DIY Oversized Ruler Growth Chart

First, let's start with a quick update. Haddie is rotten. Nothing new. She continues to grow, learn, and amaze me each day. The saying that "the days are long, but the years go quick, " could not be more true. Life is good lately. Summer is here. New relationships help the heart and the sanity. A fellow named Chris is responsible for that. And we can't forget Haddie's new best friend, Bristol, the golden retriever. I see a happy future in the works!

Alright. You know I love a great DIY! I love it even more when it's been forgotten on the to-do list and someone makes it happen. I had mentioned while cruising around Pinterest that I loved this project, and Chris took note. Haddie (and Chris) got me a board for Mother's Day. :)

I love the idea of this growth chart. It is charming enough for a kid's room, but sophisticated enough to display in the living area of the house. (Which is were mine is located). Plus, it is portable! We will not be living in our current location within a few years, and I don't want to lose those growth markings that would typically be on the door frame. And if you are stationed in your home permanently, then no worries about painting over during touch up or a remodel.

Before I got started, I chose a design and style that I liked. Some go for what looks like an actual giant ruler and some use colorful paint and decals to decorate the board. You can find many variations on Pinterest. I combined several components that I liked and created my own. I knew I wanted a rustic/distressed look, but I wanted a white surface instead of stained wood for better visibility on the markings. You will also need to decide how to number the measurement markings. Some different ideas include paint (my choice), vinyl, mailbox numbers, etc.

Based on my design plan, my supply list included:
a board (1″x8″x6′)
dark walnut wood stain
white paint
a multi-grit sandpaper pack
paint for measurement marks and numbers
number stencils
various sized paint brushes

I am the world's step by step picture taker, but the process is pretty easy. First, sand the board to make sure it is nice and smooth. I made sure all of the dust was blown away and stained the board using an old burp cloth by following the direction on the stain can. I did two coats because I wanted the rich color to come through for the distressed look. I let it dry overnight.

Next, I did one coat of white paint. I covered the entire board, but I didn't obsess over brush marks and complete coverage because I was going for a worn look. Because of the blistering heat and a single layer, the paint was drying fairly quickly. I decided to keep working. Using sandpaper, I began distressing the board. I focused on the edges and sides. Going with grain, I also chose a few interior places on the board. I went back and forth between sandpaper grit numbers. I sanded just enough so that the layer of paint was coming off and the stain could peek through. I think it is a good idea to work a little and then step back, so that you don't get too carried away.

Next, I made my measurement marks by laying the measuring tape down beside the edge of the board and placing a pencil mark for each inch. I used different sized marks for the inch, 6 inch and 12 inch measurements. Don't forget to leave off some room for the bottom. I began marking off my board at 9 inches because I wanted my board to have an 8 inch clearance from the floor. After all the pencil marks were made, I went back over the pencil with a dark brown paint. Once again, I wasn't going for perfection.

Next, I chose and downloaded a free font from DaFont. I created a word document and entered numbers one through six. I increased the size until my numbers were about six inches tall. Then I printed the document and cut out the numbers to make stencils. I like to think that may spatial awareness skills are pretty good, so I just eyeballed the placement of the numbers on the board. After some adjusting, I traced the numbers using pencil. Once the stencils were traced and removed, I painted in the numbers using the dark brown paint.

After the numbers were dry, I went back over board with sandpaper a few more times to give the measurement marks and numbers a worn look, as well. Then, I nailed a hanging bracket to the back and BOOM. I have yet to put any marks on the board. My plan is to measure her every six months. I am going to double check her measurements with the pediatrician at her next checkup before they are written in stone.

Not only are these great for your own home, but this would also be a great baby shower gift :) Thanks for stopping by!

Haddie's Cozy Coupe Upcycle

Hello, friends! It had been a while since I did anything crafty to keep my blog title legit. But the past few weeks, I have been working on a project that will be a gift for Haddie on her first birthday. It was actually quite an easy project and most likely would not take weeks if you're not a stay at home (summer vacation), single mom of an almost ten month old. The days of monsoons that were happening also didn't help.


I decided I wanted to get Haddie a Cozy Coupe, but wanted it to be one of a kind. I also wanted to be as frugal as possible. I got the idea to upcycle one from Pinterest. Duh. Here's how I did it.....

The first thing you have to do is track down a used Cozy Coupe. A yard sale or Craigslist is a great place to start. It doesn't matter matter that it is dirty or sun-bleached. As long as all the pieces are there and it functions properly, get it! I only paid $5 for the one I picked up. Most people will be glad to get rid of the huge toy that is no longer used, so you can probably find them for a great deal also.

*In my searching, I noticed there seemed to be about three different models of the Cozy Coupe that have been made over the years. The first seems to have metal poles to connect the canopy in the front of the Coupe, a newer version has only plastic, and the most recent version is also plastic. I happened to find the second of the three. I can't speak for the first, but I like having plastic instead of the metal bars (personal preference), and I have heard that the newest version is a pain to assemble. Just thought I would share that info for those looking to take on an upcycle.

After I got it home, I disassembled and surface cleaned each piece. As mentioned, the model that I had was a breeze to take a part. Two screws out in the back and then the pieces snap apart. You would be surprised at some of the gunk that can be found inside the joints. Some of the pieces you will need to be cautious of when removing: gas cap, steering wheel cover, key ignition, etc. Because the plastic is old and weathered it may snap when you are trying to remove. I also had to file the key ignition piece down a little. The previous owner had chewed on it quite a bit.

After everything was clean, I began to plan out my theme and color layout. Haddie's nickname is Haddie Bug or Buggie. So it was only fitting that her Cozy Coupe become a ladybug. After I had a game plan, I went to buy the supplies. I had heard of the plastic spray paint by Krylon, but Lowe's only sold paint made by Valspar. Luckily, they also make a spray paint designed for plastics. I chose red and black in the gloss finish. Once I started, I had to purchase another can of black, but this time I went to Walmart and got the Krylon brand. They seemed to work fine together. I also used to some newspaper, tape, and an old sheet to complete this project.

I started by painting all the pieces that were to be red, and did a base coat on the outside area that was to be black. Black is hard to cover so be careful you don't spray any on a part that will be a lighter color. I used an old sheet to spray on so that the driveway was safe.

Then I taped off the dash and seat using newspaper and painter's tape, and finished painting the body black. The painter's tape did not stick so well in some places. So, I did have to go back and touch up on the red.

After all the pieces were painted and dry, I carefully re-assembled it. I did mess up a few places trying to snap the pieces back together, but I touched them up with a paint pen once it was all back together. I also did a pretty thick coat of clear gloss spray to help protect the Coupe from future roughness by the owner.

After the clear coat was dry, I used a paint pen to color in the logo and used the Cricut to cut out some white vinyl letters for the license plate.

I used the Cricut to cut out two inch black vinyl circles for the spots.

And then used two inch circles to create eyes. I drew a free hand smile using paint pen to complete the face.

I love completing projects! This one was fun and relatively easy. Now, I just have to wait until October for her birthday!

Gender Reveal Party

One of the days I thought would never come, has finally come and gone! Lots of planning, last minute prep, and help from friends and family came together to make yesterday a very special day. As mentioned in the Gender Reveal Party Ideas blog, we went with a "What Will It Bee?" theme. Do to budget and time constraints, I did not implement every one of the ideas I found, but I was happy with the results. Most importantly, we had a wonderful time! If you are a Facebook friend, you most likely already know the results; if not, all will be "revealed" in this blog!

We will start with the menu, since we all know that food is the best part! I am proud to say that I thought up the idea of having a Bar-"Bee"-Que all on my own, but I did later see it on another blog describing how to throw a "Bee" themed shower. We had BBQ and all the fixings and sides that come along with it: slaw, baked beans, deviled eggs, pasta salad, chips and some golden Oreos. I made an easy, and tasty Yellow Punch, and of course, only Yellow SOLO cups would do. I also made the pasta salad, but it was nothing to talk about. It also didn't help that I got sidetracked on a craft project and overcooked the noodles.

Perhaps the most important menu item, the cupcakes, were made by my dear friend, Christy.

Now to the decorations. As mentioned, I was definitely on a budget for this party. I only spent about $8 on the decor! Not bad, huh? I must confess that I have lots of craft items laying around that came in handy: Sharpies, black yarn, scotch tape, construction paper, paint pens, thumb tacks, and silk flowers and other pieces from diaper cake gifts. So, had I not had those items, it would have been a little more costly, but those are the perks of being crafty and doing lots of DIY! The only decor supplies that I purchased were black and yellow balloons, black and yellow crepe paper streamers, a yellow tablecloth, and a faux lace, vinyl tablecloth.

For the sign by the front door, I used my garden flag holder, the cake board from a previous diaper cake gift, and some balloons. I thought I was going to have to give up my left leg to have my balloons blown up. Apparently, we are in the middle of a helium shortage. Who knew?! There was not to much to the piece, but I thought it turned out pretty cute.

This was the decorative focal point of the living room. What party would be complete without a pennant banner? For the banner, I used construction paper, yarn, and a Sharpie. Simple! The initial "C" was relocated from the dining room table, and the flowers were from a previous diaper cake. I also thought this would be a great place to display the ultrasound pictures. The little beehive was made by tracing black lines around an inflated balloon with a Sharpie. Once again, not much to it, but I think it turned out well.

I had seen different variations of the fingerprint guestbook, and I loved it! So, I created my own. I thought this would be a great way to see who was there, and also what they thought Nugget would be. To make it, I simply Googled (of course) "baby silhouette." I choose the clip art picture that I liked best, and copy/pasted it into a Word document. I added the text underneath, and printed it on some off white paper. I added the balloon lines by using a ruler and fine-tip Sharpie. I got the ink pads from Hobby Lobby for about $1 each. I went with a vintage/retro look, so that it will fit in with the other Nursey decor. I plan to frame it in a white photo frame and place it on the bookshelf in the Nursery along with the other keepsakes: baby book, shadow box, etc.

Now it is time for the big reveal!

That's right! It's PINK! That means that Nugget is now officially Hadley "Haddie" Jo Clark!

Haddie received some great gifts yesterday from some great people. The sweet Wheelus family made an amazing diaper wreath! It has all kinds of goodies tucked in it. Auntie Christy made a diaper cake and bought the first gender correct gift for Miss Haddie: a sweet little outfit, the cutest pair of pink Ugg boots, and a taggie blanket. My Mom got her a soft, stuffed animal, and cute little diaper bag. I think Ed's favorite gift was from my Dad, an Alabama onesie. She will be styling this football season with her Bama pacifiers, onesie, and the crimson and white tutu that Christy promised! Haddie is already so blessed! She will be surrounded by so much love and kindness. Deep down I knew she was a girl all along. I can't wait to meet our daughter!