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!