Community Brag Posts

I work on projects slowly, so, ironically, this is the third Ana White plan I’ve used–but the first project completed in full! I put everything aside to work on the toolbox for two reasons:
(1) I got a jigsaw for Christmas (yay!).
(2) It will be a welcome helper when working on *other* Ana White projects! (Like, finishing the two that are partly done?)

I used plain wood on the sides instead of moulding. If you decide to do this as well, you’ll need an 8′ length of wood and the dowel rod. The first time I tried to make this, I used cupped wood. (Looking at the short end of the wood, it all had a slight U-shape.) You’re probably shaking your head and saying: “You can’t use cupped wood! That’s the first thing you learn in Woodworking 101!” But by the time I saw that it was cupped (I checked for all the other types of warps, and asked the family member I was with–who will remain nameless–if it was warped the cup way, and was told “no”), the wood had already been cut by the helpful store associate. Besides, I had spent so long looking for a non-warped piece of wood that my legs and back hurt. Getting tired of wearing a winter coat in a hot store while doing aerobic activity, I thought: “I can’t ask for them to take this wood back. It’s cut already! I know! I’ll MAKE it work!”

So, full of optimism and/or denial, I went home, cut my new 3/4″ dowel rod to size, and decided to try and work with the cupped 1″ x 6″. Let’s see, which direction should the warp go? Should the toolbox have a wobbly bottom? I tried to use the force of a Workmate to flatten the wood. As soon as I tried to attach two pieces together in a way that would hopefully flatten them both, the end piece of wood split. So I tried again, and it split again. It split in three places. This was after I had spent a long time cutting out and elbow-grease-sanding two “I’m-an-obvious-first-time-jigsaw-user” ends.

Sadly, the wood was better fit for feeding a fire than creating a toolbox. After lamenting my toolbox’s fate, I was told, “Well, at least you have a nice dowel rod!”

At a different store, two store associates tried to help me find a piece of wood that wasn’t warped or–especially–cupped. One of them reassured me that he was confident the project would turn out this time. Sure enough, the whole box went together in a snap.

It’s a lovely, classic box and useful for so many different things, including craft storage/toting. This is a project that those of you who work more slowly, like I do, can probably easily finish in only a few days.

Well, as long as you find a non-cupped piece of wood. :)

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This was first posted to the site in January. I've since found myself mostly using it for crafts. It's really handy to have!

My granddaughter decided to raise chickens so she asked me to build her a coop. I used a Ana White plan with a couple modifications and along with my son, wife, and granddaughter built this. She’s had hawks and raccoons try to get in, to no avail.

This is my second project. I needed to utilize the storage space under one of our twin beds. It's really high off the ground since it's normally the top of a bunkbed. I thought these crates were perfect because not only do they fit well, but we are moving in 5 months and I love that these would look great at the bottom of a closet, under the bed, in the corner of a room, etc. Very versatile. I made these 1/2" shorter so they'd fit under the bed. I didn't need to make any adjustments, other than making the two end pieces just 1/2" shorter in height. The sides are just a little closer together than in Ana's plan. I spent about $70 on all 6 of them. $30 of that was for the wheels.

I built this pine Rustic X end table for my Mom-in-Laws' cottage. They wanted it plain as possible, so I built it to please.

I used Ana's plan (modifying the side 1x2's to be longer to house "Barbie") and built this Barbie condo!

I wanted an upholstered bench for the end of my bed but could not find one with the right measurements. So what to do when that happens, build your own. I used the easiest upholstered bench plans as my starting point, but incorporated turned legs from Home Depot and upholstered the cushion instead of making a slipcover for a more traditional look. I made the bench measurements one inch smaller in depth and one inch smaller in length than the plans to fit the end of my queen size bed. I used the pocket hole (Kreg ) jig to attach the legs to the 2x4s and pre-drilled holes in the base to eventually attache the upholstered top. I used stain applied very heavily as the grain on the legs was different than the 2x4s.After putting the frame together and staining it, I stapled fabric over 3 inch foam and a layer of batting to the unattached top MDF board. The best way to cut foam to size is with an electric carving knife. I then stapled fabric covered piping around the edge of the fabric. I finished it off by turning the whole thing upside down and attaching the finished upholstered top to the frame by screwing them together with the pre-drilled pocket holes. I love the way it finishes off our room and it looks very professional. As always, the hardest part of the project is not the building, but the staining and getting the upholstery just right.

The toybox for my grandson for his first Christmas was my first project. I'm super happy with how it turned out and his parents love it!.
After the toybox I decided to make a coffee table for my daughter and she picked out the design from your site. She loves it!

In need of a replacement for my hideous (but large!) wire kennel, I was ecstatic when Ana posted plans for an end table kennel, just like the fancy ones in Sky Mall magazines! Once I got out of my first trimester of pregnancy, I enlisted a friend to help me out with the build. I spent a little too much on lumber (I accidentally purchased the good whitewood, as opposed to furring strips) but I'm chalking that up to pregnancy brain. After a million Kreg Jig holes, the assembly was maybe an hour or less to put all four sides together. We decided to paint the interior prior to assembly, and that was a good choice! I put the sides together with L-brackets, and honestly did a pretty poor job of it. But the main reason was to easily disassemble it should it need to be moved at some point. I splurged on the hinges and gate closure, and love love LOVE the finished product! These were great, well-laid out plans!