Here is a FREE growth chart ruler cut file that you can use to make a family growth chart of your own!
Add the vinyl decals to a board or directly on the wall to document your kiddos' growth over the years!
These rulers make great personalized gifts too!
FREE Growth Chart Ruler Cut File!
Last year, just before my son turned one in June, I made a life-sized growth chart ruler to document not only his growth at each successive birthday, but also that of any other children we may have.
UPDATE: we've added another boy to the bunch!
The ruler also serves as a sort of living family photo collage since we add pictures of all of us as well...gotta love multi-functional decor!
It was one of my very first projects using my Silhouette Cameo, and my first time ever using vinyl or staining wood for a sign.
It's still to this day one of my favorite things I've ever created, and it looks just lovely hanging in our home.
Well, since sharing my tutorial last summer, I have had a ton of people reach out and ask me for the cut file.
And just because I love you all so much (the best readers in all of blogland), here it is!
Enjoy!
How to Make a Family Growth Chart Ruler with Yearly Photos
If you'd like to see the complete tutorial for how I made my family's growth chart ruler from start to finish, check out all the details here!
For our ruler, I used black Silhouette-brand vinyl.
I found it easier and more cost-effective to cut the ruler markings out on two 12" x 12" sheets, then trim the sections into individual strips and apply them one at a time.
Here's my little man showing off his big 31.75" self on his first birthday last year.
What can I say, I love my keepsakes, especially these baby milestone ideas and fun face doodles.
Family Growth Chart Ruler: Year 3 Update!
And here's our updated family growth chart ruler a few years in!
Rowan just turned three (and we happened to move into a new house earlier this year), so we've added a couple more pictures!
Family Growth Chart Ruler: Many Years Later Update!
I've since moved this growth chart ruler again! Hooray for adding it to a board and not directly on a wall, amiright?
Now it's proudly featured as part of our hallway family command center!
An Alice in Wonderland Growth Chart Ruler
Since making this growth chart ruler for my own family, I've also created one for my brother's little girl!
This one was an Alice in Wonderland-themed growth chart ruler, and I first tried cutting the markings out as one 6-foot long piece (I suddenly became very adventurous with my vinyl).
However, since I don't yet have a roll feeder for my Silhouette, the vinyl started shifting like crazy and I wasted a bunch of vinyl, time, and patience (not to mention let out more curse words than a drunken sailor).
So I then reverted back to my original method and cut them out on two 12" x 12" sheets.
Below you can see what the markings look like with a different font for the numbers (this is a combination of Alice in Wonderland and Alicia Wonderland).
{Sorry, not the best pic, I know, but it's the only one I have...and of course it's an iPhone picture snapped in a basement with terrible lighting!}
You can also check out the corresponding Alice in Onederland (see what I did there?) first birthday chalkboard poster that I made for my niece's big day.
Helpful Hints for Using this Free Growth Chart Ruler Cut File
Here are some helpful hints for using the .studio3 cut file version in Silhouette Studio.
Since sharing that original file, I've tried my best to save it as a SVG but don't use that format too often.
You might need to zoom out to see the file opened up, and may need to adjust the thickness of the lines to your liking.
I haven't tried cutting out the SVG version, so these extra tidbits may or may not apply. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
- There are two versions of this cut file available:
- A .studio3 file that can be used with Silhouette Studio
- A SVG file that can be used with other cutting software programs
- It measures from the 6" mark up to 6'6" and is designed to be used on a 6-foot long board that is hung 6" from the floor (that's a lot of sixes!).
- You could also skip the board completely and hang the vinyl directly on a wall or door instead (I would use semi-permanent vinyl such as Oracal 631 so it doesn't damage your interior in case you ever need to remove it).
- Make sure you keep the cut style to "Cut Edge."
- I use the default Vinyl cut settings but decrease my speed, usually to a 4 or 5, but do a test cut first.
- If you want to use a different font for the numbers, just ungroup the sections, delete the default numbers, and add your own. Then resize and/or align them as needed.
- The font I used for my family's is American Typewriter
- The file is set up to be cut as two 12" x 12" sheets of vinyl, but you can absolutely move the sections around and align them to be cut on any size vinyl sheet/roll you have, or even as a single 6' long strip.
FREE Growth Chart Ruler Cut File!
Alrighty, now that we're through all the particulars, here is where you can snag the FREE growth chart ruler cut file to make one of your own!
Just click the download graphic below and you'll be taken to a Dropbox folder where you can download either the .studio3 or SVG cut file.
No preview will be available with the .studio3 format, but both files are able to be downloaded and opened.
Happy crafting!
{The Fine Print: These files are free for PERSONAL NON-COMMERCIAL USE ONLY. That means you are free to make things for yourself or as gifts, but you may not sell anything you create with this file, redistribute the file itself, or share the direct download link. Thanks!}
If You Enjoyed This....
Make sure you check out my Project Gallery for lots of other crafty creations, including more FREE cut files!
Thanks so much for stopping by!
Hi I only have the silhouette portrait could you tell me if the markings will fit that please
Hi Michele! You can still use this file with the Portrait, you'll just need to adjust the elements to fit the size of your cutting mat since you have a smaller cutting area than the Cameo.
I love this!!! what I need to know is how do you hang this? What did you use on the back to hang it on the wall? TIA
Hi Melanie! I used some Command strips. There's more info and links to the exact ones on the post with the tutorial for how I made the actual board.
I have made the mini polaroid frames, but am not sure what size to make them. What size worked best for you?
Hi Ashley! The photo openings to my frames are roughly 2" x 2" and they seem to work well for our board!
hello i have been looking for this want to make for my kids for xmas gifts... i am using cricut and my computer wont let me open your silhouette file I need an svg file can you please email me a svg file of your creative ruler stencil
Hi Rachel! I'm glad you enjoy this! Like I've told other commenters though, I only have the .studio file available. Sorry!
Christine,
Thank you so much for sharing your file. I love it, and am in the process. However, my board is longer, and I need a 7 and an 8. What font are your numbers?
Hey Lori! Glad you like this file! The font is called American Typewriter and there's a link to it above in the "Some Helpful Hints for Using This Cut File" section. Good luck!
This is EXACTLY what I needed! I was just about to make my own, and I found yours! Thank you so much for taking the time to make this and for generously sharing it with all of us!
Danielle, you are so very welcome! I'm happy that you found this helpful. Have fun making your own ruler! :)
Any chance of getting that file as a JPG or PNG?
Sorry Vickie, but all I've got is the .studio file. You can download the free Silhouette Studio program and convert the file to PDF then try and use it.
Thank you for the information. I have a Cricut but I downloaded the Silhouette Studio and then, when I uploaded your file, I used the 'Snipping Tool' (from the 'Accessories' folder on my computer) and saved the image to my pictures.
I could then just upload them to Cricut Design Space and carry on as usual.
Hi Jilly, would you be able to email me the image? I'm still new with all this. I'll be using a cricut also. Kawinky@gmail.com
Hi! I'm sorta new with my machine and cannot figure out how to get it to print the left side with the 1, 5 and 6. I got it to print the right side but can you tell me what to do now? Thanks for sharing this file!!
Hey there, Aubry! By print, do you mean cut?? If so, make sure you have the cut lines turned on for that section. If you are actually printing out the pieces, I'm not really sure what the problem is (sorry, I'm so not techy). ;) Maybe try moving it to another part of the paper?
Do you happen to have an SVG file for this growth chart that you can email me?
Nope, Maria. Sorry but I only have the Silhouette file at this time. :/
Do you have an ETSY shop or online store where these decals can be purchased? TIA.
Hey there, Jill! Nope, sorry but I don't yet have a shop set up at this time. It's my goal to try and start one this fall once my son starts school. I know there are plenty of other sellers on Etsy that sell variations of these growth chart decals though.
Thanks, Christine for the file. What are your thoughts on using the nesting feature to save vinyl for this project?
Hey Jennifer! I haven't yet upgraded to Version 3 yet (tried it right after the release last year and it was an epic fail), so I haven't been able to use the nesting feature yet...but based on Silhouette's recent security announcement, looks like I'll be having to update by 6/23! So to answer your question, I don't know! :) It would probably work, I would just want to make sure each foot segment stayed together so you will still be able to apply the ruler in sections (I hope that makes sense!). If you try it out, let me know how it works! :)
Ok, thanks for your response! When I'm peeling the vinyl from the mat, all of the tick marks are coming off. What is your trick? Do you weed this before taking it off the mat? Thanks again.
Hey Jennifer! What do you mean? Is the blade cutting all the way through your vinyl, even the backing, and the marks are staying that way? Or is the blade not cutting all the way and then they're peeling up with the rest of the excess vinyl as you're wedding? If it's either of those, adjust your cut settings until you find the right ones.
I always weed after taking the vinyl off the mat. I'll trim away and save whatever I can, then weed. Sometimes if my mat is super sticky, I'll flip it over and pull the mat off the vinyl instead of the vinyl off the mat (I hope that makes sense). That will sometimes help prevent the vinyl from being warped, creased, or getting bubbles. Hope this helps!! :)
Thank you so much for sharing the file!! I can't wait to make my ruler!
You're so very welcome, Lynette! I wish you the best of luck! :)
Thanks for sharing the file. I have just stained my board and now getting ready to cut my vinyl. I had plans on making little arrow markers with the years and cutting them in 3 different colors for each of my kiddos. I see that you had already done that, would you mind sharing that file with me? Thanks so much!!
Hey there, Brooke! I'm glad to hear you're well on your way to completing your own grown chart! I apologize but I'm afraid I won't be able to share the file with the age arrows....I'm planning on starting a business (hopefully in the not-too-distant future) and will be selling items with that file. I hope you understand. Thanks for stopping by!
yay! thanks for posting - i'm off to make it now :)
Awesome, Jane! Please let me know if you have any issues with the file (I'm so not techy, haha), and I'd love to see your final creation! :)