DIY: Oversized Ruler for the Hallway

I decided a few weeks back I was tired of loving stuff on Pinterest and wanted to love them in my house instead of on my boards.

Ever since I saw this oversized ruler on Pinterest, I’ve been in love.

I love stained wood and I love numbers and lines and it reminds me of old wooden rulers.  Such a little thing to make me so happy every time I saw the picture.  I don’t know why I waited so long, but I finally had Scott help me do one of my own last week for our hallway.

 

 

Isn’t she grand?

When we added on to the house and extended our hall, the builder suggested we make the corner angled.  It created a kind of weird tiny little wall but it turns out it’s a perfect fit for an oversized ruler.

It makes me so a happy every time I walk by.

Of course, the kids immediately wanted to measure their height.

 

 

And, of course, Bella had to be measured too!

 

In order to make it, Scott bought a 6’ piece of finished wood.  I stained it with one coat of the same stain we used on Lexi’s treehouse bed—English Chestnut by Miniwax.

For the numbers, I haven’t yet sprung for a Silhouette Cameo to make my own. I found an Etsy shop LittleAcornsByRo that sells the vinyl numbers and lines separately. 

It turned out easier than I thought to apply because the lines come in 1 foot sections.  You just have to line up the edge of the vinyl with the edge of the board and press them down.  The numbers come separately and we just eyeballed where we wanted them.  I should mention that Scott worked at a sign shop right out of high school so he’s sort of an expert at installing this kind of thing for me.  I left the OCD measuring and applying up to him.

I realized after the fact that some of the rulers/growth charts apply the numbers sideward so it looks like an actual ruler.  I’m not sure which I would have chosen if I’d have thought about it.  I think either way works.

The tutorials I’ve seen say to add a hook to the back of it for hanging, but Scott screwed the board directly into the wall in all the corners.

We’re guesstimating we have about an hour of work (including the trip to Lowe’s) and $30 (even including shipment of they vinyl) in it. They retail for about $60, both on etsy and in some local shops here. Considering there’s about a zillion ways you could customize this for yourself, I’d say it’s a good Pinterest project to tackle.

The great news for you is LittleAcornsByRo has a 20% New Year’s discount that ends TODAY.  If you’re thinking at all about doing this, grab your decals now!  Use the code NEWYEAR20. I don’t get anything from referring you, but tell them I sent you anyway!

 

So tell me, why do you think we wait so long on actually doing Pinterest projects?  What project could you do this weekend?