Community Brag Posts

Bar Height Outdoor Table

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sun, 08/27/2023 - 12:42

We had this unused lower deck and this bar height table was the perfect addition. We have place now to hang when too hot or it’s raining. My husband and I built it in one weekend and your plans where great.

Julie Moran

Built from Plan(s)

Comments

Seasonal And Holiday

Super Cheap and Simple Cedar Raised Garden

Submitted by cdswhite on Tue, 04/17/2012 - 18:21

We made a very simple raised cedar bed for fairly cheap considering the size and inspired by Ana's plans although it's a much larger and simpler design. The box is 8x4 feet, made of cedar kregged together and the wood only cost $12. My simple tip to save money on wood, specifically for a project where the wood quality is not super important, is to ask the store to mark down the "meh" pieces. Lots more pictures and info on my blog.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$12
Estimated Time Investment
An Hour or Two (0-2 Hours)
Finish Used
None
Recommended Skill Level
Starter Project

Perfect playhouse

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Mon, 05/02/2016 - 06:37

Perfect little playhouse my husband built for our girls.   It took about a week to build by himself, but worth every minute.   He did a wonderful job.   Such a good daddy!

Estimated Cost
1400
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Outdoor Sectional

Submitted by rachelmlee on Sun, 01/26/2020 - 20:23

This was my first real woodworking project and was so much fun! I use my deck much more now and am excited to build more!

Estimated Cost
$500 (with cushions)
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
Varathane Jacobean stain
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Medicine cabinet

Submitted by Krisanna79 on Wed, 02/05/2014 - 23:58

3'x3'x6".
Used to store all of those meds and vitamins and bandages for kids, adults, pets, etc.
Pine wood, painted stripe backer board, rubbed bronze hardware, dark stain and distressed white finish, seeded glass, adjustable shelves.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$40
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Outside:
Minwax English chestnut: one coat.
White porch and trim paint: four coats.
Sand to distress.
Polycrylic spray: two coats.

Inside:
White porch and trim paint: two coats.
Minwax Helmsman urethane (yellowed slightly): one coat.

Backer board:
Taped off lines with painters tape.
Turquoise, white, tan, green acrylic craft paint watered down: two coats each stripe.
Remove tape and sand to distress as desired.
Minwax helmsman urethane: two coats.
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

A swing for bebe

This is basically just a scaled down version of our porch swing, with a few adjustments for safety. The best part? Its baby approved! She swings away happily watching her sibs playing in the yard, She likes it so well, in fact, that I frequently find myself carrying a sleeping baby from swing to bed. :)

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Time Investment
Day Project (6-9 Hours)
Finish Used
American Accents Colonial Red
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

Robinwood

Mon, 05/14/2012 - 16:48

This is wonderful, and it looks very safe. I don't have any little babies around, but it would be a nice gift for someone.

Outdoor Sectional

Submitted by nikkiice on Sat, 05/28/2016 - 17:40

I had so much fun building this! I got a little creative with the corner section and decided to make it a table. I built a small hatch so that I could put in a container for ice and cold beer. When the hatch is not in use, the container can be removed and the hatch can be closed to provide more table space. I also added drink holders! 

Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
none yet
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Rolling saw horses

Submitted by Craig P on Mon, 07/04/2016 - 07:26

Your saw horse plan worked great for a wooden boat project I'm doing -- the 3" wheels (with one locking) enable me to move the boat around the workshop or even outdoors for heavy duty sanding. 

I added blocks of 2x4 to the legs for more surface for the wheels and I extended the cross pieces to 4-feet long as the old AuSable River (MI) guide boat is about 40" wide.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$60.00 (a lot of the cost is in the 3" wheels..)
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
None, though thinking about putting some finish on them as they'll be getting wet when I wash down the boat...
Recommended Skill Level
Starter Project

Comments

Modern Adirondack Chair Set

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Wed, 06/10/2020 - 17:25

I used 5 5/8 fence pickets I had in the scrap box to give the chairs a wider arm rest. I wanted something wide enough to safely hold a paper plate and drinks.
I planned them, routered the edges and put a coat of oil based polyurethane on them.
The table is just something I put together and the top is a 1.5 inch thick 16x16 concrete paver.
If you like the wide arms, use wood glue and clamps, not nails or screws. Saves you from having to fill them and it looks better too.
Enjoy
And thank you Anna for a great build!

Estimated Cost
$60
Estimated Time Investment
Day Project (6-9 Hours)
Finish Used
Exterior paint and oil based polyurethane
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate
Seasonal And Holiday

Modified Firepit Bench

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sun, 06/14/2020 - 09:12

I built the one bench using the original plan with the storage and table top unit but needed two additional seating benches to go around the firepit without the bulk of the backside of the bench.

I modified the original plan as follows:

Shopping List:
(2) 2X6X8
(3) 2X4X8
(2) 1X6X8

Cutting List:
(2) 2X4X17" front legs, 15 degree cuts, parallel long to short
(2) 2X4X23" back support, 15 degree cuts, parallel long to short
(2) 2X4X20.75" back legs, 15 and 60 degree cuts, not parallel long to long
(2) 2X4X23" Back support, 15 degree cuts, parallel long to short
(2) 2X4X24.75" under seat, 15 degree cuts, not parallel long to long
(2) 2X4X30" bottom support, 15 degree cuts, not parallel long to long
(1) 2X4X42" bottom cross brace between leg sets, 90 degree cuts
(2) 2X6 cut equally in half, 3 for the seat and 1 for the top plate
(2) 1X6 cut equally in half, 3 for the back rest and 1 to be tucked under the seat overhang

Estimated Cost
$40.00
Estimated Time Investment
An Hour or Two (0-2 Hours)
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

kkushner

Sat, 08/15/2020 - 22:52

I am the individual who submitted this modification on June 14, 2020. I was making a change to the submission but somehow sent it before correcting the cut list. The "(2) 2X4X23" back support, 15 degree cuts, parallel long to short" is repeated twice and should be only once.

Family Made Sectional

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Mon, 09/05/2016 - 20:53

My wife sent me your YouTube video of making the sectional.  She asked me if I would make her one.  It was perfect timing because our 9 year anniversary was just around the corner.  So my 5 yr old daughter and I went to Lowes and purchased the supplies on a Friday night.  Her 8 year old brother and her helped me measure, and assemble (I did all the cutting;).  We enjoyed the project as a family and were very proud to present to mommy for a gift...

 

thank you!

Jack Christensen

Estimated Cost
$600
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Semi transparent stain
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Cedar planter boxes

Submitted by JavaJoe on Fri, 06/06/2014 - 20:00

I used the main plan for ideas, but opted to use 3.5 inch pickets instead, which allowed for a smaller planter that wasn't as big. Also chose to miter 1x3s for the top which I think really finishes it off. Sanded everything with a belt sander to 220 grit. Used min wax golden pecan plus three coats of poly inside and out. Finished size was about 17x17. Tile spacers work great to keep the gaps even!

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
Min wax golden pecan
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Comments

Mud Kitchen for 2

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sun, 04/07/2024 - 18:25

Mud kitchen made from scraps for my coworker’s kids. (Mud kitchen is a little kitchen to make mud pies and let the little imagination play.) They love it!

Aminnie Laws

Built from Plan(s)

DIY Craft Table with Storage

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sat, 04/13/2024 - 12:39

Your plans were easy to follow. Made our DIY so much easier. Material sheet was perfect. Made a few small modifications and used a butcher block for the table. Finished product turned out great. Thank you again.

Lisa A.

Built from Plan(s)

Comments

New Table for the Screen Porch

Submitted by margjack on Sun, 08/26/2012 - 14:03

I'm so excited about my farmhouse table! I used mostly scrap wood that I had lying around, and I adjusted the length of the table to fit my space (it is 62" long). I cut the table ends in a curve pattern just for a little more interest. I used the steel wool/vinegar solution to darken and age the top, with a paste wax finish on top to give it a more aged patina. I painted the base with the paint leftover from my outdoor sectional that I built from Ana's plans. The actual table didn't take long to put together, but it took me a month to get around to the finish.

Sorry for the photos - I used my cell phone camera and the light was bad!

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$50 (Used mostly scrap wood - probably about $150 if I bought all the wood/supplies)
Estimated Time Investment
Day Project (6-9 Hours)
Finish Used
Top: vinegar/steel wool solution with paste wax finish
Base: Custom color exterior paint
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Comments

spiceylg

Mon, 08/27/2012 - 13:45

I loved this style table before and now the mods to the end put it over the top! Love!

Farmhouse Bench in 1 day

Submitted by vickitee on Wed, 06/25/2014 - 08:27

This was my first build from your site! Farmhouse bench.
I was a little confused with the miter saw instructions "bevel cut at a 10 degree angle off center". I had to google to figure out what you meant. In the end the bench looks awsome and I feel very empowered with my tools.
(still need to stain the finished project, bought all the wood and built in 1 day)
Thank you Ana for sharing your plans!! I love your site and I love my Kreg Jig!
Vicki
(Canada)

Estimated Time Investment
Day Project (6-9 Hours)
Finish Used
going to use walnut stain.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

Cedar Spa Bathroom Step Stool

Submitted by Tea Granny on Mon, 06/30/2014 - 20:44

After searching the town high and low for a 10" high wooden stool, I decided to make one. Ana had the perfect stool pattern to modify for our needs - A little shorter, a little wider.....et Voila!

It's the perfect height for little ones to reach the taps in the bathroom, as well as helping out in the kitchen from time to time. And, the cedar smells wonderful.

Finished height: 10"
Top measures: 11.25" x 16.5" (2 boards, cut 16.5" long + a space in the middle)
Footprint: 12.375" x 17.375"

I also lined up the rails (instead of staggering them), similar to the Harriet Higher Chair plans. The joint will be weaker, but I prefer the cleaner lines on such a short step stool.

Thanks Ana for the great plans!

Estimated Cost
less than $15 (cedar)
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
No finish added, exposed screws.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner
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