It’s no secret I’ve moved a lot. 32 times actually… But my Husband? He grew up in the same house from birth to the time we got married. Of course SINCE we got married things have changed for him a lot. We’ve moved 10 1/2 times (I count the remodel as 1/2 because we basically moved everything out and back in again!). Anyway my husband grew up with a door that they measured their heights on. When my In law’s moved a few years ago they brought their door with them. With all the moving we’ve done I’ve never had anything to measure my kids with. So I finally decided to do something about it! I made my own Ruler Growth Chart!
We have tall genes, my family ranges from 6 feet to 6 feet 8 inches (yes I’m a shorty at 5′ 9″). My husbands family ranges from 6 feet to 6 feet 2 inches. SOOO I had to consider how TALL our kids might get when I started. Since the kids all START at 21 inches I knew we didn’t need the bottom foot. I decided to go from 1 foot to 7 feet. I went with a pine board 6 feet long and 1 foot wide and 3/4 inches thick.
I sanded down the board, the edges, corners, etc. I wanted it nice and smooth. I considered creating an angle at one edge, like a real ruler, but decided not to take the time. Then I sealed the wood with a polyurethane. I considered staining the wood too, but decided to go with the natural color.
I created vinyl with marks every inch, longer ones at the foot mark as well as medium ones at 3, 6 and 9 inches. I decided to have the numbers (using a font as close to the numbers on the ruler I was basing it all on) RIGHT across from the longer dash, but you could also have then next to the dash as well. Using a font as similar to a ruler as I could I also cut out our name with a “since 2000” (the year we got married of course) underneath. Then I sealed the whole thing a few more times over the vinyl.
I’m really happy with how it turned out. The funny thing is I finished this 6 months ago! Yup that long ago! BUT I just barely got around to hanging it. The part I hadn’t considered was how short our ceilings are in our basement! The spot I had PLANNED on putting it wasn’t 7 feet tall (imagine how my 6′ 2″ husband feels down here). So I had to rethink. PLUS I was worried that if it was left out in a common area Destruct-o Girl (still working on a nickname for the youngest now that she isn’t the Naked One 24/7 anymore) would draw on it if I left it out! I ended up putting it in a small space in my office.
Now onto marking it up! I have TERRIBLE handwriting. Really horrific. So now I don’t want to mark up my pretty growth chart with my nasty writing. So I decided to use my silhouette! I wanted the writing smallish and I wanted it to be permanent so I didn’t want to use the vinyl itself for the names, but I COULD use the vinyl for a stencil for permanent marker!
I first went with a font that was like handwriting, but it was too decorative and didn’t work. then I moved onto a simpler, plainer font. It worked GREAT! I cut the names and their ages and birthday’s this year. Then I cut the names into strips. I measured each child and stuck the vinyl onto the growth chart.
Then with a permanent marker I filled in the stencils!
Peel off the vinyl stencil and voila!!! Now I think I’ll go back in time using the measurements from their birthday Dr. appointments! Yup, I keep all those things so it won’t be a problem! What do you think? Or is that overboard?
Andrea@KeepinItThrifty
June 9, 2011 at 5:26 amAMAZING!!! Such a fun project!!! You did a great job…my “old” growth chart was on the back of a closet door in our old house..and yes we’ve moved since then.
Ashlee
June 13, 2011 at 10:41 pmGrowing up we moved a lot too, so I never had one! It’s fun to have something to mark the kids and take with us when we move (if we ever move!)
whatever DeeDee Wants
June 9, 2011 at 7:21 amI love this! I may need to make one of these for my little boy. Thanks for sharing!
Ashlee
June 13, 2011 at 10:42 pmThanks! I’m SO happy with how it turned out.
Leanne
June 9, 2011 at 7:48 amI love it Ashlee! The font is perfect and I love the clean look of it. What a fun way to document your kids growth. I hope you’re doing well.
Ashlee
June 13, 2011 at 10:42 pmThank you so much! We tried a few different fonts before we (the gal who helped me with her vinyl) picked the perfect one!
Tom Farnsworth
June 9, 2011 at 9:43 amTotally overboard and totally cool. Nicely done.
Ashlee
June 13, 2011 at 10:43 pmThanks! I am my mothers daughter, overboard is my middle name!
Rachel
June 9, 2011 at 1:40 pmI love this! Since we moved from our old house where we wrote the heights on the wall, I needed something new that we can take with us…that doesn’t have a giraffe or a tree on it! Thanks for sharing!
Ashlee
June 13, 2011 at 10:43 pmAgreed, I’m not a fan of giraffe’s or trees either! I’m so glad you liked it!
Sarah @ Frills Fluff and Trucks
June 9, 2011 at 4:37 pmI love this–and I totally think you should go back and fill in the old info. I’ve been wanting to make a giant ruler (and you know I’ll be “pinning” this one!”) and I totally plan on filling in all the old info! 🙂
~ Sarah
Ashlee
June 13, 2011 at 10:45 pmThanks Sarah, I hope you do make it, it was super easy, at least if you have a vinyl cutter, or have a friend with one!
Tauni
June 12, 2011 at 4:05 pmAshley, this project turned out wonderfully! I’ve been in love with ruler growth charts for a bit now and I am very picky. Yours is one of my favorites.
xoxo
Tauni
Ashlee
June 13, 2011 at 10:57 pmThanks Tauni!! I’ve been picking looking for a cute one for years too. I’m so happy with how this turned out!
Rachel
June 12, 2011 at 6:46 pmI’m featuring this on my blog on Wednesday. It’s such a cool way to document your kids growth without being all cutesy. Love it!
Thanks, Rachel
http://www.rachelteodoro.com/
Ashlee
June 13, 2011 at 10:58 pmThanks for the feature. I’ll come over and check it out Wednesday!
Michele
June 13, 2011 at 12:48 pmWhat exact font did you use for the numbers, your name, and the “since 2000?”
Ashlee
June 13, 2011 at 11:00 pmMan I don’t remember. We (the gal who cut the vinyl for me) designed and cut the vinyl over a year ago! The numbers were “century schoolhouse” I believe. I emailed her asking if she remembered so if she get’s back to me I’ll let you know!
Ellie
June 15, 2011 at 8:28 amI love love love this idea! The vinyl makes your ruler look so professional!
Ashlee
June 18, 2011 at 11:05 amThanks! I actually tried taping it off and painting it first, but I couldn’t STAND the bleeding, so I sanded it all off and used the vinyl, SO much better!
Katelyn
June 15, 2011 at 10:44 amI LOVE this. I might have to try this out. It’s perfect idea for military families.
Ashlee
June 18, 2011 at 11:06 amAny family that moves alot should have one to take with them, and it’s so flat it’s easy to slide into a moving van somewhere! I hope you make it and love it!
Suzanne
June 17, 2011 at 4:10 pmThis is a brilliant idea! And enough room for all the kids names and heights!! Thanks for sharing this.
Ashlee
June 18, 2011 at 11:07 amThanks! I hope so, it’s going to get pretty crowded by the end with 5 kids!
Jen
June 17, 2011 at 4:40 pmOh this is just the epitome of growth charts! The best I’ve ever seen for sure! You did a fantastic job! Jen @ http://www.icantstopcrafting.blogspot.com
Ashlee
June 20, 2011 at 2:04 amThanks so much! I am so happy with how it turned out!
KatieF
June 18, 2011 at 3:41 pmLOVE THIS! My kids are grown(ish) (the ‘baby’ is 16) but this reminds be a school project I had to do (ok, help do) once of a ‘timeline’ and I decided to use wood grain contact paper and make it like a ruler, with each “inch” a year in the child’s life, with a picture and a blurb about that time in their life. He was only 8 at the time, so we added to it each year until he was 12. I treasure it now, all rolled up in my mommy’s keepsake closet, now the room of my daughter who was recently married (sniffsniff) I think I might save a picture of this to whip up for her for when she has babies… she is NOT crafty! good job!!
Ashlee
June 20, 2011 at 2:05 amSounds like a lot of work! How fun that you kept it. I have a box for each child where I keep treasures, but just a box, so I can’t fit much!
Jasmin
July 3, 2011 at 1:06 pmI don’t know much about vinyl. How did you get the layout? Did you have a program or created yourself? I bought my board a while back, but I have been trying to figure out how to mark it.
Ashlee
July 4, 2011 at 10:29 pmthis was before I had my silhouette, I had a friend with a professional vinyl business that did the cutting for me. She has her own program, not sure what it is. But you could easily use the silhouette or any other program. I did the lines every inch, each line is about 3/16th of an inch wide and the length varies depending on the marker. So I cut out a 6 foot vinyl piece because she cut it to exact length.
Amanda
August 13, 2011 at 12:06 pmI love this!!! What a fabulous idea. I can’t wait to make one.
Ashlee
August 14, 2011 at 8:41 pmThank you so much, I am so in love with this too! Of course I still haven’t gone back and added the older heights! The baby may be the next time I get around to it… Maybe I should make a goal to have it updated BEFORE he arrives!
Lori
August 14, 2011 at 2:39 pmLOVE this idea. I’m wondering if the gal who cut your vinyl would be willing to sell the same set to me. I have been looking for just the right growth chart and this is perfect!!!
Ashlee
August 14, 2011 at 8:43 pmI’ll ask her again, she was going to start up a business, but then she and her husband decided to move and it’s been a CRAZY summer for her. I can’t seem to remember the font of the writing, but do remember the measurements and font from the numbers and lines. I’ll let you know when she get’s back to me!
Hollie @ I'm Busy Procrastinating
August 15, 2011 at 8:54 pmI never had a growth chart growing up and didn’t do one with my own son (who’s now in high school), but I always thought the family growth charts on the door frames were so sweet. What a cute idea to make your own ruler that can move when you do. You people and your Silhouettes can create such perfect lines and type. I may have to break down and get one someday.
Ashlee
August 17, 2011 at 12:27 pmThanks! I actually did the lines and numbers and stuff before I got a silhouette, I hired a friend with a massive vinyl cutter to do it, but I’m loving creating the stencil with my silhouette as my handwriting is illegible and then what’s the point?
Rachel @ Lines across my face
August 15, 2011 at 9:03 pmWhat a great idea. It is so cute. I also moved around a lot growing up and we had a door that we marked for a long time. So when we moved we took the door with us. Now it is sitting in my parent’s closet somewhere. I really want to make one of these for my kids! I would love it if you would stop by and share this at the crafty link party going on right now at Lines Across My Face.
I hope to see you soon,
Rachel
https://accounts.google.com/ServiceLogin?service=blogger&hl=en&passive=1209600&continue=https://www.blogger.com/blogin.g?blogspotURL%3Dhttp://linesacrossmyface.blogspot.com/2011/08/cure-for-common-monday-4-craft-link.html%26zx%3Djwgiubqkg410<mpl=private
Ashlee
August 17, 2011 at 12:28 pmMy in laws took their door with them too! It’s in the garage somewhere. They had it in between our basement apartment and the upstairs, but the kids started to draw on it, so we moved it!
Kari
August 16, 2011 at 7:23 amI love this! I can’t wait to do this for my home – thanks for the great idea!
Ashlee
August 17, 2011 at 12:34 pmI’m so glad you like it! I am still tickled every time I walk by mine (then feel a bit anxious because I still haven’t added all the other heights- but mostly tickled!)
MJ
August 16, 2011 at 2:02 pmLove it! I actually made one very similar (http://517creations.blogspot.com/2011/04/ruler-growth-chart-pottery-barn-knock.html), but I don’t have a Cricuit or Silhouette, so I had to hand-paint it all! Ahh!
I am definitely going back and adding all of my son’s measurements from his doctor’s appointments. What a great idea! 🙂
Ashlee
August 17, 2011 at 12:36 pmLovely! I love the stain you used. I really debated staining or not staining, it was a tough choice for me.. I also went super wide knowing that with 5 kids there would be times when I’d need the width! But I love the look of the narrow one!
Lydia Story
August 17, 2011 at 12:34 amVery Very cute!
Ashlee
August 17, 2011 at 12:36 pmThank you so much!
Amy
August 23, 2011 at 9:16 pmThanks for the great tutorial, just finished my last week, and my husband has it hung, now to mark it. Love it 🙂 Thanks again
amy
Ashlee
August 24, 2011 at 3:59 amOh I can’t wait to see it! Add it to my FB page or email it to me (or link it up one week!)
Haven
September 2, 2011 at 10:41 pmI came across this after searching for a growth ruler. LOVE yours and would also be interested in buying the vinyl ruler.
Ashlee
September 3, 2011 at 9:20 amthanks! I’ve mentioned that to the gal I got my vinyl from… She was going to start a vinyl business but got busy building a new house and moving. I’ll ask her again when she’ll be ready for orders!
Sarah
March 20, 2012 at 3:07 pmHow small was the font you used for the silhouette?
Ashlee
March 24, 2012 at 3:36 pmstupidest thing EVER, I didn’t save this! I’ve been meaning to update it for the year and I can’t find what size I did ANYWHERE! I’m going to have to experiment again and figure it out. I’ll let you know!
Ricardo
April 15, 2012 at 12:29 pmHi Ashlee,
A little about myself. I am a recently divorced dad and always had a growth chart for my daughters (11 years now) and did not want to take it from my ex house so I started a growth chart hunt. Like you mention many growth chart start at 2′ tall or end at 5′ and they are paper or poor quality. Then 3 months ago I ran across your website and felt in love with the idea. Like many dads I have no clue what silhouette is but I guess is some type of craft software/machine to do craft stuff so now I needed to find someone that can sell me the ruler vinyl decal. Three weeks ago I found this site www.etsy.com where you can buy the ruler vinyl. I really like the idea you used for your family name since 2000 so I did similar where I asked her to create a custom vinyl for each of my two daughters and their birth date under like you did your “since 2000”. Thanks again for posting your idea and how you did it. I just finished 2 hours ago applying the polyurethane and looks amazing.
Ashlee
April 23, 2012 at 3:57 amA silhouette is a small home craft cutter for vinyl, fabric, paper, tattoo, etc…
I’m glad you found a listing that worked for you and that you like your grown chart!
Chrystie
September 16, 2012 at 10:14 pmHelp – Where can I get vinyl like this? I don’t have a vinyl cutter … can I go somewhere to have it done?
Ashlee
September 18, 2012 at 1:47 amummm there are lots of people with vinyl cutters that sell their work, I’d try Etsy? https://www.etsy.com/search?q=ruler%20growth%20chart%20vinyl%20decal&order=most_relevant&view_type=gallery&ship_to=ZZ&min=0&max=0&ref=auto1
Addie
November 16, 2012 at 1:40 pmMy sister made me one of these. They are so cute but I haven’t hung mine up yet. I am worried about the kids peeling off the vinyl. Any suggestions?
Addie
November 16, 2012 at 2:17 pmSo I just read the post a little better. 🙂 Did the poly keep it from peeling and did the vinyl bubble up at all from the poly?
Ashlee
November 23, 2012 at 9:30 pmthe poly totally seals it in, you’d really have to scrape and almost cut the vinyl out. no bubbling at all for me!
Kristin
June 14, 2014 at 2:04 pmLoved your tutorial. I am actually in the process of making one but was worried about how I would mark the dates (did not want to make it look ugly by writing on it). I love your idea if I can figure out how to get the dates on vinyl…? I am ordering the ruler markings on etsy. Question: Should I use the polyurethane after I stain it, then apply the vinyl and then use polyurethane again after I apply the vinyl decal? Will I have any issues applying vinyl to the polyurethane? Will there be issues putting polyurethane over the vinyl decal? Thanks!!!!
Ashlee
June 23, 2014 at 8:46 pmI stained it, added the vinyl then polyurethaned it to permanently glue the vinyl onto the board.
Cindy
January 4, 2016 at 7:03 pmHalf the fun of a growth chart is seeing the progression! I’d totally add all the past info you have so they can see how fast and how much they have grown! I love this. It is exactly what I want to do.
Ashlee
February 5, 2016 at 9:37 pmI agree I love seeing the progression as they grow!
emily
October 14, 2017 at 8:01 pmI really love this. Sorry to nitpick but you can read two of the children’s names through the stencil which has your surname and their date of birth on, I am only making this comment as it is clear you have (always) gone to lengths to hide their identities and thought you would appreciate the ‘heads up’.
Ashlee
October 28, 2017 at 11:00 pmthx for letting me know – I’ll add fixing this to my list of things to do