Measuring the Moments

It seems like almost everyone is making a knock-off Pottery Barn measuring ruler.

And I have jumped on the band wagon.

So glad I did, it turned out great.

I made one years ago because we were moving a lot and I wanted to be able to

take our measurements with us where ever we went.

But it was ugly. I hid it behind the door in the laundry room and only pulled it out

when we did a measuring session.

This is our new improved measuring stick.

This cost me about $8 total. $5 for the wood, and $3 for a black paint pen.

Everything else I had on hand.

Originally I wanted to try a new wood staining technique.

You soak steel wool in apple cider vinegar overnight and then rub it on the wood.

1. I sanded and prepped the wood

2. Let it soak overnight, don't use a bowl you like it will be ruined.

    The wool will get all smelly and rusty.

3. Then wipe it on, wear gloves. I did 2 coats. Let it soak in for a few hours.

Opinion: This turned out with nice color, but using regular wood stain would have been faster,

and had about the same results.

Next: The aging process.

1. I have some white antiquing paint, but watered down craft paint will work too.

2 - 4. Brush it on, wipe with a damp towel.

5. You can see the parts I have done and where I stopped

6-7. Ink it up. This is just an ink pad I got in the scrapbook supplies.

8. You can see where I have inked and where I have not.

I wanted you to be able to see the difference a little antiquing can make.

1. I taped a tape measure down and drew lines with a black paint pen and a ruler.

2. Cut numbers out of contact paper

3. Place the numbers and paint in the stencil. I just used black craft paint.

4. Peel off the contact paper. Voila!

1. Protect your work. I brushed it with 2 coats of polycrylic.

2. I lined it up to my old ugly measuring stick and taped them together.

3. I used a level to transfer all of my measurements.

Check out that growth spurt! No wonder that kid never stops eating.

I like to see how different they all were in height at the same ages.

... or should I saw how similar. They are all within about an inch of each other.

This is our smallest measurement.

This must have been just after the little guy learned how to walk.

Here it will stay, out in the open.

Not hidden behind the door in my laundry room like the old one was.

I'm hoping that now we can get more measurements, grandparents and such.

And maybe one day (in like 20 years) I will have to make one for grandkids.

Thanks!

This project was featured at:

Johnny in a Dress