Giant Ruler Growth Chart Tutorial :: Via The Photographer's Wife

I recently received an email request for one of our giant growth chart rulers who mentioned seeing a great tutorial on The Photographer's Wife blog.  Without hesitation I ran aka typed really fast to check it out.  

The first thing I noticed when I got there was that I had been there before looking at other project in the past.  How awesome that we are now a part of the wonderful tutorial posts there!?!

Below is a cut & paste (with permission) of the wonderfully done tutorial post. Please be sure to also go pay The Photographer's Wife blog a visit and check out more tutorials and great parenting posts.

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We liked the idea of tracking Trent’s height growth throughout the years, but since we might not be in this house forever, we didn’t want to track it on a wall that we would have to leave behind if we moved.

So we decided to make our own growth chart ruler that can go with us wherever we go! And it fit perfectly with our theme for his nursery, too!

Brett searched “growth chart ruler” on Etsy and came across a custom vinyl decal from Ten23Designs. [you can also go to her website to order it HERE] 

The decal is 6 feet tall and can be ordered in a variety of colors. When we ordered, there were different measurement options, so we made sure to specify that we wanted it in inches. Personalization is free, so we specified in the comments of the order that we wanted his name, Trent, printed too!

The decal arrived in 4 separate sections. Brett purchased a 6 ft. tall x 9 in. wide x 1 in. deep piece of wood…no need to cut it.

Place the decals where you will end up sticking them, making sure that your measurements line up. Only a half a foot will be at the bottom, since you will end up placing the bottom of the ruler about half a foot off the ground when you hang it on the wall.

It may be easier to cut the decals into smaller sections, so they are easier to work with. Peel off one side of the decal backing and stick the decal onto the wood and press down firmly,smoothing it out.

You may also benefit from a furry DIY helper nearby.

Slowly peel back the other side of the decal backing, leaving just the decal itself. By peeling slowly, you can catch any wrinkles before peeling too far.

Do this for all the sections and the name!

Spray several coats of clear coat onto the front and sides to give it that somewhat shiny, finished look. We used Valspar Clear Sealer Gloss. Let dry between each coat.

 

Screw on a mounting hook to the back of the ruler towards the top.

Place two felt pads on the back of the ruler towards the bottom, so it will rest firmly against the wall.

Hang onto the wall, making sure to line up the measurements from the ground (the 1 on the ruler will measure 1 foot off the ground).

Now, you’re ready to track your child’s height and don’t have to worry about leaving those memories behind if you move!

Decals and Burlap???

Earlier today, Cocktails & Details posted a beautiful inspiration collection of woods, metals and burlap on Facebook... and it inspired me.

I love anything personalized and burlap happens to be one of my favorite decorating materials... so why not mix the two?  

One of the good things about being a craft addict is that 9 times out of 10, you have all of the materials you need right in your studio when an idea unleashes in your mind... especially if you are like me and cannot do anything else until the project is complete.

I first sewed two small pillows with the burlap material, leaving a corner on each open to stuff.

I cut the decals and peeled out the lettering to make a stencil.  I used the application tape to adhere the vinyl on the burlap how I wanted it.

Then painted.

After it dried (didn't really let it dry all of the way... I was to anxious to get it done)... My assistant helped me to stuff the pillows. 

She smiled almost the whole time and said to me, "this is fun. Can we make more pillows?"

Little does she know... we will be!

After we stuffed them I stitched up the open corner and viola!!!

Project : 7 of : 23

I have been working on this project for some time now... I had to do it little by little when I had time. The sad thing is, in total, it only took about 30 minutes of my time from start to finish.  With my son growing SO quickly, I had to hurry up and get this one done!

So without further adieu, Project : 7 of : 23

I started with a raw piece of lumber from Home Depot and painted it white. (I took a photo of the wood before I painted it but accidentally deleted it AFTER I painted... can't go back and start over on this one.)

I brushed 2 coats of white paint with a white paint brush.  I wanted to the wood to look kind of aged, but not distressed.

I have NO idea why this photo keeps posting sideways... so just tilt your head while looking at it.

Next I designed the ruler markers on the computer and cut them as a decal.

I used a tape measure next to the wood as I applied the decal just to make sure I was staying on track, even though I designed the decal with exact measurements.  

 

...and viola!!! A giant ruler in my hallway.  I anchored a wall between the kiddos rooms.

As soon as I stepped back from it after putting it up on the wall, my 2 year old ran over and stood in front of it with her back against it.  How she knew what it was for was beyond me... and when my son woke up this morning and saw it, his first instinct was to measure himself too.   Gotta love it!

Counting Down...

I love a good countdown. Those last few numbers always bring such a fun rush.  The only thing I can think of that is more fun than shouting out a countdown, is being able to see the numbers decreasing!  Hmm... I think we need a countdown board.  But to countdown what... to countdown just about anything and everything! 

5

4

3

2

1

Introducing our new countdown decal kits. Each Countdown Decal Kit includes 1 chalkboard circle, 1 "days until" and 1 line

 

Kits are currently $3 each OR 4 for $10 however this pricing is for a limited time.  Why am I offering them for so little? Because the more countdowns the merrier and these would be great holiday gifts.  Oh and don't forget about the teachers.  How fun would it be to do a countdown to summer vacation?!?

Email me @ designedbylauren@yahoo.com to order 

{DIY Tutorial} Mailbox Update by Fireflies and Jellybeans

I recently made a custom home address decal for Fawnda of Fireflies and Jellybeans, a DIY Club member which she used to personalize her mailbox.  

She wrote an easy to follow tutorial on how she applied the decal to her mailbox to personalize it.

1. Tape your vinyl in place with blue painter’s tape.

 

2. removed the backing so that your vinyl is all on the transfer paper.

 

3. Rub over the transfer paper with a card to make sure your vinyl sticks to your mail box

 

4. peel off the transfer paper slowly.

Personalized postal perfection!