Community Brag Posts

Farmhouse L Desk

Submitted by kellyd77 on Mon, 08/17/2020 - 09:02

Put a twist on the farmhouse desk plans

Built from Plan(s)

Comments

Daybed with Storage Trundle Drawer (Modified)

Submitted by Honeyb65 on Sat, 09/26/2020 - 10:05

Great plans for a really useful storage daybed! I modified the plans to include a slat back and rustic x sides, as well as changing the Trundle drawers to a single drawer to fit my exercise equipment. I finished the daybed with stain and chalk paint in old white and Paris Grey distressed for the perfect shabby chic look!

Estimated Cost
$200
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Varathane stain in Dark Walnut, Annie Sloan Chalk Paint in Old White, color wash over the white with Paris Grey and then sanded for the white and some of the stain to show through.
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Comments

Christmas 3-tier cookie stand

Submitted by calcowoods on Thu, 12/31/2020 - 12:51

Inspired by Shara of Woodshop Diaries, created this 3 tier tray for displaying cookies for Santa. Added a 3 dimensional star as the topper and simply followed the excellent photos and schematics on Shara's website.

Estimated Cost
$5
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
Minwax paste wax
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

Necktie folding stool

I zigzag stitched vintage neckties to plain canvas and used these directions to construct the stool frame. I used 1 5/8" screws.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$15
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
none
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Comments

Lovin the Drawer dividers

Finished this in no time and wow did it create a lot of space. I was able to get rid of my knife block because there’s now room for my knives in my drawer. Thank you Ana for sharing your wood work with us! This was well worth the $25 I spent!

Estimated Cost
$25
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

Ana's Loft bed w/o the stairs

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Tue, 04/18/2017 - 12:38

I fell in love with the loft bed but thought the stairs stuck out too far for my daughter's room so I revampd the plan just a bit to add three 'stairs' in the platform rather than the standard stairs in the plan.

I got started on the project on a Friday night, got my cuts made, my pocket holes drilled and pieces sanded for an early start Saturday morning, everything went together like a dream - though it would have gone MUCH faster if I had had a second set of hands; I had to balance all of the long peices on other peices to try and get them attached and it took much longer than it had too! 

It was all together, the holes filled and first coat of primer on by Saturday afternoon - I used Zinsser primer so the knot's did not bleed through. Sunday morning I was painting and it was in place and decorated by Sunday night!

Great, easy to follow plans (as always) Ana - thank you, I have one VERY happy daughter!

Estimated Cost
Approx $150
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
paint
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Window Shutters

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Fri, 05/05/2017 - 09:33

I really wanted to add a layer of depth to the front of our house, and my favorite option was adding new shutters! I used fence boards to keep cost low and to be sure that the wood would stand up to all weather conditions. I protected the wood with an oil-based sealant made for exterior use. I attached the cross braces with chunky screws and painted those black. I love how they turned out!

Estimated Cost
About $45 for the wood (my shutters were just tall enough to need a full fence board each - you may be able to double up) and about $36 for the chunky screws.
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
I used the oil-based Varathane Satin sealant - not stain color required.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Custom Dog Bath

Submitted by dananicb on Thu, 07/22/2021 - 07:21

Tego needed a raised dog bath. No, I needed a raised dog bath. Specifically, my knees needed a raised dog bath for Tego. So, after looking at Pinterest and Ana's plans, I decided what I really wanted to do was customize something to fit my needs (and knees) and build it myself. Overly ambitious for a first-time woodworking project, but hey, raise the bar.

I started by reading and rereading Ana's beginner's woodworking guide (very informative). I also learned so many other things along the way. There's a reason, besides looks, you need flat boards (they need to screw together tightly). Unfinished basement floors are so not level (especially near the walls). Screw lengths matter (need shorter ones for thinner boards). The big-box store doesn't make precise cuts (but they can make a lot). Planning for the finishes will save you time (know your basket sizes). Just to name a few.

It's going in an unfinished basement, so I wasn't going to tile and add glass doors. I wanted to keep it relatively simple, basic.

The stairs were the hardest to measure and build (math matters) - and I might re-do. I made the steps smaller, dog-sized, but she finds them awkward. I'd stick with typical riser heights, but it depends on the size of your dog.

Plumbing to link the tub drain to the utility sink drain was the most expensive. Probably I could have done it myself, but I decided not to learn both plumbing and woodworking for one project.

Overall, I'm pleased with the result - and Tego is learning to love it.

Estimated Cost
$250 in supplies (plus plumbing)
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
Exterior paint in semi gloss
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

Counter height planter

Submitted by h.abbott on Sat, 05/11/2013 - 18:40

We needed extra garden space this year and I thought adding one of these planters would be a great addition. So far it has. It allows me to easily weed, which is my most despised gardening job. Added bonus that the dog can't dig it up, and bunnies can't nibble on my plants. It also makes a great art canvas for my son's chalk drawings.

Estimated Time Investment
An Hour or Two (0-2 Hours)
Recommended Skill Level
Starter Project

Comments

Janettx

Fri, 05/31/2013 - 04:25

Great job, glad you were able to follow my lame attempt at giving instruction! beautiful job!

pattyf50

Wed, 04/20/2016 - 12:55

Hi I live in north Dakota we get about 10 ft of snow every January, I am planning on making the counter height garden boxes, but how do I keep the snow in winter from crushing them. Patty

pattyf50

Wed, 04/20/2016 - 12:55

Hi I live in north Dakota we get about 10 ft of snow every January, I am planning on making the counter height garden boxes, but how do I keep the snow in winter from crushing them. Patty

First time project

Submitted by keahunter on Sat, 07/04/2015 - 03:17

This was my first attempt at making anything. Thank you to Ana for providing such easy plans and the encouragement to try something. I think I'm hooked!

Estimated Time Investment
Day Project (6-9 Hours)
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

Seasonal And Holiday

Murphy Bed

Submitted by Newfey on Fri, 07/19/2013 - 14:59

This is a Murphy Bed that I made for my daughter Alicia for their getaway home at Canadian Lakes, MI. Due to limited space i had to make it horizontal instead of the normal way of being vertical. It really comes in handy and takes up very little space.

Finish Used
Red paint mixed with Baking Soda
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Comments

JoanneS

Fri, 07/19/2013 - 15:17

Looks great! Love the color and the trims you used. Where did you find your hinge hardware? PS- How did you like the baking soda paint? I've tried ASCP which was good but very pricey, and last time made my own with some plaster of paris. Your finish is lovely.

Newfey

Sat, 07/20/2013 - 18:47

I bought the spring hardware on line. I can't take the credit for the paint as my daughter did that part. She loves the way that the baking soda and paint covers everything and it is a whole lot less expensive than buying the commercial stuff.

My $30 Closet Makeover!

Submitted by scokenour on Mon, 07/11/2011 - 12:57

This project is closest to the Simple Closet Organizer, but I wanted to be able to re-use the existing components of the closet. The only purchased materials were one sheet of cabinet grade plywood and dowel rod holders (since I already had paint and screws).

Estimated Cost
$30
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
sand, prime, sand, paint
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

First Build - Redwood Adirondack Chairs

Love the results of my first building project.....a pair of redwood adirondack chairs. Angled cuts were a great way for a beginner to learn to use the miter saw.

Estimated Cost
$75 for redwood per chair
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Discovered a non-toxic, non-flammable, water-based, environmentally friendly product called Seal-Once. Quick and easy two coat application in natural clear to protect wood outdoors for up to 10 years. Soaked right into redwood without leaving a shiny finish or residue.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

JoanneS

Sat, 09/07/2013 - 19:59

Love these gorgeous redwood chairs! The color and grain on that wood is awesome, and the clear coat is perfect for it. You did a great job on this build! I popped over to your blog and I enjoyed your post on this build very much. Well done!

Seasonal And Holiday

Now Germany has the Ana White Playhouse too

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Tue, 01/01/2019 - 02:00

Thanks for the Plans Ana. Though we had to convert every number the plans helped us a lot. Our playhouse turned out really big: 8x8 foot. We had to include our heater under the window, so our tunnel is much bigger. It took us (three people) a half day shopping and two days and one night building and cost 600-700€. The kids where amazed when they opened the door a few days after Christmas.  We still think about adding some features like a slight or a bed...

Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Smart Simple Workbench

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Thu, 12/29/2022 - 04:31

Built this workbench and added some casters from Rockler Woodworking. Also added a power strip for convenience and a handle made from black pipe parts that I had in the garage. I also added a sheet of masonite to the top that I can replace if needed.

Comments

Dog Houses

Our local Habitat for Humanity puts on an annual event where they get folks to restore discarded or worn down furniture and sell them at auction. My wife and I participated last year and this year I was asked to build 4 dog houses and then they were going to let local designers/decorators finish them out.

I figured it would be easy to find a good dog house plan, but I was wrong so I had to come up with my own designs. I did not want to use plywood becauase I wanted them to look good. So I used 1x4's and 1x6's. I built them all just a little bit different, but the same basic design on all 3. Since I am not very good with circular cuts, did not do any fancy 1/2 circle doorways!

There are "after" pictures on the Blog. Thanks for looking!

Estimated Cost
$100 each
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
I didn't finish them out, but did use screws to attach everything, so filled those in with wood putty and sanded down of course.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

Cindy from Indiana (not verified)

Sun, 11/06/2011 - 16:10

Great job for a great cause!

chicken boxes that work!

I have tried all sorts of nest boxes. No one ever used them. I decided to make the one from Anna White's site. I used joinery to attach the various pieces. The best thing of all: I find girls sitting in the boxes and take eggs from them. It really is awesome. I got a photo with real eggs and you can also see the wooden eggs to entice them to try it out. Thank you so much! I will build another one for the other side of the the wall.

Built from Plan(s)

Comments