Community Brag Posts

Christmas Tree Shelf with Lights

I made this Christmas tree shelf using the plans here.

 

I modified it by adding on two shelves so that it could accommodate the 6 hooks I needed for my family's stockings.  I also hot glued a string of lights to the perimeter.  This is serving as our Christmas tree due to space constraints, so I wanted it to be "fancier" and more like an actual tree.

I think I did ok for my first real build and my family seems to really like it.

Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Rustoleum Sage Green spray paint in Satin
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

Channing Bookcase

Submitted by plumbguy on Mon, 12/07/2015 - 14:40

I'm a better plumber than a carpenter.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Paint & Poly
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Charcuterie Board

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Wed, 12/28/2022 - 15:27

Made a this for my step-daughter and her husband for Christmas. Love your projects, and am learning to do everything on my own which is so empowering thank you for sharing and encouraging all us girls we can do it!

Comments

Farmhouse Storage bed

Submitted by 1bwalls on Sun, 12/27/2015 - 12:37

I built this in a full size.  Took some time to adjust all the measurements.  I used cheap lumber since I was painting it and it cost a little over $350.  Then I spent another $75 because I screwed up measurements.  :). This was only the 3rd thing I ever built, so I think I did alright.  The plans were great!  Watched several videos on YouTube about squaring drawers and that helped.

Estimated Cost
$425
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Modern Farmhouse Bed

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Tue, 02/26/2019 - 08:33

I made this as part of a room makeover for my teenager. It was my second furniture project, the first being Ana’s original farmhouse bed. This was my first project with the Kreg jig and I watched a great YouTube video by shanty2chic to learn the basics of pocket holes. This was also my first staining project and I love the results. My daughter loved it so much she had me stain her closet doors to match! The lumber for the bed was only $120, I spent an additional $80 on wood and screws for the slats to support the mattress, my new kreg jig came with enough screws to make the bed frame. I spent another $80 on wood conditioner, stain and poly since she didn’t like the first stain (Briarsmoke, which I will definitely use on another project).

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$200
Estimated Time Investment
Day Project (6-9 Hours)
Finish Used
I started with a wood conditioner and then used Varathane Early American stain applied with a rag and dry brushed on top of that with varathane Kona, again watching a shanty2chic video for technique. Poly is water based satin finish. I used the triple thick but still had to do 2 coats, partly for coverage but also because the water based poly raised the grain so I needed to do a light sand and a second coat of poly for a smooth finish.
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Comments

okstout4

Mon, 10/19/2020 - 19:49

This is very nice. Love the color too. I used Special Walnut in Behr brand and it came out too dark. Wished I had looked at some of these builds before I did the Behr brand stain.

Pretty AND Functional Wall Shelf

To finish off my bathroom remodel I built the Martina wall shelf. I reused the metal hook that was previously on my wall before the board and batten treatment. It fit perfectly in the space under the shelf meant for hooks. I wish I had measured out my towels and storage needs. I could have actually stored more if I had adjusted the plans to make the shelf a little deeper and a couple inches wider. Overall, I'm very pleased! The Kreg Jig is a fun little tool, too!

Estimated Time Investment
Day Project (6-9 Hours)
Finish Used
primer/sealer (1 coat)
Valspar High Noon in Flat Enamel finish (2 coats)
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

Modern Craft Table *tweaked*

Completed Modern Craft Table! We tweaked the plans a bit because I was looking for a larger table top. The top now measures 48" x 76". We simply did this by adding an extra set of cubbies to the other side of the shelves. Absolutely LOVE how this turned out! All I need now is 4 counter height stools built and lots of shelves to complete my craft room! Will be sure to post those once they are completed!

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Ultra White Latex Paint
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

Ana White

Thu, 11/17/2011 - 01:10

Darn I was so excited to see you craft table! I apologize that your brag post did not show images. If you can send me images at knockoffwood(at)gmail.com I'd be happy to post. Thanks so much for submitting a brag post. Ana

Guest (not verified)

Sun, 03/04/2012 - 07:31

I LOVE LOVE LOVE your craft table. I want one! Looks like my husband wil have to get busy! Thanks for sharing!
Kristina
Houston, TX

Kimmy (not verified)

Tue, 03/20/2012 - 17:51

Is this the pic of the one you did ?? I am wanting a bigger table top too. I have waited years for just the right table and this is it.

Kimmy (not verified)

Tue, 03/20/2012 - 17:51

Is this the pic of the one you did ?? I am wanting a bigger table top too. I have waited years for just the right table and this is it.

Kimmy (not verified)

Tue, 03/20/2012 - 17:54

Is this the one you made ? I want a bigger table top as well. But I don't see the extra cubbies.

Kimmy (not verified)

Tue, 03/20/2012 - 17:54

Is this the one you made ? I want a bigger table top as well. But I don't see the extra cubbies.

naildoctors

Tue, 05/29/2012 - 00:05

This is great!! I am planning something similar, but what is your idea or the plan you used for the middle support to keep it from sagging over time? My idea is to run another cubby in the middle from side to side. What do you think?

Laura Mulholland (not verified)

Mon, 01/21/2013 - 09:54

I love the modern craft table, just what I have been looking for, do you share instructions, dimensions, etc.? thanks, Laura

HapETexanGal

Thu, 05/12/2016 - 15:14

I'm loving this and would love to have FIL build it for me but the plans look like its for the regular modern craft table but not the tweaked?  Also is there support for the middle?  Can you send me a link for the tweaked supply list please, can't seem to find it.  Love what you do!

King Farmhouse Storage Bed

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sun, 08/18/2019 - 15:41

After a successful attempt at Ana’s farmhouse desk I decided to make a bed for my wife... needless to say I think she likes it! Thanks to Ana and Pretty Handy Girl’s plans! (This is my 3rd woodworking project)

Estimated Cost
700
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
Valspar Cabinet Enamel
Minwax Dark Walnut stain
minwax Polycrylic satin polyurethane

I used acetone to transfer the graphic I designed for my inlay. I carved out the inlay with a router. I stained the wood and then painted the surface black.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

Rustic X Tall Bookshelves

Submitted by frmoody on Wed, 10/02/2019 - 09:23

A friend wanted these bookshelves to match the Farmhouse X Desk but she wanted them narrow so they would fit in a small office. This was a very challenging and at times frustrating build getting everything to fit and getting the X's correct but in the end they turned out very well.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$75
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
The wood was painted with a white cabinet paint and the shelves were stained with Varathane Kona.
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Comments

DIY Brew Station

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sun, 07/30/2023 - 14:38

I used your workbench plan to build my Brew Bench. I changed the measurements to fit my space and used a butcher block for the countertop. Very sturdy and pretty easy project. Took one day to build.

Scott R

Comments

Tall Rustic X Bookshelves

I followed the Rustic X Tall Bookshelf plan to make a set of bookshelves for my husband for Christmas! It was my second ever woodworking project. The plan was really easy to follow and so fun to make! I ended up using an additional shelf piece on the very top for a more modern spin on it. I also bought a pocket hole jig to use on this project. I'm happy with how it turned out!

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$75 per shelf
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
MinWax English Chesnut Wood Finish and Paste Wax
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Folding workbench

Submitted by mellyc_fl on Mon, 12/30/2019 - 17:42

We do not have a garage yet, so this size works great to push out of the way when not being used and pull out for a workbench and also to extend the table top for the saw.  The plans were easy to follow and easy to modify.  I added a base made of 2x4’s to make it sturdier since it will be moved across a deck vs a level floor.  I also added some boards behind the shelf to keep things from falling out the back and adjusted the height to match the table saw top.   Next up will be a router table stand to replace the camping footlocker. 

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$100
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Recommended Skill Level
Starter Project

10 foot long Provence Table with 4x4's

My mom was looking for a new outdoor table, and asked me to come up with something. I found the link for these plans (http://www.thedesignconfidential.com/2011/04/free-diy-furniture-plans-t…) to knock off Restoration Hardware's $4000 Provence Beam outdoor table. Overall I liked the plan, with the chunkier look of the 4x4's. But there were a lot of errors in the diagrams, and the finished height is 34" which is ridiculously tall for a table. So we took it apart and cut the legs back down to change the finished height to 30". We chose rough-cut cedar for it's look and outdoor properties, not wanting to use treated lumber for a dining table. We couldn't find 2x10's like the plan, so we substituted seven 2x6's just like Ana's plan, but left a 1/2" gap in between so water can drain and not pool on top and rot the wood. Also, since we were working with 4x4's for the legs, we chose heavy duty lag bolts instead of screws to join them together. I love the finished look they give. Overall it's a sturdy, yet lightweight table that my mom loves and has already used for entertaining!

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$230
Estimated Time Investment
Day Project (6-9 Hours)
Finish Used
outdoor sealer
Recommended Skill Level
Advanced

Comments

brookifer86

Wed, 04/25/2012 - 10:02

Thanks Brook! It was so much fun to build. I put my dad and husband to work while I was the "project manager" ;)

My very FIRST build!! LOVE IT!!

Submitted by AmJoy37 on Sun, 02/23/2014 - 09:11

My husband is deployed and I just decided to start building, to keep my mind busy. I built this table & benches, sanded, stained it & had it in my nook in just 6 days!!! I worked on it every night when the kids went to bed. Thank you Ana White!! :) I will be using this site quite a bit to keep me busy!

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$140
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

Basement Sofa Table Bar

Submitted by advanlente on Sat, 03/28/2020 - 12:04

My husband and I had been looking at many different stores to try and find a bar table for behind our new couch in our basement. We wanted something that people could eat and drink at when we entertained and/or be able to sit at and play video games. I should have known we were better off to build our own rather than look in a store. It was only $30 in lumber and took 3 hours to build. And another project in the books!

Estimated Cost
$30
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)

Comments

megs502

Fri, 04/03/2020 - 11:03

do you have the plans for this? i've been looking and looking for what i needed and this is it!!

mferrara

Sat, 04/04/2020 - 05:39

Hi - exactly what I've been searching for....do you have plans available? Please and thank you!

beckaroo

Tue, 06/02/2020 - 23:04

Hello,
I would also love to see the plans for this sofa bar table.
Thank you
Becky

Hawkins pantry

Submitted by mlhawkins on Wed, 04/09/2014 - 08:21

I needed more storage for our TINY kitchen. I found the nursery armoire plans and asked my dad to help me build it for a pantry! We modified it some by making it taller and adding more shelves inside (sorry no pics of that). For the doors I wanted to do something fun so we cut lots (over 700!) of small pieces of wood and inlaid then in a herringbone pattern - IN LOVE! For the handles we used copper pipe and I am IN LOVE with those too! Enjoy!

~ Maggie

Built from Plan(s)
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

Dollhouse

Submitted by keribeth on Sat, 07/07/2012 - 05:46

I combined my favorite elements from three of Ana's dollhouse plans to make this dollhouse for my kids. My favorite part is the stairs, which I cut from a 2x4 with a miter saw. I made this project from start to finish in one day while the grandparents took the kids, and it was ready for Christmas morning! I made simple furniture for it, too, which you can see in the second picture.

Estimated Cost
~$20 (I used some scraps)
Estimated Time Investment
Day Project (6-9 Hours)
Finish Used
linseed oil
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Comments

Jerika

Wed, 02/11/2015 - 06:35

Is there any way you could email me the plans you used for the furniture? or just individual pictures of the furniture? [email protected] (you may wanna copy and paste that people always get it wrong, haha).
I LOVE THIS

MissM

Wed, 07/10/2019 - 04:08

I know this is an oldie but if you have the finals plans I would love to see them!

What a great open dollhouse!

Family Back Deck COVID19 Project Facelift

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Tue, 06/02/2020 - 11:53

Thank-you so much Ana White! We took on our back deck as a family COVID19 “homeschool” two weekend project! Why just build a sectional sofa when you can build a sectional sofa, coffee table, farmhouse table with two benches, two Adirondack chairs and a side table that the 11 year old designed and built himself! Mission accomplished, he’s a builder for life.

Our deck was brutally neglected and the boys had had some exposure to power tools and small builds. We decided that the best way to remedy the situation was to set up a family build all at once so that the tools are out and then put back away after the build is complete!

The plans were easy to follow and incredible! Thanks again so very much!

Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
Stained the sofas, chairs, coffee and end table with outdoor solid stain. Used the same solid stain on the bottom of the farmhouse table benches, and outdoor oil based spar varnish on the farmhouse table and bench tops. Finished the look by refinishing the deck with Behr Penetrating Oil finish in Chocolate and cushions from Lowes for the sofa. Adirondack chair cushions were sewn by myself with Sunderland fabric leftover from front porch, cushion inserts from IKEA.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Our twin elevated gardens

Here's our planters, and they're our first carpentry projects! We found that there were cost efficiencies when building 2 units. We also opted for nut and bolt attachments for the legs instead of making pocket holes…mainly because I don't have the guides for making pocket holes. Seems to work fine, although I do still need to get a saw that I can cut off the excess bolt length on the inside (see pics). Perhaps next time I should trust my measurements and buy the correct bolt length. Ended up costing about $250. Slightly more than the cost of ready-to-build planters at home depot, but those weren't elevated and not nearly as heavy duty or as large. Well worth the investment of both time and money, and a great starter project for beginners. Good luck to you all! -Don and Staci

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
250
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Only a light red stain on the exterior as we didn't want the chemicals to invade our vegetables. Ended up with a very nice orange hue when the red stain combined with the pine's natural yellow coloring.
Recommended Skill Level
Starter Project
Seasonal And Holiday
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