Ever since we moved to 1915 House, I’ve been meaning to get this simple growth chart done. I wanted to be able to say to my four boys, “You were ____ tall when we moved here – and look how tall you are now!” Alas, we’ve been here for almost a year and a half…and I just now got this super simple, super easy DIY growth chart done.
WHY is it that sometimes the easiest little things are the ones that sit there the longest? This puzzles me…but I digress.
Once I finally decided to tackle this little afternoon project, it went really fast. Just a board and a few supplies (that I already had on hand) and it was done before supper.
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Growth Chart Supplies
- one 1″x 6″ x 6.5′ pine board
- my favorite milk paint in Farmhouse White
- measuring tape
- something with which to make your tic marks (pen, pencil, whatever you’ve got)
- medium grit sanding sponge
- sharpie / permanent marker
- number stencil or make your own numbers (see below)
- paint and small paintbrush
Growth Chart How-To
You can most certainly use your own favorite paint for this project. I used my favorite Miss Mustard Seed Milk Paint in Farmhouse White since I had some leftover from when I painted my dining room chairs. If you’re new to milk paint and would love to give it a go, be sure to head over to The Purple Hydrangea – she’s got a Milk Paint 101 series that will answer any and all questions you might have.
Since I used the milk paint on raw wood for this project, it gave me no chipping action…which I was glad for, in this case. I love me some farmhouse chippiness, as seen on my dining room chairs, but for this project, I was hoping for a smooth finish…and I got it. (yay!)
Milk paint dries super fast – which is great for impatient me! The growth chart board only needed two coats of paint – then I sanded it with a medium grit sanding sponge to bring out some of the wood grain. All the heart eyes for a bit of wood grain action.
—- A Note About Spacing —-
I knew where I wanted to hang our growth chart, and because our baseboard is 8″ tall, I started the growth chart at 8″ and worked up. Had I decided to just lean it up against a wall in the house, I definitely would have started at “zero” and gone from there. You can customize according to how and where you will use it. So, while we don’t actually expect that any of our boys will reach 7′ (lol!), that’s just how this growth chart ended up. And I’m liking the look.
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Back to the project at hand. I grabbed the nearest measuring tape, a colored pencil and a pen and started marking off the inches. (Let it be noted that there’s no rhyme or reason behind the colored pencil…it’s just what was close at hand and gave me an easy visual to differentiate between the inches and feet.) I used the pen for each inch increment and a colored pencil for the “feet” increments.
Next, using my permanent marker, I went back over the tic marks so they’d be easier to read. As shown here.
Applying Numbers for the Growth Chart
Now it was time for the numbers. While I have a variety of stencils on hand, none of them were the right size or font for my growth chart. I had a specific look I wanted and knew I’d have to make my own.
After chatting with some girlfriends, my friend Kim from Farmhouse Made suggested I use the same technique that I’d used on my pillows and table. However, instead of cutting out the stencils, she suggested that I *trace* the stencil outline directly onto my growth chart board. Then, using the pressure of the pen to leave a slight indent in the wood, I would have an outline to fill in with paint.
Yep, she’s brilliant. Pretty numbers. Easy peasy. And don’t worry about any small imperfections – once you sand, you won’t even see them anymore.
Finished Growth Chart
Once the numbers were dry, I lightly sanded them to give them a slightly distressed look. Nothing too major, just enough so it didn’t look perfectly new. A quick installation of a saw tooth hanger on the back and it was ready to hang.
My boys got a kick out of getting measured (my oldest, especially, loves that he’s taller than me now). 😉
This little project took hardly any time to complete – I only wish I hadn’t waited so long to get it done. Oh well, better late than never?
This sweet growth chart would also make a great baby shower or birthday gift! You could personalize with a child’s name, a family last name or even a nursery theme. Just a couple extra ideas for you – 🙂
Don’t forget to Pin for later-
What a fabulous project Sarah! I love to decorate with numbers and even though my kids have left home I think I will still make one lol!!
Thank you for sharing your awesome project over at Waste Not Wednesday! We are featuring your cleverness this week and can’t wait to see what you share with us this week 🙂
OH!! Thank you, Sam!! You’re such a dear. And I’m so glad that you like my growth chart. 😉 Have a delightful day –
I wish had done this with my kids….ours is on the edge of a door.
Ours have always been on an edge of a doorway or a wall, too, Denise. Wish I had done this sooner- 😉
This is useful and it actually looks really cute by the door! Great tutorial!
Thank you, Crystal- 🙂
This turned out really well. I love the tip about tracing the numbers with a pen- genius!!
Thank you, Melony- I’m so glad you liked it! 🙂
This great!!! And I love that if you move it go with you wherever you go 🙂 pinning to share with my daughters and daughter in law! Thank you for joining us at TaDa Thursday!!!
I love that aspect, too Susanne. 🙂 I’m so glad you liked it!
I keep meaning to make something like this for our house. Our son is growing so fast! Thanks for the great tutorial!
They do grow so fast, don’t they. 🙁 I’m glad the tutorial was helpful!
I need to do this and transfer what we have on our wall. Thanks for sharing your post with Creatively Crafty Link Party #CCBG http://tryit-likeit.com/link-party-it
That’s a good idea to transfer what you’ve already got on your walls to something like this growth chart. Easy to take with you, no matter where you go. 🙂
This has been on my to-do list for a while. I love the way yours turned out. I’ll be copying this!!
Thank you, Janice! I’m so glad you like it! <3
This is so awesome. I’ll file this away to make as a gift for sure. It’s just adorable. Great job.
Thank you Susie! I’m pleased that you like it. 😉
I’m gonna pass this on to my daughter who should be delivering her first boy and first baby this weekend! I absolutely adore your growth chart. We just had marks on our walls and of course those walls have long been painted over and maybe we even moved for most of the boy’s younger years. Too bad I didn’t think about it more and made something to keep. You could pass it on from generation to generation wouldn’t that be amazing!
Thank you, Debbie. I’m so glad you like it. Love your idea of passing it on to generations! 😀
What a great idea for a homemade baby shower gift! Definitely pinning for later! What font did you use for the numbers?
~Sheila
Making the Most of Every Day
Hi Sheila! The font I used is called “Old Standard”. There are so many to choose from! 😉
Adorableeeee! I wish I had little ones to measure still! They grow up way too fast, and this project is a perfect keepsake for so many years to come. What a nice job
Oh, thank you, Heather. I’m so glad you like it. 🙂 And you’re right – they do grow up way too fast.
Love it! It’s beautiful… as are ALL your projects!
Ann, you’re such a dear. Thank you for your kind words.
This turned out so cute! You’ll treasure this later when you’re kids are grown. We still have our very informal one for our kids (who are grown) on the trim in our basement. Still makes me smile when I see it.
Aw, I love that Jan! I’m so glad you liked my growth chart – and I loved hearing about yours! Thanks for sharing- 🙂
This is looks fantastic. I love how easy it is and that if you should move it can go with you. Plus what fun memories you are creating.
Thank you, Debra – I’m so glad you liked it 🙂
I love love love this! It looks so great by your door and fits your decor perfectly. What a simple and fun project. I pinned this for sure!
Thank you Toni! I really like how it turned out! Thanks for pinning! 😀
I love how this turned out. I am definitely making one of these as a baby gift.
Kim of Farmhouse Made’s tip she gave you was so clever. 😉
Thank you Lisa! I’m so glad you like it! It really would make such a sweet baby gift- 🙂
I love the simplicity of this growth chart, and I’m also smitten with the wood grain peeking through the MMSMP! I am definitely making one 😉
Thank you Kim! I’m so glad you like it! And thanks for the tracing tip!! 😉