Easy Vintage Folding Ruler Stars How To
learn 3 ways to make folding ruler stars out of vintage carpenter’s rulers. fun decor for patriotic holidays or christmas.
Old foldable rulers were a household necessity before our modern flexible tape measures were invented. Vintage carpenter’s rulers could be stored in a toolbelt and pulled out to measure anything. Found in a variety of colors and styles, these folding rulers can easily be made into junky stars for fun decor. This Easy Vintage Folding Ruler Stars How To will find you on the hunt for foldable rulers!
Today’s DIY repurposing project is part of a Patriotic Celebrations blog hop, hosted by Amber of Follow the Yellow Brick Home. If you’re visiting from The Crowned Goat, I’m sure you’re going to be making CoCo’s wonderful Patriotic Party Cones; she is so creative! I’ll have the rest of the inspiring posts at the end!
Easy Vintage Folding Ruler Stars How To
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Finding Vintage Carpenter’s Rulers
Old foldable rulers were a fairly common tool to have around, so there’s plenty out there at secondhand vintage haunts. They come in a variety of finishes; I’ve seen them in white with black letters and red accents, yellow, silver metal and wood. Often they have company names on them like old yardsticks. The variations make them a fun collectible to hunt for.
Because they were so widely used, sometimes pieces have been broken off or repaired. I think these make-do fixes add to their charm.
I have had luck finding them at estate sales, church sales and vintage shops. If they’re in rougher shape and not complete, you can get them for less than $5. Pricing varies widely depending on where you live.
Find vintage folding carpenter’s rulers HERE.
Folding Ruler Stars, 3 Ways
I have found 3 ways to make these foldable ruler stars to enjoy them in a small, medium and large version. Here are the 3 versions and some tips!
How to Make a Small Ruler Star
To make a small 6″ star that you can tuck anywhere, you’ll need 5 attached sections of a foldable ruler. You can cut a full ruler in half by cutting the wood or bend the metal brackets until they snap apart.
Here are the visual steps to making a small star:
You can use hot glue or a stronger adhesive and clamps (like E6000) to connect the ends. If you only have 4 sections of a ruler, make a partial star like I did, below. You can still add it to a wreath (or a jean pocket garland) and no one will know it’s missing a side. {Find the jean pocket garland how-to on my Instagram HERE, and follow me while you’re there}
I’ve also glued together a simple frame with leftover pieces.
How to Make a Medium Ruler Star
With a full length carpenter’s ruler, you can make a medium, 12″ sized star. You simply use 2 lengths per side. Here’s the visual how to:
The last side will be a double thickness. You can glue it if you want to always have it as a star, but I’m a fickle decorator and may want to use this ruler in a different way in the future. Plus, it can be stored much more compactly if I can fold it up again!
My solution is to tie the double side at either end with string or twine. Here I used red and white baker’s twine to give it a holiday flair. You can also tie twine in a loop at the top so you can hang it anywhere.
How to Make a Large Star
The last way to make a folding ruler star looks quite different because it’s open on the inside. I think it’s fun to have a variety of sizes and styles to decorate with for patriotic holidays or Christmas.
Here are the visual steps to make the large star:
Play with the shape until you’re happy with the design. It can take on different looks with how you angle the sides. Once again, with a full ruler, you’ll have an overlapping length. I used simple old fashioned string on this one because it matched the junky vibe of this silver ruler.
Decorating Ideas for Ruler Stars
These foldable ruler stars are fun to decorate with throughout the year. You can tuck them in your display shelves, hang them anywhere, or add something seasonal to them. Here are a few ways I used them in my patriotic decor.
See my full Summer home tour in “Vintage Summer Decor with Cabin Style”.
My friend Diana, of Adirondack Girl at Heart, sells a lot of the small yellow stars in her vintage booth. She dresses them up for Christmas with a cute wreath. You can see her version HERE.
Courtney from The Vettel Farm displayed a whole collection of the large version on a barnboard wall in her kitchen. Such a fun patriotic display. You can see it HERE.
I hope you’re inspired to head out to the garage or the basement to find that old ruler hiding in the workshop! Or to buy a couple from Etsy and make your own collection! You can decorate with them throughout the year and their graphic punch is so fun!
For more of my vintage repurposing projects, see HERE.
Enjoy the next stop of the Patriotic Celebrations blog hop at Thistle Key Lane! Michelle has the most delicious Mango Salsa recipe that’s sure to be a crowd pleaser!
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Sharing at these lovely parties:
You always have the BEST ideas, Lora! I’d love for you to join us over at the Creative Crafts Linky Party every Wednesday through Sunday
https://creativelybeth.com/team-creative-crafts-linky-party/
Followed and Pinned!
Creatively, Beth
I appreciate that, Beth! Thanks for inviting me to the party; will try to remember to pop over!
I’m still waiting to find a BARGAIN! In Maine, most of the ones I’ve seen in antique places are $12. Maybe a yard sale this summer! My retractable measure is neon green–and sometimes I set it down and still can’t find it! And you can NEVER go wrong with Scrabble letters!
Oh these are so cute and have me asking “:Why didn’t I think of that???” I have often seen these cool rulers at estate sales and flea markts, so I will be keeping my eye out for some on my future junkin adventures.
Love how you styled yours with your other amazing vintage finds. So cute!
Thanks so much for joining the hop. Happy Fourth of July!
Thanks, Amber! This anything-goes patriotic hop was so fun; great variety! Thanks for hosting:)
This is the cutest idea for the 4th Lora! I love the Scrabble letters too. This is so creative.
It was fun to be creative, Kim! Been outside working in the dirt so much, it was fun to actually make something again:)
Oh my word these are the cutest little stars ever. So clever and so well styled by you!!! Happy summer, pinning!
Thanks, Kelly! They’re perfectly junky and fun to add anywhere.
Aww, my dad was in construction and I remember one of these rulers being on his dashboard for years. Wish I had it now. Love the star and the adorable label! Super duper cute. pinned
Well, you are definitely going to have to find and make one of these, Cindy! Perfect sentimental farmhouse decor accent for you:)
such a cute vintage idea. Love the scrabble letters and ribbon added, too. I have one of these I need to find asap. Have a great weekend, Lora!
Thanks, Debra!
What a cute way to add vintage charm to you patriotic vignettes. If I ever come across one I’m going to snatch it up quick! Once again you have inspired me Lora! Pinning!
Hope you find one, Michelle! Thanks, friend:)
I have five old rulers and have tried but never looked right. Thank you for these examples of stars made with rulers. Love the way you use them.
Awesome, Marlene! You’ve got a whole grouping’s worth already! Have fun!
SO CUTE , Lora!! I LOVE this idea!! The different sizes make it so convenient to place in different vignettes throughout your home. Super creative and inexpensive idea…I always love adding more wood elements to displays!
Glad you liked them, Rachel! They are so fun to tuck in anywhere; they add that graphic, junky vibe that we love!
Oh I love this Lora! We have an old ruler that belonged to my husbands grandfather. It is getting a makeover ASAP. 🙂
One more Patriotic decor item for your cute kitchen shelf!
These are amazing, Lora! I’ve always seen them displayed in antique shops and have wondered how they made the star so I’m all kinds of excited for your helpful tips and tricks. I’m officially on the hunt for my own now. Big hugs and happy summer, CoCo
Glad you enjoyed them, CoCo! Always a treat to hop with you, friend:)
Such a great idea. I love the ribbon and scrabble tiles on the star. So clever.
I’m all about adding the extra details;) Thanks, Renae!
Lora,
Such a cute idea for the 4th. Pinned
Thank you!
What a cool craft Idea! Love the vintage ruler!!! Happy Summer!
Thanks, Stacy:)