DIY Growth Chart- no tools

This summer I had to clean out my grandparents house. It was fun finding all these forgotten treasures. In their garage there are these rafters that they never let me explore and I've always wanted to see what was up there.

I found my dad's first set of ski's and they were wooden (sorry to date you dad)! They are crafted so well and have all these amazing handwritten labels on them (including a hand painted part that states they were made in West Germany). I didn't want to ruin the integrity of the ski but I wanted to put it on display somewhere.

**Lightbulb**- a growth chart for Monroe. I used a really simple method as to not have to nail or cut any of the ski. To make this all you need is the following:

• A ski (or any other long piece of wood)
• Jute
• Carpenter's ruler (the folding kind)
• Liquid Nails (I like this adhesive because it's clear but holds super well)
• metallic pen, for marking height

The ski is obviously worn but I like that about it. I love knowing that my dad really used them.

I glued the ruler to the ski with the Liquid Nails. Then I wrapped the jute around the two until the glue dried. When it was done drying I secured it to the wall with a screw, and it's done. Perfect growth chart without ruining the ski. Now all I need to do is keep Monroe still long enough to measure his height!

Wall DIY

A few years ago, I was able to go with some of my friends to the first framed house in Cache Valley. All being designers, we fell in love with the layers and layers of wallpaper. We were able to peel it off and take home whatever we wanted. Since then, the house has been torn down and the wallpaper has just been sitting, gathering dust, until now.

I saw this tutorial on Pinterest and lurved it! I decided that a simple capital 'B' would be the perfect partner for the framed wallpaper. Had to add in some family photos and now our wall tells a tale or two!

Cops & Robbers

Colors, collage invitation, welcome sign with identities, 

gun rack (complete with cap guns and bullets), 

larger than life collage of Monroe, #1 loot party favors, 

cockroach cake (he loves toy cockroaches)

I had Kirk choose what the theme should be for Monroe's first birthday. It was a challenge at first but after picking a palette, the rest fell into place. It was a lot of fun. Monroe was mainly just happy to have all his family and friends around him!

DIY Non-Albino Rhino

Monroe was invited to his first birthday party last week. I had been wanting to make Monroe a pull toy for a while so I decided to make two at once. I was able to make this during one of Monroe's naps, just over an hour. So simple, but personal!

Here's what you need 

(a lot of the items you may already have like yarn, glue, etc):

• rhino template (see below)

• 10" x 10" x 1" wood slab

• wooden wheels (found mine at Hobby Lobby)

• yarn, jute, or rope for pull-string

• dowel & dowel end covers

• sandpaper

• wood glue

• jigsaw (found one at K-Mart for $20, sorry Chinese laborers)

• drill

• watercolor paints

Click to enlarge and print.

 Instructions:

1. Trace template onto wooden square and cut out with jigsaw.

2. Cut two 3-inch pieces from dowel.

3. Drill out the four holes (2 for wheel placement, eye, and string hole).

4. Smooth edges, holes and imperfections with sandpaper.

5. Watercolor wheels, rhino, dowels and dowel ends covers.

6. Place wheels through the rhino and dowels and glue dowel end covers.

7. String yarn or desired string through the rhino's nose.

I love the way the wood grain shows through with the watercolors. Let me know if there's any questions!