Community Brag Posts

This was my first project. It took me a weekend to build and prime. Since I chose to use a crackle finish, waiting time between coats extended the total time to one full week. My husband and I were supposed to make this hutch together, but I became obsessed and did most of it alone! I adjusted the size a bit to make it larger, so I could fit big pieces on shelves and in cabinets. Thanks for the plan Ana!!

I am not a carpenter by any means, but my husband is. And I wanted to make something very special for my 2 year old granddaughter, and found your plans for this doll cradle. I took a piece of foam and covered it and then sewed a fitted sheet and made a little blanket from material I got after my mother passed away. She did the embroidery work, so I made the pillow.

Carol

I used the basic Raised cedar garden bed plans with a few alterations. I made them different sizes, stacked one on top of the other for some dimension in my garden and secured them together from in inside.

I had been looking for a small table for our small entry space. When I was searching, I was hoping to buy a table but couldn't find something I liked. I found this plan but it scared me because I had NEVER built anything. After researching on this site, I decided to jump in and try it. I made it much smaller to match our space. I added the shelf higher than recommended because I wanted to be able to use it as a homework spot when the kitchen table is covered by a project. I don't like the finish, but it will stay for a while because others like it.

I made this chair for my mom on mothers day. She loves it and I was able to use some lumber from my dad's garage stash, who passed over Thanksgiving. So there was a special link for her to this chair. Loved the easy to follow plans, thank you.

cgauley.cg

I shrunk the size and dumbed down the plans to fit my skill level.

Made from 2 pallets, 2 x 6 x 8, leftover trim from my house, wood branch from my backyard. Attached shelf with pocket holes.

Accents:
-Handpainted lettering; painted prior to glazing entire piece
-Finials made from 4.25 inch spray painted and glazed clay pots and saucers coated with Valspar clear finish and attached together with epoxy; buttons attached to pots with E6000 adhesive
-Buttons attached mostly with small screws; a few with holes too small for screws were attached with epoxy
-Plastic flowers made from mayo and water bottles and lids; sanded, primed, spray painted, coated with Valspar clear coating; attached with screws
-Faucet knobs sanded, spray painted, glazed and attached with screws
-Plumbing pipe filled with plumber epoxy puttty; insert screw into putty before it hardened, then screwed into wood
-Gardening tool hooks made from pant wire hangers with a few beads attached; wire simply wrapped around tree branch

Not sure that I will use pallet wood again since difficult to pull apart pallets, uneven and some split boards could not be used, and required tons of sanding for those boards that could be used. I think I paid more for orbital sanding pads than the cost of buying new wood. Will use pallet wood for other non-furniture projects not requiring a perfect finish.

I used Ana's Gaby Kitchen Island plans and shortened the island to fit our small kitchen. I did not have reclaimed wood, so I used a vinegar and steel wool solution to transform the fir and pine into a completely unexpected look. For the top, I trimmed the edges of the 2 x 6s with my table saw to get a smoother top surface, then routered the edges with a 1/2 inch round over bit (thanks Steve Ramsey). I used white pine down the middle to make up for the edges I removed which looks like a cool custom stripe. (I also used the white pine for the side supports so hopefully there's some cohesion.)

Thank you Ana for the inspiration and great project! Can't wait for the next one :)

For this project, I used 6 foot cedar fence posts and 8 foot cedar 2x4s. I used a pencil to space the boards and allow extra air flow. More space between boards is acceptable - even to the extent of dropping off one full board and putting an inch between each side rail.

Another option is to make your sides interlocking layers, one or two boards high - http://cedarstackingcompostbin.blogspot.com/

Since I am composting large amounts of leaves and grass clippings, mine is made in one piece. I don't turn my pile often - when I do, I can either lift the whole thing up or move the pile from side to side. I cut the 2x8x8 posts - cut a 3 foot length off of each end. Save the 2 foot center piece to brace the long sides. Affix your 1/2 (3 foot side) and full fence (6 foot side) boards to the 2x4, leaving the desired gap between each board. Affix each board with 2 weather proof screws - I used coated deck screws.

Attach the vertical posts to the inside of the cedar fence boards, including the short 2 foot boards that are just long enough to brace the long sides. I alternated the dog eared sides, so that each corner had one flat and one notched board.

I used 24 cedar fence posts and 16 feet of cedar 2x4. Note, I was able to do this all along. The trash cans acted as supports - no clamps or saw horses needed.

I used the Ana White "Country Kitchen Island" plans to build.  The only changes I made was the table top, bead board instead of pine planks, three drawers, and mostly 3/4" plywood.  For the island top, i used the top of a maple desk and applied butcher block oil.  To make things easier I used plywood to keep everything square and used bead board (very easy to install) instead of having to join boards together.  After putting the shelves together I just used pine boards to cover the edges of the plywood.  I also installed three drawers for convenient storage.  

Calling myself an amateur builder is a colossal overstatement. I’ve never actually built anything, by hand, using wood. I’m quite crafty and very good at hacking things inspired by others {thank you all other bloggers and Pinterest for your continued inspiration}, but to actually build something from the ground up just hasn’t been added to the curriculum vitae…until now.

I actually hail from a family of handy builders. My grandpa used to build everything, from decorative shelves and stools to more utilitarian items, like bookcases and kitchen cabinets. My father, too, is quite handy; he’s the build-a-back-deck weekend warrior type.

This was my first Weekend Warrior project. My deadline: Thanksgiving dinner! I had no other table option. I either built this table or my friends and family were eating on the floor.

Olivia's Playhouse, built by mommy and daddy, though she did "help." Super-thankful to Ana for her awesome plans and making all this possible for our Little One. Modified the door to make it "barn style" which opens top/bottom. In the spring, plan on adding a small front porch/deck and railing.

Your plans made this project so much easier. We love it and have gotten a lot of compliments for it.