Remember my little collection of tape measures? Must be the vintage typographic numbers, or something, but I adore vintage measuring devices. Pull out your measuring tapes and rulers and head on over to SC Johnson’s Family Economics for my blog post on gettin’ crafty with ’em. If you leave a comment over there, I would appreciate it so much, you know, it makes me look good! Then come back here and tell me what kinds of ideas you have or have done with your tools of measurement!
Hi, I’m Cathe (pronounced the same as Cathy). I’m a graphic designer, crafter, creative blogger, & flea market enthusiast. I live just north of San Francisco in lovely Petaluma, California with my husband, Mr. Wonderful & our 3 awesome teenagers.
JustSomethingIMade.com is where I share creative ideas, crafty projects, original designs, artistic inspiration, product reviews and loads of free stuff! Thanks for visiting!
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Very darling ideas! I especially love the star. I don't have anything that I have personally made with rulers before, but you have my creative juices flowing!
LOVE that star!!!
Oh, you are clever. My dad finally stopped letting me "play" with his fold-out rulers because I couldn't figure out how to expand them without breaking them each time!! I think I was about 5 at the time….now I wish I had them all!
What a fun challenge! I just spent 15 minutes wrestling my bendy ruler into every form I could think of. I ended up with a sort of asterisk-y shape thing, but I'm sure I will continue to mess with it and see what I can come up with. Love your blog by the way, your work is so clever and inventive and you are very generous with your creativity!
i never thought of the crown! They also make lovely stands for postcards and photos. Just keep in there closed position and insert your photos in the recesses.
What fun this is. Great play on creativity
hugs June xxx
Hi Cathe -
Love these ideas, I left a comment at SC Johnson. I'm not allowed to play with my husband's carpentar rulers because he says I'll break them – LOL! I like to snap them into different shapes, they are just fun to play with. I have seen Tim Holtz make little books/journals out of wooden rulers and they really looked awesome.
Elaine Allen
Love the star!
How simple, yet stunning!
What great fun ideas you have for using measuring devices. My problem is that I could not give away the old tape measures or yard sticks. Several years ago I did find a bunch of new folding tape measures, and I bought several to give to nephews and my grandsons.
I want a star just like that! Wonderful idea!
Ohh – pretty! Another fabulous creation! I love the crown, and Barbara's comment about tucking postcards and photos.
Lori (the BlogFrog)
I'm loving the crown! Vintage measuring devices around here go for a mint but I would lurve to have one for that crown idea!
How fantastically cool!! Hubby, our son, and I all like rulers (our wee daughter, not so much….but shaped them into a crown and she'd be all over it! :> lol) and these and what you've done have most definitely caught my eye…thanks! :>
Love it!!
I love these. Your creativity is immeasurable.
They are both stunning. So simple yet so beautiful
Oh my WORD I love that star!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Clever, next time I pick up one now I have more ideas then just using them to pop mail and photos in.
Love the star and crown!
I haven't used them a lot, but have used wooden, as well as cloth measures for book binding, altered books/cards, and jewelry pieces.
OHH I love these too! I have one in the shape of a crown on my bulletin board over my desk at work.
Robin
Wow….such great ideas…my brain is running on over load…hehehe! love them all thanks for sharing them..I had to go find my granddads ruler and make me a crown…love it.
Love them! I just grabbed by vintage one I found at a thrift store and made a crown. Looks FABULOUS. Thanks!
Just a quick note to let you know that a link to this post will be placed on CraftCrave.com in the Printables category today [23 Mar 10:16am GMT]. Thanks, Maria
Lovely purses and fun trucks for needles!
Thanks for sharing! My husband designed our house and I would like to frame a blueprint with old tape measures. Now to find some old tape measures. Another reason to hit the thrift stores(like I needed one anyway).
kathe,
the ruler designs are awesome! those folding rulers always remind me of my dad's that sits in his huge heavy metal tool box. (he's 88) mmmmhhh memories
the star was somewhat predictable (but still way cool) however the crown was. well. the "crowning touch"!
i too love the graphics and anything with numbers!
thanks for sharing!
~judi
I used to do that with those rulers as a kid!
I am feeling like I must send you some vintage paper measuring tapes. I found them in my grandmothers house after she passed away….a whole box… apparently they were printed as advertisements and given to customers…..now, i just need to find where I put the whole box!!
Fantastic article post.Really thank you! Want more.