How Tall Are You Really?

Lori Saenz
Aug 24, 2017
3 min read

If you are still measuring with pen and pencil on the back of a door or a blank wall, there is a better, cuter way...... and you can take it with you if you ever decide to move! I am embarrassed to say that up until 6 weeks ago this is exactly what I was doing, and this is the door inside my pantry where I was doing it. Guilty as charged! But I have corrected my faults and am going to show you how I did it.

6 ft Growth Charts

Step 1: Purchase a 1 x 6 x 12 piece of common board from your friends at Home Depot and have them cut it in half for you. $7.84 for one 12' piece of wood! These make awesome, inexpensive, cute gifts for all those little ones on your Christmas List - and now you have 2 gifts for this price!

Step 2: Sand your wood and prepare it for staining or paint. I chose my 2 favorite stains: Antiqued Turquoise & Espresso.

Step 3: You can stain with a paint brush but I prefer using an old clean cloth. Apply the turquoise stain first in the same direction as the wood grain. Let it dry approximately 15-20 min.

Then apply the espresso stain very lightly over the turquoise. Let dry for 4 hours or until there is no tackiness to the touch.

Step 4: I use a sharpie next to mark my 1" ruler lines on the very edge of the board. Because your ruler is designed to be hung 6" off the floor, begin your marks with this in mind.

Step 5: Now using a ruler or straight edge, carry your lines out with a sharpie. At the 1/12, 2/12, 4/12, 5/12, 7/12, 8/12, 10/12, 11/12 measurements, you will carry your line out to 1 inch across. If this is confusing, hang in there, I have an easy tip coming up.

Step 6: Then at the 3/12, 6/12, 9/12, and the 12/12 measurements, carry the line out to 2 inches across with your sharpie.

TIP: Here is a very simple way to draw out these lines..............just follow this pattern. Beginning with your bottom 2 lines, draw them out 1", Your 3rd line will be 2". 2 more lines at 1", and next one at 2"........and so on.

Disclaimer: Some 'smarty pants' is going to look real close at the pictures in my slide show and notice that some of my growth charts have a longer line at every 6" & every 'foot' marking. And if you didn't notice you certainly will now, lol! I did use to draw these markings out to 2 1/2", just decided not to anymore! Your Craft - Your Choice...no right or wrong here!

Step 7: Using stencils and black acrylic paint, stencil on the numbers 1-6 in their appropriate places. Remember #1 starts 6" from the bottom.

Step 6: This final step is totally optional, but for me, I have a hard time stopping when I think I can add a little more something-something! For this one, I added a wrought iron fleur de lis knob. In the slide show you'll see different knobs, princess crowns, etc.

That's it - line up the kids and start measuring. Being a mom of boys, basketball playing boys- height has always been a big deal, but your little girls will love them too!

Hope you enJOY the following slide show:

Thanks for hanging with me 'til the end. I was telling someone the other day about trying this out for themselves and they hesitantly said they would prefer to just buy it already made. Which ever side of the fence you fall on in this whole DIY thing it's all good. . . . . Because in the DIY world we need 'Buyers & Builders'. I choose the "Builder" title, but even I have my limitations and like to be the "Buyer" sometimes! If you prefer the "Buyer" mode, visit my booths over at Alamo Craft Company here in San Antonio if you want to check out all my other goodies, or you can always send me a private "chat" here and order one!

Happy Craftin'.....See you next Thursday when I revamp this coffee table into something a whole lot cuter........... Lori