Community Brag Posts

Students build an Outdoor Classroom

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sun, 11/27/2022 - 06:26

The high school environmental club built an outdoor learning space for classes. The plans were super easy to follow and the students were able to put them together with minimum direction. Imagine being able to take your lessons while out in a field beside the woods! Thank you Ana!

Dress Up Cart

We used the Dress Up cart plan, but altered it in a few ways. We added additional storage up top and used hooks instead of a bar with hangers. We also added a mirror on one end and wheels. Visit our blog for more photos!!

http://bearrabbitbear.blogspot.com/2011/09/sneak-peak-natalees-dress-up…

Estimated Cost
$30-40
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

juli Eckmeier Cosack (not verified)

Mon, 11/21/2011 - 06:29

What a great modification! i want to make this for my boys but even though they're ranging from 2 to 6 trusting them to hang things on hangars is a ridiculous request. maybe it's too time consuming for their busy little lives? who knows! but this is a great alternative! will definitely be using this plan!
thanks!

Coffee Table

This a coffee table I built that is based on Pottery Barn's Rhys Coffee table and features and open shelf and six drawers. I modified the plans to include a top and changes to the drawer fronts. The original plans can be found here at Ana White's website: http://ana-white.com/2012/02/plans/rhyan-coffee-table

Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
Minwax - Red Mahogany
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Faux fireplace mantel

I just wanted to say thank you, Anna White, for easy to follow instructions for this DIY. I've really enjoyed making this piece and it turned out oh so pretty! It's exactly what I wanted :) And to those who may be intimidated by this project, I'd say Go For It! You can do it!!! :)

                                             ~ Marina

Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Minwax Provincial 211
Annie Sloan Chalk Paint ( French Linen )
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Cooler Caddy

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sun, 01/27/2019 - 17:53

Hi, Made my 1st cooler caddy some 5 yrs ago. Bright blue with dark walnut stain on shelf & top trim. Made 2nd & 3rd coolers of the deep blue both w/bottle caps in the center. My forth cooler was gray paint w/an antique wax applied. The side shelf was made of pallet wood (white oak) with a wine rack under neath (was a wedding gift for my niece) All the coolers were made with 2x4’s, pine, exterior paint and marine grade spray poly on exposed wood. Had fun making them all. More to come.

Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Entry table

Thanks for the plans. Wife has enjoyed this and makes a great feature to our house.

Comments

workbench

Submitted by ddietz12 on Fri, 09/09/2011 - 10:33

Built two of these workbenches using 2x4's I found in the dumpsters around my neighborhood. Tested out rustoleum stain for the tops. Covered really well in just one coat.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$30
Estimated Time Investment
An Hour or Two (0-2 Hours)
Finish Used
Rustoleum stain in kona
Clear lacquer
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

dan-k

Fri, 09/09/2011 - 20:45

Looks great, I like the look of the dark top, but it might make it harder to see small objects.

kdearing (not verified)

Tue, 11/13/2012 - 18:14

Nicely done! I also like the look of the stained top!

ddietz12

Mon, 05/06/2013 - 06:49

Wow. Thank you for those unbelievably kind words. I am not an architect though. My main profession was a service manager and now I'm unemployed and partially disabled. I just love to be creative and use my hands. I also love photography. I did all my work on nights and weekends. Again, thank you for the kind words.

Family Work Table

Submitted by msw1978 on Fri, 09/27/2013 - 05:18

This was a project that I messed up and it actually turned out much better than the original idea. I wanted to to make a buffet/side-table for our dinning room but ended up measuring wrong and this turned into what it is now.
I am happy with the way it turned out. It was pretty simple to make as far as the design is concerned.
The woodwork involved was planing, cutting, sanding, etc and then there was bit of metal work like cutting and welding.
I love how the milk baskets tie things together.

Estimated Time Investment
Day Project (6-9 Hours)
Finish Used
Miniwax wipe on polyeurethene
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Comments

spiceylg

Fri, 09/27/2013 - 08:39

What a happy accident! I really like this and the milk crates finish it off fabulous!

Built with cedar

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sat, 02/02/2019 - 17:50

I made a few modifications because I built it all out of cedar. Mostly just adding additional bracing so that the shelves were sturdy. Just need some hooks for my tools.

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

Trestle Table

I was just about to sketchup this plan and Ana beat me to it! YEAH! I made two yesterday afternoon.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
I spent about $40 to build 2 and had a 1/2 sheet of plywood left over.
Estimated Time Investment
Day Project (6-9 Hours)
Finish Used
none YET.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

JenS (not verified)

Wed, 09/14/2011 - 11:51

So glad you built this. I totally have it on my to-do list. Looks great!

Corner Cupboard in Cottage White

Submitted by The Keys on Sun, 09/29/2013 - 18:20

We made this piece 7' tall rather than 6' tall so that it would go well in our dining room, leaving the cabinet doors the same height but adjusting the upper shelves to fit.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
White paint and primer that we also used on the trim throughout our house.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

Herringbone Table

Submitted by newtoit on Thu, 12/17/2015 - 11:58

This was a project I had been dying to try out as a way to challenge myself. I wanted to make a herringbone pattern on a table top. I built the legs around the Bois Rouge Saint Paul Table plans. The hardest part was milling on the wood and making it the same width and size but once I had all my pieces the process went pretty smoothly. The funy thing is I did not build this piece for anyone specific and now I have this beautiful table that is sitting unused in my garage. The next step is to sell it!! wink

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$300-$400
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
Waterlox Original Sealer/Finish
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Comments

Play Kitchen

Submitted by kld182 on Tue, 09/20/2011 - 12:31

I spent lots of time looking at all the photos posted on this site of people's amazing renditions of "Grace's Play Kitchen." I was so inspired by everyone's creativity! I found an old wooden play stove at a flea market and decided to make a matching sink. I took Ana's plans to the carpenter at the wood shop on the military base where I am stationed and asked if he could help me build a matching piece. We spent about 4 hours one Saturday building the sink. The carpenter had so much fun helping me, he suggested I build a matching refrigerator. So that was created in another couple hours the following Saturday. I did as much of the building as I could, but definitely had some help from the carpenter as I'm a novice. (Thanks, John!) I made the curtain and matching towels, but found the apron and chef's hat on Etsy. (Thanks, "SweetApronzNCupcakes"!). The play kitchen is in my kitchen, so my two year old daughter can pretend play while I'm working on meal preparation. Thanks again, Ana and all the creative folks who contributed ideas! I foresee many hours of play enjoyed by this play kitchen, and hope it can be passed on to future generations!

Estimated Cost
$150 (this is a rough estimate, everything purchased was in Euro and the exchange rate stinks!)
Estimated Time Investment
Day Project (6-9 Hours)
Finish Used
water based acrylic paint
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

Benchwright Console

Made this for my lovely friends Melissa and Lance and their adorable little boy Rylin.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
I think about $100 or less
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Oxidized the edges with vinegar & steel wool, 1 coat of Minwax Special Walnut, 1 coat Minwax weathered Oak, Random rub n buff spots of Minwax Dark Walnut, distressed with a dirtbike chain, hammer and a 1x2 with 6 nail tips poking through, hit the peice all over with those objects to create wormholes and random distressed markings
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Abstract geometric feature wall!

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Tue, 02/12/2019 - 20:34

Super easy weekend project! 

I Decided to paint a feature wall in my kitchen! I’m really into geometric shapes right now and the next few projects I have planned will reflect this. 

I used some skinny tape to mark my lines and then put yellow frog tape on each side of the skinny tape and then removed the thin tape in the middle that was marking my straight line, this way my lines were all the same thickness and it was a really easy way to make sure I liked my line placement. I tried to make sure i had no two lines parallel with each other so that my pattern looked random and abstract. To limit the gold paint from bleeding and make certain my lines would be as crisp as possible I did a first coat with navy (same as wall color) over the taped lines- this kinda seals up the edges of the tape with the wall. Taping my lines was the most tedious part of this project but once they were on, it was as easy as waiting for coats of paint to dry. And I love the finished product! Really adds a POP to our kitchen! 

Check out the project on my Instagram, I will be posting some process photos and videos soon. @halfwayhandy

 

 

 

Estimated Cost
$40 ( depends on wall size, my wall was very small)
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Gold- metallic tones/ guilded gold

Navy - blue-grey slate

From Home Depot
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Photo Ledge from $10 ledges, slightly modified

Submitted by sshelby on Tue, 09/27/2011 - 06:47

8 foot long photo ledge inspired by $10 ledges project plan, http://ana-white.com/2010/10/ten-dollar-ledges.html

I used a 1x4, 1x3, and a 1x2 and added some crown molding to the bottom for a little something extra.

Estimated Cost
$15 in lumber
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

Reclaimed Pine and Poplar

Submitted by Richard714 on Thu, 10/03/2013 - 07:43

My friend saw the Gaby Kitchen Island that I posted on FB and asked me to make a wine display for him. I immediately went to Anna's site to look for a design. Added LED lights from IKEA.

Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
Water based Poly
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Cabinet

Submitted by AndyH on Wed, 12/23/2015 - 16:33

Cabinet with adjustable shelf. Finished in an antique white effect. Gave it a coat of Grey stain first then painted with two coats of white sanding back after each coat. Top was stained Walnut and then painted grey and sanded back to show some of the walnut stain and the grain through. I left the inside natural color for contrast rather than having it all white .

Estimated Cost
$170
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
Gave it a coat of Rustoleum Weathered Grey and painted with two coats of white sanding back after each coat.

Top was stained Minwax Walnut and then painted grey and sanded back to show some of the walnut stain and the grain through.

I left the inside natural color for contrast rather than having it all white
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Caged Golf Ball Puzzle

Submitted by mtairymd on Mon, 02/18/2019 - 14:17

This was a fun little project to make. The golf ball is trapped inside the 12 piece burr puzzle. As with all burr puzzles, there is a trick to solving it.

Build Instructions/Dimensions: https://www.instructables.com/id/Caged-Golf-Ball-Puzzle/

Video of Build: https://youtu.be/gcdd7ZAYNTo

Solution: https://youtu.be/IjHByz2_xMk

Estimated Cost
$5
Estimated Time Investment
An Hour or Two (0-2 Hours)
Finish Used
Danish Oil
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner