I turned them over, placed them where I wanted them and rubbed the front of the number with my pencil so that the shaded pencil marks on the back would transfer onto the board.

This is what it looked like after the transfer.

Lastly, for the tick marks, I used a thick point black paint marker (from Michael's) to go over the pencil lines.  And I used a fine point black paint marker to trace and color in the numbers.

Once the numbers were dry, I sprayed it with some clear gloss (low odor) finish spray to protect the stain, wood and paint.  This also allows me to mark on it and gives it a finished look, too.  

When we hung it, we used a sawtooth picture hanger to hang it.  

We also made sure to hang it 6 inches off the floor to give us accurate readings each time we measure Boston.   

We weren't sure where to hang it so we decided to put it in our workout room which has a perfect wall for it.   

I think he likes it.  :)

 We used our stud finder to hang it on a stud.

Since we needed to hang it 6 inches above the floor, Jer stood it against the wall and measured 6 inches from the top.  That's where he put his nail.

It's perfectly aligned!  Great job, Jer.

We.love.it!

Oh and we had to try it out with the little fella, of course.  We placed him up next to it and told him to stand there.  And he did!  We couldn't believe it.  So I took advantage of it and snapped away.  :)

He's almost 3 feet tall!

Where's the 4, Boston?  There it is!!  :)

We had a blast making this project for our main man.  We are excited to see his growth over the next several years (till he's 18!).  :)

Linking up with:

The Sasse Life

Tater Tots and Jello

Under The Table and Dreaming

Someday Crafts

Family Ever After Blog

Young and Crafty

Be Different Act Normal

It's Overflowing