Homemade Wooden Measuring Sticks

In researching birthday presents for a certain 3yo who has everything she needs, most of what she wants and 2 big sisters that hand down all sorts of goodies all the time, I came across a truly good idea. Inchimals. Loved the concept of this neat set of measuring sticks. Won awards and stuff.
Sadly I didn't love the designs and the reviews were less than stellar as far as durability goes... so we figured we'd make them like they used to. Out of solid wood, at home, from supplies and scraps we already had lying around.

The woodworking husband produced the sticks made of solid cherry.

I oiled them with a bit of leftover tung oil.

When they were dry, I used Sharpie paint pens to put the designs on. Took a few hours while discovering and watching the first few episodes of Endeavor, thanks to the fellow soulemama readers!

After the sharpies dried, which was quick, the woodworking husband put on two coats of clear polyurethane finish. A bag was quick to stitch and voila. Homemade toy. 

As you can tell, one side of each stick has an animal. I tried to confirm their relative sizes on the internet, but hey, no guarantees! Two sides simply have tick marks to mark whole inches, and the back side has multicolored dots, one per inch. I figure this may help with simple math/counting concepts.

Everything is teamwork, when new toys are involved.

Lesson: My foot is as long as an elephant.

Shared at:

 www.creadienstag.de