7 Creative Uses for Rulers

It seems as though every household has a handful of rulers resting in a drawer somewhere. Rulers are often given out as promotional tools, or purchased year after year for school, so you might find yourself wondering what to do with all of them. Take a look below at 7 creative uses for rulers, perfect for giving those old rulers new life. Believe it or not, an old ruler can be turned into all sorts of things. Take a look!

7 Creative Uses for Rulers

1. Make garden markers.

Take markers or paint and write the name of your plantings on the ruler. Kids will even have fun painting the rulers and making them colorful and fun. Then, poke the ruler into the ground securely. The ruler will serve as a garden marker, making sure you don’t forget which planting is which.

2. Use them for paint stir sticks.

Keep a few old rulers next to your paint cans. This way when you pop one open, you have the perfect stir stick on hand to mix it up. You can rinse and reuse the ruler when done, or toss it. If you want to remember which paint color you use for a room, paint the ruler with the color and write the brand and name on it as well. It is a great way to reference the color later without having to save clunky cans.

3. Make book marks.

Rulers make wonderful book marks. Just slip them into your books to hold your page for you. If you want, you can decorate the ruler with washi tape first to make it colorful and more unique. Again, this is a craft that kids will love, plus it may encourage them to read.

4. Craft plant stakes.

Decorate the rulers with paint, stickers, markers, or washi tape. Leave the measurement side blank. Then, decorate houseplants or garden plants with the colorful plant stakes. They will add a pop of charm to your plants for sure, plus you can use the measurement side to watch your plants grow.

5. Make a custom wall hook.

Screw small hooks into the ruler and then secure the ruler to the wall. It acts as the perfect storage system for small hand bags, kid’s jackets, or even keys and jewelry.

6. Make DIY puppets.

Cut out various shapes from construction paper and create faces on them. Attach the faces to the rulers with craft glue or tape. You now have the perfect puppets! Hide behind a couch and put on a puppet show. This is a craft that kids are sure to love.

7. Create a ruler vase.

Apply a generous amount of hot glue to the backs of your rulers and press them to the front of an old can or jar. Apply the rulers all of the way around, covering the surface. The end result is a kitschy vase that would make a great gift for a teacher or person in construction.

Bonus Yard Stick Idea: Use a Yard Stick and Clothes Pins to Make a Mitten Holder

Who knew that old rulers could be so useful? Gather your old rulers and give these creative ideas a try.