Community Brag Posts

I used the Barnwood Frame as a base for this project.  Instead of all 1x2's, I used 1x3's for the interior frame and 1x2's for the exterior and stained each with a different shade.  This was my first real try at this project and allowed me to use my own frame, matte, picture from start to finish.  It took me a bit longer than normal due to some silly mistakes and the decision to build a jig for the miters.  Normally, this would cost ~$150 to have someone else do it, but this ended up being ~$30 (wood, double matte, print).

Made from reclaimed 1 X8 boards.
Nailed to 1 X 4 Boards on the back.
This was a very simple project to put together with nails and wood glue.
This took about 3 hours and most of the time spent was on carving the initials and painting.

I had quite a few 42" pieces of select pine left from the triple bunkbeds I made for grandkids and they needed a space for 3 of them and mom or dad to read bedtime stories so I decided to use the no longer needed crib mattress and build a daybed using that mattress as the cushion. I built it to incorporate a storage area underneath as in a small room every inch matters! My daughter-in-law decorated it with pillows for extra comfort when they are snuggled in for bedtime stories. Very easy build from leftover wood I had.

7’ long table using 4 2x8’s on top with 2 2x4’s in the middle. The bench is also 7’ long. I changed up the bottom on the bench to make it super sturdy (added angle braces). 

Due to rain (and horrible ability) this project has been taking a LONG time it seems. =) We had one of those "cheap" playsets from one of the warehouse clubs that would scare me to death anytime my girls got to swinging on it. So... we knocked it down and I took some liberty with the details from Ana's playset plans.

We made this play Teepee for our niece Jenna's sixth birthday in June. The kids absolutely loved it!! It was a HUGE hit at the party. All of the adults asked where we ordered it and could not believe it was homemade. The most priceless moment was when our 10 year old niece Jordan came out and saw it. Her mouth dropped and she couldn't believe her sister got a tent! She turned to me and said, "Aunt Lisa, you know you're going to have to make another one of those!" meaning she wanted one too! At one point there were about six piled in the tent. Its really quite roomy. And when we took it down because it started to rain, there were still kids inside! Any child will absolutely love this secret little hideout. Thank you for the plans Ana and Jaime!! =)

P.S. The pictures are before we ironed it! Looked even better without the wrinkles! LOL

I made this car and truck for my nephew. They were super easy to make and he loves them!

Check out the blog link for more details.

My husband and I built the simple changing table for our son's first child.  It wasn't difficult yet is beautiful.  Our son and daughter-in-law are pleased with it.  

We cut this plan down by 8" in length to fit in a nook behind our front door. The opening was 44.5" and we cut our longest piece to 42" to make sure we had clearance for baseboards and door trim. We finished both items in an afternoon, even with adjusting measurements and having kids ages 5 and 2 "helping".

This was a bit daunting as my first woodworking project, but after a few mistakes (and taking it slow), I'm pretty proud of it!

We just used pine from the framing and craft sections of Home Depot. The drawer fronts are cut from rough cut lumber from a lumber yard in town. I'd say it cost around $120 to make (Paint, lumber, screws, etc). We used thinner particle board for the backing (instead of the size listed in instructions) and hammered and glued the drawer bottoms on. Also, we used pocket holes to make the drawer frames instead of using glue and nails. We made it 2" taller than the plans said. Bought drawer handles from the Habitat For Humanity Re-Store for $1 each and spray painted with Krylon's Oil Rubbed Bronze in satin. Took us about 15 hours start to finish, but over the course of a couple of weeks as we had time to work on it. Wait time between coats of paint and poly, etc. Very happy with how it turned out and plans were straightforward and easy to follow!

I had to go a little smaller on the base level because I didn't have enough clearance for the cabinets, so I went with 2x2 instead for the frame of the lower level.  My helper drilled pocket holes for me to keep the lines as neat as possible.  We went with a white color to match the shelving and cabinetry in the laundry room.  Overall, it fit great and now we don't have to stoop over to get the laundry!  Total materials cost less than half of what buying the OEM pedestals would have cost us, and we would have gotten less storage. Not bad for a first father/daughter project!

We needed an outdoor table for our patio, and this one fit the bill!

I loved the photos that others have put out of their own tables, but I was concerned about eating off of a table that was stained and varnished with petrochemicals. In order to avoid the toxic finish, I built the top and stretchers out of cedar wood, which I sanded down to 220 grit, and gave a light coat of tung oil finish. The legs are untreated 2x4s that I sanded down and gave a heavy coat of tung (e.g. seven applications.)

To ensure the legs remain in good condition, I intend to foot them with sheet metal casings when I remove them at the end of the season.

I also took Ana's advice, and attached the legs using bolts, so that I can disassemble the table and throw it in the garage over the winter. There's a close-up of how I inset the bolt-heads with a spade-bit below.

Great simple plans, easy to follow.

I made a few modifications to this plan, as I was building this for my sister who wanted it a bit smaller, I used the Kreg jig to attach the side rails and shelves. However In the future I think I will be mortising the joints as the extra work is worth it in the long run to provide the extra strength.

The top is made from joined 2x6's, I used my custom made skill saw table saw to rip them so I got perfectly close joints with no gaps.

The slats for the shelves were a huge pain to finish, I opted to stain and urethane them before assembly. It took a bit more time but I think the finish came out much nicer than if I would have done it after assembly.

Fun and quick.  Used a Kreg jig for this project, and finished with Amy Howard paint, along with the wax.  

I couldn't believe how much twin beds cost in stores and couldn't find anything I liked for my son under $350. I have already made a few other things from Ana White, so I was excited to see this "knock-off!" I followed the plans exactly and didn't want his bed to be too high, so there is so box spring.

I have recently discovered how much fun it is to make things, so I couldn't wait to build my son his "big boy bed!" He loves it! He's happy so this momma's happy, too!