DIY Airplane Growth Chart

My little boy is growing up so fast. I can’t believe he starts preschool next week. Even though I can’t stop time and have him little forever, I can record these days when he is little with a DIY Growth Chart.

I decided to create a growth chart that would match his airplane room. I used Americana Multi-Surface Satin Paints from DecoArt for this project in Steel Grey, Cottonball, Canary, and Lipstick. Such fun color names don’t you think? I also used the Connect-the-Dots stencil and the Angular Motion stencil, also from DecoArt.

The paints are available for purchase at Michaels, A.C. Moore, Hobby Lobby and other fine craft retailers. There’s a rebate below if you would like to purchase some too.

In addition to paints and stencils, you will need:

4″x1″ board (6ft long)

A 2’x2′ piece of 1/4″ thick plywood

Small paintbrush

Spongebrush

Sponge stencil brush

Measuring tape

3M strips

Jigsaw

First, I used a sponge brush to paint the 6′ board with a few coats of Steel Grey Americana Multi-Surface Satin Paint. This paint goes on so easy and can be used on numerous surfaces. After the grey dried, I used a small portion of the Angular Motions stencil and a small paintbrush to stencil lines every foot down the length of the board. I then went back and free handed in the inch marks and the numbers.

I wanted the growth chart to look like a runway so I used the Canary color paint to create chevrons and stripes down the middle with the Angular Motions stencil using a “pouncing” technique with a sponge stencil brush. Use small amount of paint on your brush and paint inside the stencil by lightly dabbing the brush down onto the board.

The airplane shape was free handed onto the 1/4″ plywood and cut out with a jigsaw. I painted it with Lipstick and Steel Grey, used the Connect-the-Dots stencil and Cottonball paint color for my son’s name and free handed the yellow stars on the wings.

To stencil his name, I used a small paintbrush and painted from the outside toward the center of each letter. You could also use the foam stencil brush for this too.

 

Attach the airplane to the growth chart with anything that lets you move the plane such as 3M strips. The airplane’s tail marks the child’s height and you move it up as they grow.

Here it is with my son’s other airplane themed decor. I’m planning on going back through his baby records to mark his previous heights on the chart.  A new headboard is also in the plans.

Want some of this paint for your projects?  Here’s a rebate just for you!

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