Scavenger Chic

DIY Vinyl Growth Chart

• By Joan
• October 20, 2021
• 5 Comments

DIY Vinyl Growth Chart

Today I’m giving you a preview of the Christmas gifts I’m giving to 2 of my grandbabies. One, pictured here , and the second who hasn’t quite arrived yet…he’s expected within a couple weeks. Obviously they don’t follow me on social media so my gifts will remain a surprise.  

They are both the perfect age to receive a Vinyl growth chart.

I had no intention of actually making my own  DIY growth chart.  I had found this super cool oversized measuring tape on Etsy from Array of Whimsy.  At $53.80 I was ready to buy it.  After all, my grandkids are priceless.  😀 Two weeks lead time, no problem. Retrieved my credit card. Got down to shipping and realized they don’t ship to the U.S.  Well that stinks.

Plan B, make my own.

My friend Marie at Interior Frugalista makes yardstick growth charts from a piece of wood.  Head over to her blog for another full DIY tutorial.

Take your pick of DIY growth charts and start creating.  The growth chart for my own kids is on our linen closet door frame. If we ever move I guess we’ll have to take the linen closet with us. 😆  These are a little more moveable.

Supplies that you’ll  need and probably wouldn’t already have on hand are curtain grommets,  7 ft of white marine vinyl, growth chart stencil, and aluminum flashing.

I also used black chalk paint, antique wax, hot glue, black spray paint, painters tape and paint brushes, all of which I did have in my supplies.

This is where this meme definitely comes into play.  The list of supplies, even if on sale, will initially cost you well over $50.

That is totally ridiculous.  However, the second one you make will only cost an additional $1.20 for the flashing.  The same with the 3rd, 4th, 5th and 6th.  The 7 feet of vinyl is enough to make 6 growth charts. You’ll have the perfect baby shower gift for years to come.

Mark and cut your vinyl into 8 1/4 inch x 7 ft strips.

Place your grommet on the flashing where you would like it to go.  Can be centered or closer to the bottom, it’s up to you. 

Trace around the outside and the inside edge of the grommet. You’ll need to cut the flashing halfway between the two circles.

Drill a hole in the center  with a metal drill bit for your starting point.

I initially used metal snips to cut my very uneven circle.

As long as the grommet covers all the rough edges you’re good to go.

A quicker choice for cutting was my tabletop scroll saw.  Taped together, I was able to cut 3 flashing pieces at a time.  The tape keeps the pieces lined up and easier to work with.

This is supposed to look like an old measuring tape so I’m aging the vinyl just a tiny bit.  I watered down the antique wax a lot. It’s now about 50/50 wax to water.

Paint on the wax and rub off the excess with a paper towel. The left piece is pre-wipe off, the right piece has the light wax and the piece diagonal has no wax, just slightly whiter than the waxed versions.

Tape the stencil to the vinyl making sure there is no space between the individual stencils.

Use a foam or  bristle stencil brush to paint the stencil.

Dab your brush lightly into your black paint, I’m using chalk paint,  blot off all excess paint on an extra piece of paper and use your very dry brush to stipple the paint onto the stencil.

Take a peek, look at those nice clean lines!

Lightly, very lightly, use  black spray paint to add an overspray of black paint to the curtain grommets and roof flashing.

Paint the grommets and flashing with a piece of scrap wood.  Paint the piece of scrap wood with black paint and rub the wood over the surface of the grommets and flashing until you get a very uneven paint surface.  As if the paint peeled off naturally and unevenly over a period of time.

This looks like a total mess doesn’t it?

Finish off the aged look on the ends with a coat of antique wax, paint on and rub off the excess. Let dry.

Cut circles in the vinyl where the metal end tabs will be going.

Before attaching the metal ends on the lower end of the measuring tape, I cut off  about 4 inches of the tape  to avoid the baseboard  and allow the tape to hang flat.

Attach the metal ends and grommets with hot glue.

I did tack mine to a 1×10 stained piece of wood but that is optional.

As always, stay inspired.

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