Community Brag Posts

Play tent

My kids love the simple reading tent and how it can be put away easily. I have made two of these and plan on donating one to the non-for-profit nursery school my kids attend for their reading nook. I used strapping to secure the sides of the tent together so it doesn't slide apart while maintaining it's fold-ability. I'm going to work on a hinging mechanism for the side stretchers on the second tent (which we will keep) so it folds down even more compact so we can take it to the beach. For the fabric, I used left-over curtain lining and my snap press to wrap the fabric around the stretchers so the fabric can be removed easily for washing.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$17 for the wood, $10 for the fabric
Estimated Time Investment
An Hour or Two (0-2 Hours)
Finish Used
unfinished
Recommended Skill Level
Starter Project

My Rustic X Coffee Table

A friend showed me a picture of a coffee table and asked if I'd build her one.  It was very similar to this plan and she loved it, so I gave it a go.  I had my table top boards run through a thickness planer and a jointer before assembling.  The table top is attached to the base with "z" clips which will allow the wood to expand if needed.  The "X's" on the side gave me a little trouble but that's likely because I tend to be a bit of a perfectionist and I needed them to be "just so". ;)

 

I was happy with the finished piece and my friend was thrilled. :)

Built from Plan(s)
Finish Used
Stained with Minwax Jacobean and topped with Minwax Wipe-on Poly in a Satin finish.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Headborad with Fold Down Tray Tables

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Fri, 10/11/2019 - 11:09

I first saw this headboard on Ana White's Instagram and loved the idea! I took a screen shot so I would remember it later. One day my daughter was flipping through the photos on my phone and saw this screen shot. We were about to move to a new house and she wanted me to make this headboard for her new room. She is 11 years old and loves to play games on her laptop with her friends so this was perfect for her. Within a month of moving into the new house I started to build this piece. It took me a couple weeks to finish since I have three kids and was also trying to unpack our entire house but I love the finished product! My daughter really loves it too!

Estimated Cost
$115
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Painted with semi-gloss paint
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Apothecary Media Console

This is my 4th project. I love it! I used 2x6's on the top instead of 1x6's as I wanted a more substantial look. I also added some bunn feet by attaching a couple of 2x4's to the base and drilling the bun feet into them. All the game consoles and dvd players will go in the top slots so they'll be much more organized than what they are now.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Minwax Dark Walnut
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Comments

Toddler Play Stove

Submitted by bpeters on Wed, 12/25/2013 - 02:29

I utilized your toddler play stove plans- these are easy to use instructions! Thanks much!

Estimated Cost
$91
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Yellow Pine with natural stain.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

Captain's Storage Bed with Pallet Veneered Headboard/Footboard

This piece was one I recently created for a customer using the plans provided in the Queen Storage Bed with Drawers from Anna's site. It was created using 3/4" birch plywood and 3/4" pine common board. 

I chose to cut dado's when building the boxes for stability's sake. I was able to leave out much of the construction screws by using strong, but relativity simple joinery techniques with dado's and rabbets. 

The piece's drawer fronts were then veneered with pallet wood to lay flush with the drawer faces, and hardware installed on top of that. The headboard and footboard were both then stained using a Varathane, Minwax (water-based), and General Finishes to create the various tones in the pallet veneer to create a complimentary uniform look to the drawer faces. 

The other variation in this bed was that I used Threaded inserts and hex bolts so that the head and footboard could be removed multiple times for transport without damaging screw holes. 

Estimated Cost
$500
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Early American (Minwax)
Early American (Varathane)
Ash Grey (General Finishes)
Dark Walnut (Minwax)
Wipe on Poly (Minwax Satin)

Mix and match stains in order to achieve the depth of color or based on pallet wood imperfections. I noticed that not all pallets are alike. Results WILL vary. I found it easiest to break down several different pallets and cut and reshape based on a random selection of boards, rather than breaking down and using one pallet at a time.
Recommended Skill Level
Advanced

Easy Build Wood Headboard, King Size

Submitted by mariefs on Tue, 02/21/2012 - 13:19

Cost about $100 and took about 6 hours total (one person). I ended up using a polyshade color I had in the garage -- but I wish I would have just used regular stain or paint. I'll likely repaint it in a bit, the polyshades just doesn't cover well (but that's what I get for trying to use leftovers!) One of my top pieces ended up being a little short (I accidentally cut it with the original cut pieces). It looks REALLY great though, and I'm likely the only one who would notice. My husband is super impressed! Thanks, Ana!

Estimated Cost
$100
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
Polyshades Bombay Mahogany (Gorgeous color but do not use!!!)
Recommended Skill Level
Starter Project

Luggage Rack

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sat, 10/19/2019 - 12:20

Turned out great! Problem with the plans: written instructions for legs say 35 degree angle but the diagram shows 40 degree angle. Which one should it be?

Finish Used
Used a white stain on legs and brown stain with dry brushed gray stain on top. Sealed with poly.
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Farmhouse Bench

I LOVE how this bench turned out. I made it for my sister and her very large family. She paired it with an very old table that was found in the family "barn" and some chairs that she had purchased separate.
I have to say that I ADORE your site and plans!!! You are my hero.....and I want to build literally EVERYTHING on here!! Thanks SO Much :-)

Estimated Cost
90.00
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
Bottom was painted black, and a classic gel stain applied to the top.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Faux Mantel with "Fire"

Submitted by Nikki4558 on Mon, 12/30/2013 - 08:46

I was tired of not having a place to hang the Christmas stockings. With no fireplace and no mantel in our 1960's ranch home, I decided to build one myself! It turned out to be one of the easiest projects I've done.

I had Home Depot cut all of the wood for me, so once I got home, I just had to nail it together. The actual building of the mantel took about an hour. Including the sanding, caulking, and painting, it took about four hours total. I also added a piece of faux brick paneling to the back of the mantel.

I made a "fire" using some river rocks and small limbs. I placed them in a circle and added string lights for the "fire" effect.

For more pictures, check out http://deepestoceanblue.com/diy-mantel-and-fake-fire/

Estimated Cost
$100
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
Once finished, I filled all of the nail holes, caulked the seams, and sanded the entire piece. Then I finished it with two coats of Annie Sloan Chalk Paint in Pure White.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Hailey Platform Bed

Submitted by lmr3471 on Fri, 10/25/2019 - 07:25

My husband followed these user-friendly DIY platform bed plans and was able to build and finish our son's big boy bed in 2 days. We used poplar wood for the headboard and pine for the frame. We are so in love with the results! Thanks, Ana, for sharing these awesome plans with the world! 

Estimated Cost
250.00
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Rustoleum wood stain - dark walnut
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Storage Locker

My husband built this from your storage locker plans only complaint was the 1 1/4 screws werent long enough we had to go up to 1 1/2" but after that sucess! we decided to antique paint it, Im so in love with this peice, honest opinions accepted lol i know we each have our own style and im open to tips!

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$140
Estimated Time Investment
Day Project (6-9 Hours)
Finish Used
2 different Valspar(lowes) paints and topped with a mocha glaze from them as well
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

Mrzhammond (not verified)

Sun, 03/11/2012 - 13:44

first i sanded it so it would have a nice adhesion. I did a "ruff coat" of brown paint, i mean ruff! lol i painted on where it would have certainly needed 2/3 coats to fully cover, but made it was enough to make the dark brown i wanted, after that dried i again ruff painted a green (salamander to be exact) coat ,(you could still see the brown) i took the orbital sander and 220 grit sand paper to age the locker, i literally resanded the whole thing and worked it a littler harder where i have the "damaged" places. the best part is you really cant mess up!,after i finished the sanding i cleaned it so i was able to put a glaze on it to "age" the paint i bought mocha transparent glaze by valspar it was about $16 but only used 1/2 - 2/3 of the jar......another project stash of leftovers:). I glazed in sections With the glaze i brushed it on the whole side and before i moved on to the next piece i wiped it to prevent it becoming to "finished", on the insides i brushed the glaze on two pieces (say one wall and the bench of that locker) and wiped the first on then the other part and then moved on. Overall i was looking to make a piece that you would find at grandmas old farm house we are super happy with the out come honestly the pictures arent as good as it came out! Good luck and happy building:)

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