INSIDE: Use a vintage wooden folding ruler to make a DIY framed letter board. Turn a vintage yardstick into photo frame.
Sometime, somewhere, I accumulated a vintage wooden folding ruler. All I know is that I’ve had this wooden yardstick in my sewing basket for a long time. To the point where it was starting to crack. Something DIY-ish had to be done. It was too cool to toss.
Fast forward to the other week, when on a recent buzz through a favorite store, I broke down and picked up a much-wanted letter board.
Here’s how I combined the two pieces together in, what I think, is a fun message board for the family.
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How to Make Vintage Letter Board for Home Decor
If mama’s verbal message can’t get through to the kids, a message board on the wall can.
Supplies
– Folding wooden ruler (Can’t find a vintage one? Buy a knock-off here.)
– Letter board or Large photo frame
– Screwdriver (flat head works best)
– All-purpose epoxy glue
– Optional: Small saw tooth picture hook
How to decorate with vintage folding ruler
I got a wild hair to tackle this project in the hour before I had to run carpool duty! It came together rather quickly.
It was hard, figuratively speaking, to take apart this awesome vintage ruler but it wouldn’t fit the message board frame otherwise.
I pried the ruler apart at the hinges with a flat head screwdriver.
Laying out the ruler onto the frame of the message board, it was secured with some all-purpose heavy duty glue.
And several impressionable-but-rarely-ever-read heavy duty books to ensure all things stuck.
I left the excess ruler fold-up at the side of the frame.
how to make rustic vintage letter board for home
My boys are really into “army guys” so a great way to spread my daily mantra of “be kind” is to come up with some nifty message that (hopefully) gets through to them.
How have you re-purposed some cool vintage find?
This store-bought letter board turned eclectic vintage home decoration is perfect for your Family Word of the Year project.
More DIY Home Decor Ideas:
- Use a salvage yard staircase banister into a gallery wall
- Upcycle a dresser mirror as large-scale wall art
- $20 thrift store coffee makeover
- Turn a $10 vintage suitcase into a photo display
- How to make a gallery wall around a wall TV
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Jenny says
Super cute! Yes kids respond when its something they like. I love this idea of a message board for your kids. The vintage ruler looks great! Pinning!
DazzleWhileFrazzled says
Thanks Jenny! Happy I was finally able to use that ruler.
Amanda at Domestically Creative says
Very cool way to use that vintage ruler! Now your letter board has a fun vintage/industrial vibe and I’m sure your boys will have so much fun with it!
DazzleWhileFrazzled says
Thanks Amanda!
Deborah says
That is so cute! You know I’m all on board with this.
Shirley Wood says
This brought back memories for me. My Dad was a contractor and prior to those retractable measuring tapes becoming so popular, he had literally dozens of these! Your repurpose is super fun! Wish I had one of my Dad’s. I’d do the same thing around a picture of him.
DIY Home Sweet Home says
Love this idea. I’ve seen a lot of crafts using these types of rulers but I have yet to find any myself.
Debrashoppeno5 says
I love how you personalized the message board. The vintage ruler is cool and you don’t see too many of them. It is a great idea and so is the message.
Michelle Leslie says
What an awesome idea Victoria. Those folding rulers are so amazing and you’ve managed to give it a new lease on life. Love the message for the boys
Michelle James says
This is so cool! I’m obsessed with letter boards and love how you added the vintage ruler-so creative!
Carmen says
this is SUCH a cute idea! Never would have thought of that but I LOVED those rulers when I was a kid!!! Also remember getting my fingers pinched in them a lot haha
DazzleWhileFrazzled says
Thanks Carmen!
Audra @ Renewed Projects says
What a score that folding ruler was! The natural aging is just my cup of tea. I especially like how you kept a few folded sections attached to the bottom of the frame.
DazzleWhileFrazzled says
Thanks Audra! It was too cool to not use in some of its original form.
Habiba says
I really like how this turned out! Just this Saturday I got to go through my dads garage and pick out memorables. Some tools I’ll use to DIY and some things I just got to remember my dads awesome handcraft skills. I’ll make sure to incorporate some into wonderful wall art pieces like you did with this folding ruler. Thank you for this great inspiration.
DazzleWhileFrazzled says
Thanks Habiba! I think this vintage ruler was my grandmother’s so I’d like to think she’d be pleased it was re-used. She hated to waste anything, LOL!
Kathleen says
I love memo boards, got one for Christmas from the kids! Your idea to frame it with a cool vintage ruler is awesome, never would have thought of it! (You can also fold one of those rulers into a big star to use for Christmas decor!) Thanks for sharing at Vintage Charm! xo Kathleen|Our Hopeful Home
laura says
What a great idea! This is one of my features for next week’s Merry Monday party (starts on Sunday night). Thank you for sharing! I love it! laura
DazzleWhileFrazzled says
Thanks Laura! I’ll be sure to stop by the party.
Amy says
Very clever; I love those moments when something you’ve been holding on to can finally be used in an upcycling project! It means all of our vintage hoarding has not been in vain, hahaha. I’ve been seeing these message boards around and I’m very tempted to get one too.
I think I might have to try out your idea and finally get my little reading nook pulled together with it. Thanks for the great post and ideas!
Teresa says
I love it, you did a great job with that message board. Thank you for sharing at The Really Crafty Link Party this week. Pinned.
angie says
love the frame idea, in fact you have now inspired me to create a few for myself. Thanks for sharing
come see what we shared at http://shopannies.blogspot.com
Julie says
Using this old folding ruler for something is much better than just leaving it unused in your craft stash. I love how this turned out. The message is great too.
The Freshman Cook says
I love how cute this is, and the saying is perfect! Thank you for sharing at Celebrate it!