Vintage Yardstick & Scrabble Tile Christmas Ornament
Hi there! I have a fun and easy project for you today–a vintage Christmas ornament that I think you’re going to love. And I deserve it, too! Have you ever had one of those weeks where it seems like things are just slipping between the cracks?
I’ve had one–two trips to visit sweet daughter at college (one for needed “supplies” and another for a dance review), one day packing sweet mother for her move this Saturday, and some important ministry needs that came up.
Not to mention my ongoing craft show and blogging “day job.” Those are the two that slipped between the cracks this week. It’s 11:34 Thursday night and I’m just beginning to write this post, and I still have merchandise to price for the show and merchandise to package up for shipping. Say a prayer for me please!
Related posts: Yardstick Christmas Tree Ornaments & Yardstick & Mini Wreath Ornaments.
Pretty cute, right? Whenever I use a vintage something for a DIY or craft project, it seems to really set off my creativity and often I can’t stop at just one project, but I am compelled to continue until I reach the very end of my ideas.
For example, earlier this fall I posted about a yardstick coat rack and yardstick & wreath ornaments. But I think today’s may be the last yardstick project for a while, but there are no guarantees!
Materials Needed for the Vintage Christmas Ornament
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Materials:
- Yardsticks (red are nice)
- Hand saw
- Scrabble tiles
- Hot glue gun
- Sand paper
- Pine pipe cleaners
- Red berries
- Baker’s twine
- Drill
Whenever I see Scrabble sets at garage sales for a dollar or less, I pick them up to use in craft projects or to sell in vintage jars.
How to Make the Vintage Christmas Ornament
Step 1: Cut your yardstick the appropriate lengths using a hand saw, or if you’re lucky, a miter saw. To determine the size of each piece, count the number of tiles you’re using for a word and then add 1, and that’s the number of inches you’ll need for the ornament. So for the word “PEACE,” you’ll need 6″ of yardstick, for “NOEL” you’ll need 5″ and for “JOY” 4″.
Step 2. Drill a hole at the top of the yardstick and thread a piece of baker’s twine through it for hanging.
Step 3. To decorate the ornaments add a berry and pine accent.
To create it, start by twisting two wired berries together, just under the berries; trim them a bit leaving a good length of wire at the end.
Use that wire to hold together two 1 1/2 inch pieces of pine garland/pipe cleaner. Trim the wire and add a dab of hot glue to the back. Press it onto the yardstick, just under the hole you drilled.
Step 4. Now it’s time to add your Scrabble tiles, which is trickier than you might think. Because both the surface of the tiles and my yardstick were pretty slick, regular tacky glue did not hold them in place. My solution: I lightlly sanded the back of each tile, applied hot glue, and immediately pressed it into place on the yardstick.
Completed Vintage Christmas Ornaments
I made eight ornaments out of that red yardstick and priced them at $6.00 each. They sold out immediately(!). Tomorrow I’ll be bringing up another batch made with a yardstick that had some red writing on it.
I’ll post a photo of them soon. As always, I get a thrill out of using vintage materials to create something new and interesting, hopefully attractive and useful, too. I think these fit the bill.
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I’d love it if you’d pin for later–
Very cute.
Thanks Mel!
Wonderful upcycle with vintage pieces. I love them. Peace and joy to you, too, with your busy, crazy schedule. Hopefully you can catch up on sleep soon!
Thanks, Laura–I’m so glad you liked them 🙂 Yes, things are slowing down, thank the Lord!
I loved seeing these ornaments. Great use of the tiles and yardstick.
Thanks, Kathy!
Too cute, Diana!
Thanks Melissa!!
Those are so cute! I will make one for each of my Grands to put on their tree!
Great!! Would love to see how they turn out Linda 🙂 Maybe you could post a photo in my “new” Facebook group: Your Vintage Headquarters?
Just wanted to let you know that I appreciate your clear instructions on how you make your crafts, plus I also find it interesting and helpful when you include prices. I hope to sell items and you provide useful information on mark ups on thrifted items and prices for home made items. Thanks, so much, realize that this takes effort, wanted to let you know it is appreciated!
Thanks so much for the encouragement, Susan–it means a lot. It’s great to get feedback, so I know if what I provide is helpful or not 🙂
What a cute project! I love them.
Thanks AnnMarie!
Cute little ornament idea!!!
Thanks Rose!
These are adorable, as usual. Never see inexpensive yardsticks here; I may settle for 4/$1 wooden rulers at one of my bargain spots! Coat of tea or a ared wash and they’ll look vintage! Just can’t get those kind of prices up here, though. I heartily agree with Susan; you give great instructions and have great pictures. Even a beginnger would have no problem following them! Christmas season is SUPPOSED to be frazzled; but think, it’s EARLY in the season so you WILL get it all done! And with time to put your feet up and enjoy the family!
Using rulers in lieu of yardsticks is a great idea Kathy! So sorry it’s hard to find cheap yardsticks in your neck of the woods 🙁 Thanks for the kind encouragement!! Things have thankfully begun to slow down a bit for me and I am grateful–
These are adorable Diana! Glad they sold quickly for you! Might have to steal your idea if I ever run across a red yardstick.
Please, steal away, Florence!! I just made a large batch with plain wooden yardsticks with red lettering and they sold out, too. I think I’ll add a photo of them to this post…
SO sweet! You always come up with the neatest ideas!
So sweet of you to say, Patty 🙂
FUN! FUN! FUN! Favorite ornament this Christmas season! Great that they sold sooo fast. I think your on to something! Could see these on reg,yardsticks and rulers with RED tiles. Fun to use at place settings or on a gift! Merry Christmas!
Woo woo–you put a smile on my face with that grand announcement–so glad you like it 🙂 Using them for place settings is a great idea, Barb.
Those are so cute, Diana. I’ve been looking for yardsticks wherever I go, but haven’t been too lucky. The red one you upcycled is perfect for the season.
I hope everything goes smoothly with all your projects/jobs/ responsibilities. I get really nervous when I have deadlines to meet. Then things go wrong more. I’m wishing you oceans of calm!
These are adorable, Diana! And I’m glad you’re using some of your 100 yardsticks;)
Your creativity astounds me! I am a preschool teacher and these will make cute tags for the gifts I give my coworkers. Thanks for sharing your talents, it makes my life much more creative.
Those are darling, Diana! However, people got smart here in mid-Michigan and Scrabble games and yardsticks are priced ridiculous. I saw a Scrabble for $30 at a garage sale!! I have my Mom’s and have been reluctant to break it up. I will post on your Facebook what a friend’s dil made me. You’ll love it!
Hi….I sent you an email of the Scrabble pic…couldn’t figure out any other way. Enjoy!
Awesome work.Just wanted to drop a comment and say I am new to your blog and really like what I am reading.Thanks for the share
These are just the cutest gift ideas!
So adorable, you are lucky to find the Scrabble sets, they have become a hot item!
Oh goodness, who knew vintage yardsticks and scrabble game tiles could look so adorable! Thank you so much for sharing them with us at the Talk Of The Town Party, Diana. Love these so much! Pinned and sharing
Too cute! That red is just perfect! I don’t have the yardsticks but I sure have the tiles, so who knows? I may have to go on the hunt for those yardsticks yet! Super repurpose, so glad they sold fast for you:) Thanks for sharing at Vintage Charm! xo Kathleen|Our Hopeful Home
oops, P.S. Pinned!
What an adorable idea. I understand what you are saying about the ideas that keep coming. It is your creavtity.
What an adorable Christmas project! I can see why they sold quickly at your craft show.
Just made some of these for a local craft fair. I couldn’t find “vintage” yardsticks so I bought new and spray painted them red. They look great! Hopefully I will have success using your price point. I also made them for my grandkids 🙂
thanks for the great instructions!
You spray painted them red? Did it cover the black numbers? I thought about using red water color paint as I thought it would look more vintage.
Hi Cindy! I think painting newer yardsticks with watercolors sounds like a great idea 🙂 Since writing this post two years ago, I’ve made more with green yardsticks and plain wooden sticks with red writing and they all look great (though I like the red ones the best). I’d love to see what you come up with!
Diana, I never came up with yardsticks, BUT….I bought some shirt boxes to cut the tops up to frame–my red truck with a tree in the bed–my current fave! BUT the edges of the shirtboxes also had Christmas berries design on them… so I used them for my Scrabble tiles. THIS year the words hope and joy have been the most popular so far. Family last names for family–made great gift tags!
Awesome Kathy! I love that you took some inspiration and came up with your own personal take on the ornaments. I bet everyone loved them, and I can certainly see why “hope” in particular would be popular this year…
Hi Diana,
LOVE your Christmas yard sticks with these scrabble tiles. I have looked everywhere for these red yard sticks locally and cannot find them. I have also looked on-line for them. Do you mind sharing where you got your red yard sticks? I am a new member with you so I am just getting familiar with all of your wonderful crafts.
Thanks so much!
I’m so glad you’re enjoying my crafting ideas Evelyn! I wish I had a specific source for you for the yardsticks. I pick mine up as I find them at garage and estate sales. I also make them with green yardsticks and those that have green or red numbers and lines on them. I like them in all color variations. Sorry I couldn’t be more helpful 🙁