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Here is what transpired following that trip to Home Depot:
Making Frankie's growth chart really was quite easy- I divided the project into stages and tackled one at a time. This forced me not to rush (which I am prone to do when working on these sorts of things). From start to finish, it took me 3 weeks to complete and cost me just over $30 (Stain, paint, wood, stencils, oil based paint marker). Read on for the steps I took to make the chart.
Step 1) Sand on. Sand Off.
Making Frankie's growth chart really was quite easy- I divided the project into stages and tackled one at a time. This forced me not to rush (which I am prone to do when working on these sorts of things). From start to finish, it took me 3 weeks to complete and cost me just over $30 (Stain, paint, wood, stencils, oil based paint marker). Read on for the steps I took to make the chart.
Step 1) Sand on. Sand Off.
Using fine sandpaper, I gently sanded the wood- concentrating on any ragged edges. Once done, I wiped the whole thing down with a damp rag to remove any dust or dirt. When the wood was completely dry, I applied a thin coat of stain- once that was dry (approximately 5 hours later), I applied a second coat.
I opted to stain the back of the wood even though it will eventually be against the wall. This step is optional, but I think it makes the finished product more "finished". I wrote Frankie a little Merry Christmas note on the back of the chart too.
Step 2) Make the mark(s)
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| I used a two in one primer/stain. This not only saved me some time, but money too. |
Similar to the inch markers on a ruler, the foot markers on the growth chart should be the most prominent. I used horizontal pieces of painter's tape and a basic 12 inch ruler to mark off where each line should go.
Before painting, I placed a piece of painter's tape, longways, down the wood so that each foot line was the same length.
After aggressively smoothing down the edges of the tape, I painted the markers (using white paint and a tiny paint brush that I already owned). Once the foot markers were dry, I repeated these steps for the half-foot and quarter-foot markers- just being sure to make the lines thinner and shorter than the ones I made right before.
Step 3) I wish I skipped this Step
In an effort to save a few pennies, I opted to create my own letter stencils. If and when I make another one of these charts, I will not be so over zealous and will buy stencils.
*** If you decide to make a growth chart AND go all gangbusters (read: make your own stencils), make sure you paint over them with your stain (and let dry) before painting the letters with a colored paint. This bonds the edges to the wood and prevents the colored paint from seeping under the tape.
4) Get Your Paint On
Here is what the chart looked like when the letters were dry, messy edges were cleaned up, and I recovered from my self-induced anxiety attack (DIYing stencils is not for those that are Type A)
4) Get Your Paint On
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| This is the pointillism technique by way of q-tip....super advanced stuff :) |
Here is what the chart looked like when the letters were dry, messy edges were cleaned up, and I recovered from my self-induced anxiety attack (DIYing stencils is not for those that are Type A)
5) Paint dem digits.
I bought number stencils and a white, oil based, paint pen to paint the numbers on the chart... at the
very last minute used the paint pen to outline the F R A N K I and E to help the letters pop and also used it to paint the note on the back of the chart that is pictured above.
6) Last but not Least
I attached two clawed pictured hangers that I already owned to the top/back of the wood and then wrapped it up to go under the tree! I tied a new oil based paint marker in the bow of the present so that my sister and BIL had something to mark the chart with as Frankie gets taller.
And there you have it, a DIY growth chart - Made with Love, Paid with Pennies style.
