How to Make a Wood Growth Chart
July 12, 2010 by Alison
Wood Growth Chart!
YAY, It’s finally here. We’ve received a lot of emails from Shelley’s Toddlers Boy Room post about wanting a tutorial on how to make a wood growth chart.
here. you. go.
A tute on a wood growth chart!
I have given these wood growth charts and the ‘Please Knock’ sign as baby presents for the last couple years. Yep, I know you think I am full of surprises:)
I made these for Emily, you know her from some of her talents: wings and rainbow party.
One for her new baby boy and the other for her little girl, she couldn’t be left out!!!
So, here’s my confession…this was a baby present BUT they didn’t get done.
Her baby is a toddler now. Shoot…sometimes I’m a tad late. So here is my justification for it being okay that they are a year and a half late.
1. There is no specific size so I never had to hurry because he’d never ‘grow out’ of it.
Okay, maybe that’s the only justification. I do have a lot of excuses, but you are here for the tutorial not excuses, so here we go!
What you need:
- 1 1x6x6 MDF Board (You can find these at the hardware store. They come in 8 foot boards, but just have the hardware store workers cut it down for you).
- White Paint
- A topper
- 4×4 square ‘Watch Me Grow’ - Black Vinyl in any font
- 2,3,4,5,6 2 inch numbers – Black Vinyl in any font
- Wood Glue / hot glue gun
- Tape Measure ‘r’ {{do you like the ‘r’ part? I’m claiming it as my new invented word}}
- Sharpie Marker
- Picture hanger. The saw looking thing on the back of frames that holds up pictures (found at the hardware store).
Ahhh so here’s the paint. It hasn’t been opened for a while. The swirls kinda look cool though.
Here are the toppers. I cut these beauties out with a band-saw. That band-saw is a cool tool BTW!
Simple shapes that are feminine or masculine.
If you don’t have a saw or just don’t want to use one, don’t worry you can find toppers at Michael’s Crafts for a buck!
I cut out the paper. Notice the paper???
It’s from Lemon Poppy Shoppe. This is the pack they sent. I love the colors and the print!!!
Perfect for mod podging!
Mod Podge the paper on and sand the edges.
Wood glue your wheels and center of the flower on. I know {{I know}} I am using a hot glue gun, but I was out of my preferred glue of choice…wood glue. Use wood glue if you have it and if you don’t, use hot glue!
Grab your Tape Measure’r’. Lay it on the board. You want the bottom of the board to hit 15 inches. So the bottom of the board…the first mark will read 15 inches. You don’t need to start at zero! Mark with a pencil all the way up to 6 feet 3 inches. Unless you have an extra short or tall family.
I did one for a family whose husband was 7 feet 2 inches, so the bottom of the board was 20 inches and it went up to 7 feet 2 inches because the little boy had a good chance of being that tall too!!
Then take a straight edge and mark the lines. Be careful not to smudge the lines that were just drawn.
For the 2,3,4,5,6 marks…draw the lines a little longer. It guides you to know where to stick the numbers.
Here is the vinyl info:
The font: I don’t remember, but any font will do!
4×4- Watch Me Grow!
2,3,4,5,6-2 inch numbers
If you need a craft cutter, we recommend the Silhouette.
Apply your vinyl.
Another reason I love giving these…
When people move, they can take these growing memories with them.
Wall markings are hard to move:)
Attach your toppers with wood glue…I was still out of wood glue so I used my staple gun.
I wouldn’t use hot glue on this part or they will pop off after a while.
Done.
Now I can mark that off my list! Thanks Emily, for being patient with me:)
Congrats on your baby…ummm I mean toddler boy!!!!
P.S. When you hang it, make sure you hang it at the right height, not from the floor.
We are participating in these linky parties…thanks!
P.S.S. Oh, I have 3 extra vinyl sets so if you want one leave a comment and I’ll pick 3 of ya by Tuesday night!!!
Here are the winners!!!
#1 Candy who said: I need some vinyl to do this!!!
#2 Carissa who said: WAY cute! I love this idea! Definitely putting one of these on the craft “to-do” list.
#3 Tammy C who said: This would be a wonderful gift for my grandson’s first birthday! Thanks!
updates and free printables delivered straight to your inbox!
Oh my goodness! Those are adorable! This is definitely going to be put on my summer to do list. thank you!
I love your spin on this craft. Very cute! And great job on your little guys room. So cute!!!!
perfect stinking timing. I’ve been wanting to make one but haven’t found a good tut!
Funny Comment! Thanks…we want to see it when it’s finished!!!
These turned out so cute Alison!!!
I’m so glad you posted this! I have been one of the people nagging you guys to put up the tutorial and I’m so excited to make it! Just in time for baby #2!
HA! We put it up just for you:) Congrats on baby #2!!!
Thank you, Thank you! My mother in law has been on my case to buy one and I haven’t loved anything I’ve seen, unless it was 100 bucks. This will be next weekends project for both my kids. If you’re looking for someone to hand off the vinyl to I’d be more than willing to take it off your hands
Thanks again for the tutorial, you ladies never disappoint.
Love this! On my way to the hardware store right now to buy the MDF . . .
My hubby and I were just talking a couple of nights ago about getting one of these for our little guy – now I’ve got a reason! Yeah! Now if I only had some vinyl……. (*WINK*)
~Callie
callieandtodd@gmail.com
This has been on my “to-do” list FOREVER!!!! My parents have the neatest closet door at their house where they’ve been marking heights since 1984….since we don’t own this home, I’ve never done anything like that, but I WANT to….I’d love to win the vinyl and move this project to the top of my list! *fingers crossed!*
I was thrilled to see this post when I checked your site this morning. I, like Kelly, have never found what I was looking for unless it was $$$$. I knew I would probably need to make my own to get what I wanted, but just wasn’t sure how to go about it. You make it seem very easy for us beginning crafters, so I am now confident that I can do it. Thanks so much! I will gladly take your extra vinyl!!
Love it! It will be my first “project” with my new Silhouette (oh, I’m definitely bragging)!
I cannot wait to make this! I was just saying I need to start marking my son’s height! Thank you! I would love a vinyl sheet. Michelle
I love this project and it would be so very fun for the boys! I was thinking instead of vinyl you could also collect various numbers from old houses, blocks, magnets if you didn’t have a vinyl cutter. Great…now I’ve added another project to the ever-growing list
Thanks a bunch for the tutorial!
.-= Heather´s last blog ..Floor Candlesticks – My Take =-.
AHHH CUte IDEA!!!
What perfect timing.. I have a baby shower coming up for a friend who’s having a “suprise” baby.. and since I don’t buy yellows, greens and whites for clothes, this is a PERFECT idea! I would love to win a set of the vinyl lettering!
Oh these are fabulous!
I have been wanting (like so many others!) to make these! I have 2 crazy toddler boys and a sweet baby girl- and their daddy is 6ft 5. Looks like I’ll be needing a slightly longer board, too.
Extra vinyl? Yes Please!!!
I love this project. I can’t wait to start!
Thanks
Love it! I’ve been wanting to make something like this for my kids since my daughter was born 4 years ago. Now that I don’t have to figure it all out myself, maybe I’ll actually get it done!
Oh man, I would definitely want to have some vinyl! I always LOVE your projects, but don’t have anything fancy schmancy that would cut vinyl and so to win this would be great!!
SO SO cute! I was just telling my hubby that I wanted to make one of these…. I would love one of the vinyl sets!
I love these and have been thinking about making them for quite a while. Just haven’t gotten to it yet. I love the toppers! So fun!
Oh, so cute! I wish I would have had one way before now, but it is never too late to begin measuring the kids and having a visual record. Our paper one didn’t last long. I have 5 kids and they will LOVE IT! They love to be measured. Winning the vinyl would make it PURRR-fect!
I love this idea how easy!
Very cute gift idea or a craft for my growing little ones! Love it!
Love it! Really I love all your projects, now if I could only find a minute to do them! I’ll definitely make the time for this one!
SO cute! I have two little girls…and my oldest has moved a total of 5 times in her lifetime…of 20 months! And we’re moving 2 more times in the next month! And then again in 5 months….Yeah, it’s insane. So this would be PERFECT for us! Even if we don’t win the vinyl, I’m definitely making one of these!
.-= Stacey´s last blog ..Any Ideas =-.
Sooo cute! I’ve been searching for one for my 2 babies but haven’t found anything I’ve loved. Also have 2 baby showers to attend in the next month. Guess what I’ll be making??!! Thanks!
what a really cute idea!!!!! thanks for sharing the tutorial!
These look awesome and very do-able for me! Thank you!
Thanks so much for this, I’ll be linking.
I need some vinyl to do this!!!
These are adorable…I have a great friend who’s having her first baby at the end of August. This would be perfect to make for her
A growth chart has been on my “to do” list for ages. Yours turned out so cute! I love it! Thanks for sharing.
I’ve been wanting to make a growth chart for my boys and never get around to it (they are now 4 and2 but it’s never too late right?). This post might just be that final motivation I need because these look amazing!
I would love, love, love to make one of these. Thanks so much.
Yay another easy idea one could whip up during naptime. I am always on the lookout for ideas that I can have to decorate our apartment.
.-= Amy Deschamp´s last blog ..TomorrowTomorrow =-.
This looks like so much fun to make. Thanks for the tutorial and the inspiration!
My growth chart got left in Boise when we moved to Utah. So sad to not know how big the kids are again. I need these to capture these cute growth moments. Darling!
So darn cute! You girls are amazing!!!
I have been thinking about one of these for a while. Thank for the tutorial!
.-= Hannah´s last blog ..And the winner is =-.
So cute. I have been looking for a cute growth chart for my boys’ room and love your idea (esp. since we are renting) so we could take it with us. I WOULD LOVE TO HAVE ONE OF YOUR EXTRA SETS!!!
I hope I’m one of the lucky 3! Thanks for the great tutorial.
Very cute idea, my daughter wants me to write her height on the wall. This is a much better idea.
Cute…I have been wanting to make one of these! These ones are way cuter than some of the others I have seen!
.-= Megan´s last blog ..Tender Mercy =-.
These are so cute! Thanks for sharing. Perhaps I should make one of these as my grandchildren are always wanting me to measure them with my tape measurer when they visit. Yes, definately one for G-Maw’s to do list.
I’m going out to buy wood for those asap! We’ve moved several times and I was glad mine was on a long roll of paper….but I want cuteness!!!
Thanks for the tutorial!
This is perfect! I was just telling my husband I’d like to make one of these growth charts. He’s in the Air Force, so we move all.the.time. and marking on a door or wall just doesn’t work for our family! Thanks so much for posting this!
I’d love to win one of the extra vinyl sheets–here’s hoping!
Thanks,
Stacey
gallyslp at msn dot com
Thank you for the great tutorial! I have a very special baby shower coming up and this would be the perfect gift to make. I think it would be fun to include numbered (maybe ages 1-15?) wood cut outs that could be glued directly on to the chart to mark each year of growth.
Oh how cute! Would love one of those vinyl sets to make a growth chart for my 3 month old daughter, Calais!!!
.-= Cara´s last blog ..Going Green =-.
I just got home from my trip and am so excited!!!! I tried to call, but couldn’t get through and Missy won’t call me back to give me another #! They are so cute. Thanks soooooooo much.
p.s. I thought we were giving each other a “get out of jail free” card on the last baby!
I’m glad you liked them…no strings attached:)
I’m so glad you posted this! I was just talking to a friend about “growth charts” the other day. She mentioned marking it on a door jamb, but I said I was thinking about making one so we could take it where ever we move to
.
I just had twin boys so this would be perfect! We are a military family so “watching the boys grow” on the door frame of their room wouldn’t work. I love how this goes wherever you go! Thank you for sharing!
I would love love love to have vinyl for a growth chart! These are too cute, i guess I should make 2 so each girl can have one
I would love to be the lucky winner of some vinyl so I can make this project for my cuties!
Ahhh….LOVE THIS!!!! Pick me, pretty please!
Amy in CA
My daughter will turn ONE tomorrow! This would be a great project for me. Also, my best friend’s daughter turns ONE this Saturday as well, so what a great gift idea?! THANKS!!
I love love love this!!
You all make me want to craft all day!!
Would love the vinyl too!
Found you on One Pretty Thing. This is so cute. I’ve been thinking about getting a vinyl one for the wall but I really wanted to be able to take it with us if we move. You’ve solved my problem. I’d love to win the vinyl!
I love these. My daughter would love to have one of these. We are definitly going to do this summer.
So Cute! I would love to win the vinyl so I could make one for my sister.
thank you so much
Too cute! Would love to win the vinyl so I could make one for my girlfriend who’s due in September. It would make the perfect gift!
These would make great gifts for friend’s new babies on the way!
You have the cutest ideas on your site. I absolutely love this one and will be making one for my neices and nephews for presents this year. ADORABLE!!
Thank you ladies for all your work in this site. It’s so wonderful.
Love it. I think I’d put a big W on top and use the same one for all the kids.
Oooohhhh, I would love to make one of these!! So fun!!
I have been trying to think of something different to do for both of my cousins that are pregnant and this is a perfect idea. Can’t wait to make them, and getting one set of vinyl would really help get me started. Love all the ideas you guys share
I could use a lil vinyl!
Love the projects you feature! Cute!
.-= Tammy´s last blog ..Dining Table -amp Chairsdecisions- decisions =-.
Very cute! I just got a vinyl extra-large “ruler” off of Etsy to make one for my little guy. This motivates me to go buy the wood!
.-= Alison´s last blog ..A wonderful Grandpa =-.
This is so stinkin’ cute! I was just thinking I needed a growth chart for Liam, who’s 18 months…Daddy is deploying Tuesday and I want to keep track of how much he’s growing. This is perfect!
WAY cute! I love this idea! Definitely putting one of these on the craft “to-do” list.
Love this project
Ohhh! I’ve been wanting a growth chart forever. And I love the font you used! Iguess I’ll have my hubby bring home some wood and hardware today. Some vinyl would be an awesome bonus:)
oh my goodness, i finally just got the stuff to make the “please knock” sign. do you know how many of your ideas i have on my to do list? now this. a set of vinyls would surely help me out!
I have th board painted and marked! Just need vinyl!
This looks so fun! Thanks for posting it. Love it!!
my little ones are growing up to fast
Yeah, I wish I’d had one for each of my six children when they were growing up. Now the we have such chaos with all six children’s growth marks on one door jam. I couldn’t begin to decipher it if I wanted to record them else where, yet I can’t begin to wash them away either.
I have a silhouette cutter and would Love to learn how to make these for OTHERS who are just starting their families.
So thanks for the opportunity to enter for the vinyl. I need lots of this stuff. Starting with black.
thanks
~a
.-= annie´s last blog ..New Mailbox =-.
Just bought a silhouette and can’t wait to try it out! This looks like a fun project!!
I LOVE this!! I really want to make this for my daughters! ( yes-we’re doing the onside of the closet door at the moment! Lol!)
oooh I’d love the vinyl! I could make one for each of my kiddos!
This would be a wonderful gift for my grandson’s first birthday! Thanks!!
I have been looking for a way to make these. Thanks!
I would love to get that vinyl. So cute and simple enough for me to actually do it.
Sweet! I’m in. I wowuld love one!
.-= Fun On A Dime Lady´s last blog ..Homemade Watercolor Paint =-.
This is such an adorable idea. Would love to win. Thanks for the chance.
Soooo cute! I want to do one!!! I might just have to!
Hope to win the vinyl letters, because that is what I don’t know how I will get.
Thanks!!!
.-= Stephanie Walter´s last blog ..Sneak Peak- CSN Stores Review Coming Soon =-.
This is a cute idea! I love using vinyl, but I do not have a silhouette, I have a Cricut Expression. I would love some free vinyl!!!!
I’ve been wanting one of these for the longest time! Just haven’t found ‘right’ one til now! Thanks!
I would LOVE one please! My very first grandchild is due in December and I just HAVE to make one of these!!!!
I love your ‘Watch Me Grow’ project! I would love a set of the vinyls to make my sister one for her twins. She is finding out what sex they are today!!! I can’t wait, hopefully there will be oodles of pink!! I recently came across your website and love it. I always get excited when I see a How Does She email in my inbox. Thanks for all the ideas and freebies!!
Every item you show inspires me more! I have written pages of projects I want to do, and this adorable growth chart now tops my list!
Those are precious! I wanna make one for the lil man I babysit!!
Thanks for this site, I am a new follower!
These are absolutely adorable. I would love love love to win the vinyl!
Awesome! I’m going to attempt to make them; hopefully, this weekend!!!
These are fabulous. Good bye day of markers on the wall! We’d love to make one!
So stinkin cute! I would love to make those for my kiddos!
What a great idea! Kids luv this kinda stuff!
This idea is so super cute!! I want to make one of these for my [future] kids! <3
That is so perfect! I have been looking for a growth chart idea and this is awesome and will look great in my son’s room! thanks for the great idea.
These are so darling! I’ve always wanted to make one & never had time to get it done. I’d love to have an extra!
I’ve been meaning to make one for my baby too (who turned 5!). I saw it done on a mirror on the door- same idea. Would love to get the vinyl to make it happen (then he could take the mirror to college).
Those are adorable! Thanks for the idea!
.-= Andrea´s last blog ..And Ye Would Not =-.
This is now on my list to do!!
.-= Valerie´s last blog ..CLIFFORD SIGHTING- =-.
It takes me forever to get gifts to my friends too!! They know this about me so it’s all good!! Love this idea!!!
Love the growth charts! I am going to be grandmother to ( boy & girl)twins in a couple of months and I want to try to make a couple one for each baby. Keep those great projects coming.
I love this and will be making one for a friend! And heck yes, I would love free vinyl to make this project easier!
Love these – what a great gift idea – I really need to make one for my family!!
Super cute idea! Love them– and I think I’m going to make one for each of my twins!
These are very cute! I’d love to make one for each of our grandsons!
.-= Some Lucky Dog´s last blog ..Wilton Decorating Class Giveaway at J Leigh Designz =-.
So so cute and perfect timing. I’m making one for a baby shower! Now, if I only knew what that adorable font was…. hmmm…. can you please share. I’d love it if you posted the fonts you used for each tutorial. You guys always pick the perfect fonts!
Hi I am Alison’s best friend so I trump you all I WANT THE EXTRA ONE!!!!! You dont even need to mail it to me, I will just come pick it up.
I want I want!!! Such a cute idea! Moms and Kids would both love this!
So adorable and easy! My son is having his first baby boy due in September. I love the idea of it being portable, so if and when you move you can take it with you. I am interested in the vinyl lettering. Thanks and I LOVE YOUR IDEAS!!
Love this idea! These are just the cutest growth charts I have seen! I featured this on my friday favorites!
http://lilbitofus.blogspot.com/2010/07/friday-favorites_16.html
.-= Mary Williams´s last blog ..Mommyhood Monday- =-.
YAY…thank you!
So much cuter than the ones in the store! I love it!
.-= Minneapolis Attorney´s last blog ..Test =-.
I made one for my little man this weekend, it turned out super cute!! Thanks for the inspiration!!
Love this idea! I’ve made 3 already & will be making more. I wanted to attach a cute poem but couldn’t find one that I liked, so I wrote my own. Here’s the link to the post on my blog with the poem: http://miliusadventures.blogspot.com/2010/12/baby-shower-gift-growth-chart.html
Am I going crazy or did I see a link at one time to buy the “watch me grow” lettering and numbers as a kit for $5.95? I can’t find it now. I don’t have a cricit or silhouette or anything. I just need to buy the vinyl letters.
Hi Holly
We have not sold them on the site. Try http://vinylwallexpressions.com/ She has some there:)
Okay, now I see it in a link at the bottom of their website for $5.50 with free shipping. I kept typing it in their homepage and thinking it would cost over $16 there….you should link directly to their $5.50 deal in your tutorial.
We just got one of these as a Christmas gift–so cute! But, we haven’t been able to transport, and thus, use it, because it’s almost 6 feet long. Hinges might be a good idea to make it a bit more mobile. Just a tip!
I love this, Im going to do this for both my son and daughter. Question; Why start of at 15 inches and what kind of paint: gloss or flat?
I used semi and start at 15 because I didn’t’ have any babies less than 15 inches tall and I needed the height on top because we’ve got tall genes. That’s why. To fit my family:)
Absolutely love this.. ordering the vinyl letters now and my husband and I got the wood and lilac paint this weekend, used the router to make the trim and my husband went a bit overboard and put molding on the top… lol
Can’t wait to finish it!
Love Love Love this! I will definitely be making it for my son’s big boy room. As a new crafter – where can I buy vinyl letters and the “watch me grow” sign? Thanks for this beautiful idea!
Do you sell these? I looked for something similar on Etsy, but nothing is as cute!
I have made 2 of these growth charts for my 2 grand-nephews. (makes me sound so old – I’m only 55!) They look great, and everyone is always so impressed! And I’m glad I made something, instead of a purchased gift! Thanks so much for the instructions!
Where did you buy or find your vinyl “watch me grow” lettering and numbers as a kit? I looked into that site you and another person where talking about but I cant seem to find them.