Community Brag Posts

Ana's $10 ledges. In Colorado, they cost just a couple bucks more at $13. Thank you, Ana, for helping me see just how easy these shelfs really are!

My boys were in desperate need of beds and I am always on a tight budget. I have always loved the farmhouse bed design and decided it was time for DIY project. The instructions made everything so simple. And Home Depot and Lowes are always so helpful in making the cuts....I can do it myselft, but I have to say it is nice to unload the wood and start building right away. 
A few things I learned....

1. Not all 1x6's will be 5.5" wide, so just like the instructions tell you....double check

2. You can't stain wood filler...I had no idea it wouldn't take the stain very well

3. Using 2 2x4 to make a 4x4 post is WAY cheaper

Dear Anna,

Thanks a ton for such inspiration and detailed instrusctions! I showed then to my husband and he created a craft station for our daughter.

We used different fittings ( used the ones we could find in the nearest shop). Also, to decorate front pannel we used polyurethane molding left from house repairs.

=Tatiana=

Reclaimed wood desk top for a Geek Desk stand.

Mudroom unnit built from own design for a friend to fit a specific space they had.

Finished in a light grey colour.

This was a fun build using the media console plans.  I used ceramic tiles with a wood look in the door panels. Fairly inexpensive build and ended up with an expensive looking piece of furniture. 

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

Built this based on the Arts and Crafts Table on Ana White's site. I added a dowel at the back of the table to keep the craft paper close to the table. I also added a removal dowel to hold the roll of craft paper. This dowel may be a little close to the table limiting the paper roll size. I made the table fit very tight so it can be removed when not in use. I use biscits on the table for the edge and pocket holes for the shelfs. This was my first try so adjustments will be made on the next one.

Here's a couple pics of a dartboard cabinet I made from pallet wood. I routed/chiseled in "Odin's Knot" on the door just because I thought it looks cool. Kind of dartboardish looking! I've also included my highly engineered plan!

A while back I saw some posts on how to convert Ikea furniture into a litter box hider, which I thought was a great idea. Then I stumbled across the "Shanty-2-Chic" blog and the Kentwood Nightstand (and then of course Ana's site). I LOVED the stand and thought it'd be great to modify that plan into a bench version, so I could hide the litter box. I loosely followed the original plans and modified them to suite the dimensions of the litter box. I also wanted a lid that would lift so I could easily clean the litter box. I also cut a hole in one end so the cats could get in and out. I loved the look of the door on the Nightstand version, so I made two to fit the bench shape. I made one door first, then re-measured for the other door so that they would fit perfectly (good thing I did as the second one ended up needing to be a little longer than the other). In the photos I haven't added the bottom of the box yet, but I'll use L-brackets, attach leftover 1x3 as a border, then lay down old ikea shelves I had kicking around. The shelves will actually work out quite well as they have a laminate finish - making it easier to clean. I have a little carpet square to lay in there are well to catch the litter before the cats walk out. I intend to get a cushion for the top, so that my guests can sit on it when we're hanging out in the kitchen. I won't tell them they're sitting on top of the litter box :) Over all the project took me a really long time, but that was partly because I didn't have all the right tools, was often working in my living room (due to rain and working late at night), and I'm super anal about measuring! I'm really really happy with the way it turned out! P.S I bought the $20 Kreg Jig and must say that I LOVE that thing.

Turned an entryway closet into these lockers for my kids.  I used the basic ideas in Ana's Smiling Mudroom for my plans. Lockers are just inside the entrance from the garage.   

Made this for my grandson. His name is Ace and my initials are BD. ABCDE 

I was told about the site from my neighbor. Little did I know I would find myself wanting to build everything on this site. So I started with the 6 cube bookshelf leaving out the dividers on top to allow the kids to use it as a bookshelf. I also wanted them to have a place to store their dress up clothes when they weren't in them. So, I turned the 6 cube bookshelf on its side and added a couple of inches to allow for small dress up outfits. I am going to put the storage bins in the squares once I find some.

Thank you so much for the plans Anna.  My two year old absolutely loved this Christmas present.  I used drains for the stove tops and added a wire rack to the stove and tiled the backsplash.    

It was quite the little project I got myself into, but I have to say I am very happy with the end results. 

This build has been (thus far) my biggest and most ambitious yet. This is not only for the size of the build but the techniques I used. While I did use pocket holes in many spots I changed the design by using two stretchers to span between the sides and provide support for both side walls and bed slats. To reduce the number of pocket holes the original plan called for I used my stacked dado kit and created to dado cuts in the stretchers to support the bed slats and side walls.

But I can't say enough good things about Ana and this site. The original plans where a inspiration to build this bed and continue to inspire me to build other projects around the house. All of our friends who have seen pictures of our Sons Ski Patrol Shack bed have raved about it and I can even see a little pride in my sons face when other kids are ranting about how "cool" his bed is.

So while I didn't follow the plans exactly the end result can't be disputed; its an awesome feeling to give your child such a great bed! My son came up to me and hugged me and said he loved his bed. So from a plan I downloaded to that moment of my son telling me he loved it was all worth the effort!! Thank you Ana for posting this and all the other plans. They are not just building plans to download they are happy memories waiting to be built!! Cheers from Colorado!