Community Brag Posts

Rope Puzzle

Submitted by mtairymd on Sat, 02/11/2017 - 13:50

This is a fun and easy little project to make. I made the main pieces with scrap wood and an old piece of rope. I purchased the wood beads from a craft store but these could have been made from scrap wood blocks as well. The solution is not intuitive so it might be a challenge for your friends and family. See video for solution.

https://youtu.be/GjAaKq9jkXU

Build Instructions: https://www.instructables.com/id/Rope-Puzzle/

Estimated Time Investment
An Hour or Two (0-2 Hours)
Finish Used
None
Recommended Skill Level
Starter Project

Toy box

Submitted by erin_0905 on Fri, 01/11/2013 - 08:42

I changed a few things in the plans. First of all, I used pre-cut pine project boards I got from Lowes. I had to cut them length down of course, but the width was 16". Therefore, the cut list did change. I also just installed the baseboard as one would normally. I didn't want to do the cut-out and have it supporting the structure. We also mitered the baseboards and the cove molding. It didn't say in the plans how to attach the moldings, so we used 3/4" brads on the cove molding and at the top of the baseboard. We also used the 1 1/4" brads at the bottom of the baseboards. Other than that, we followed the plans and it turned out great! I used the Minwax Express Color in Indigo...and I love it. I managed to use just 1 tube on the entire piece (minus the bottom)...I had to do some minor surgery to the tube to get more out....but nonetheless, I did it! I also put some felt pads on the bottom so the floors wouldn't get scratched...which is why it sits off the floor a little bit.

We chose to use the solid pine project boards to make sure it lasts for as long as we keep it around. We didn't use any plywood on the project at all. It is 100% solid wood.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$75
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Recommended Skill Level
Starter Project

Isabelle's Bed

Submitted by jvuijk on Fri, 11/07/2014 - 09:53

AG doll Isabelle is sleeping in style at our house thanks to a special little girl's daddy!

The bed was built completely out of scrap material and finsihes we have on hand.

We used a vinegar & steel-wool stain with a tea stained base and clear coated with an enviromentally (and kid) friendly top coat.

This bed is solid and will last for years, maybe decades!

Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
Tea & Vinegar/Steel-wool Stain

First apply a good coat of black tea that is strong to aid in the chemical reaction of the aging stain. Once the has dried use your premixed (and aged) vinegar & steel-wool stain.

Allow to dry and follow with a clear-coat for protection.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Farm style nightstand

Built in an afternoon for a friend 

Estimated Cost
$30
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Customized TV table

Submitted by dtmak on Wed, 11/11/2020 - 19:23

I started with the Farmhouse Bedside Table stand to get the general dimensions and materials list. I adjusted the plan to get the height I wanted for a TV stand and left out the drawer where I could place the cable box or other AV equipment. It worked out really well. I used a router on the top to approximate the other furniture in the room. I finished it off with some adjustable height screw in feet for carpeting.

I added a lazy susan TV stand to allow the TV to adjust to different viewing angles.

Cutting and assembly was only a weekend's work. The painting and finish - to make it suitable for indoor furniture - required more time with multiple coats of paint, sanding, and polyurethane.

Thank you for sharing your plan!

Estimated Cost
$100
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
Rustoleum 2X spray paint and water-based polyurethane semi-gloss finish.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Coffee Sack Lampshade

Several years ago I found a lamp in the Restoration Hardware trash in the parking lot of the shopping mall. It was in great shape. The price tag was still on…$200! Huge score. They had cut the plug off, but that was an easy fix. Four years later it was in need of a new look.

Estimated Cost
$15
Estimated Time Investment
An Hour or Two (0-2 Hours)
Finish Used
Rustoleum Dark Walnut
3M Spray Adhesive
Recommended Skill Level
Starter Project

Coffee Table

Submitted by AndyH on Sun, 11/09/2014 - 18:05

Coffee Table made from own plan.  Finished in Minwax English Chestnut and sanded back to show some wood through.  Satin Poly and two coats of finishing wax to hopefully protect it from knocks!

Estimated Cost
$200 total. Most expensive part was the legs from OsborneWood.com which cost $135 total inc shipping.
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Minwax English Chestnut (sanded back), Minwax Satin Poly, Minwa Finishing Wax.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

Entry shelf modified to a bathroom shelf

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Wed, 02/15/2017 - 19:10

This was so fun, used contact paper on the back plywood and it turned out really well.

Estimated Cost
Less than $75
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
White satin paint from behr
I sanded between coats and used a fine bristle brush.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Rustic X Desk

Submitted by CarolinaL on Wed, 11/18/2020 - 14:48

I finally got tired of my computer set up being on my sewing table. I will be working from home for quite some time and I'm so glad I finally have a designated desk for work.

This desk came out perfect. It's not too difficult but the X did take some time to get right. Used Ana's video instructions.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$60
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Minwax Provincial for the top
White satin paint for the base.
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Comments

Mini Farmhouse Bedside Tables

Submitted by moosmani on Thu, 01/17/2013 - 17:44

My first time making drawers! It wasn't as hard as I thought it would be!

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

Comments

KinneyD. (not verified)

Fri, 01/18/2013 - 07:04

Great Job! I just finished building two of the same to go with custom bed and headboard. Really like the small changes you made like the extra trim pieces and the back!

Cupboard

My second build. :)  I made my own chalk paint and waxed it with a clear wax. It turned out awesome, thanks for a fun plan!

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
I made my own chalk paint using a flat latex and food grade, powdered chalk and then I waxed it with a clear wax.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Narrow Cottage End Tables

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Fri, 02/17/2017 - 17:56

Just finished with the Narrow Cottage End Tables!  Thank you so much for this plan! Our living room needed two of these and this was perfect!  I had fabric from JoAnn's that served as the inspiration color to recover our little trunk!  Painted a warm blue green, dark waxed.  The drawer front and top was cut from some Hickory lumber we had and used our bisquit maker to make the tops which was then Shellac'd.  

Again, thank you so much for the plan!

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
6$ as we had most of the required lumber, stain, paint and shellac on hand.
Estimated Time Investment
Day Project (6-9 Hours)
Finish Used
Red mahogany stain, shellac, paint, wax clear and dark.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Beginner Farmhouse Table

Submitted by cwatson on Wed, 11/25/2020 - 11:19

I found Ana's book at Barnes & Nobel and as they say the rest is history.
This was my very first ever wood working project. I made the tables and found the pre-cut lumber for the chairs online.

The table is made out of Cedar and the table cost me roughly $500 in lumber and hardware.

I am in love with woodworking now and plan to decorate our newly purchased Farmhouse.

Thank you Ana for empowering us to expand our skills and find value and pride in our work.

Estimated Cost
500
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Minwax - Colonial Maple
Recommended Skill Level
Starter Project

Comments

Braden Entryway

I used Ana White's plans to make this Entry Way "Locker" with a few tweaks. I widened the center locker, used bead board on the back and staggered the shelves on the top. We also added some trim, then finished with a beautiful paint color. We love this locker and have constantly used it since we finished!

Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

The Perfect Fit for our Little Girls Closet

Submitted by RBoesch on Sun, 11/16/2014 - 13:41

Thank you Ana! The Just My Size Closet was the perfect solution to my little girl's closet. I had recently found myself in a daily battle with my three year old. She wanted to be independant and dress her self. I desperately wanted her to stop getting a step stool and yanking her clothing off of the hangers. The yanking resulted in a dozen or so half handing shirts, a pile of broken hangers, and a mother daughter show down first thing in the morning and last thing at night. Enter the Just My Size Closet !!! The plans were super easy to follow, WAY less expensive than the ready made customizable units at the hardware store, and hubby had it whipped up in half an afternoon! The design is thoughtful and will grown as her needs change. :) We are all very pleased with the result. Instead of melt downs (both her's and mine), my little girl is taking pride in being able to hang up her clothing and dress herself. She makes everyone who visits come in her room to see her new closet. It is adorable :) Thanks Again!! 

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

Farmhouse Bed - Queen Sized

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Mon, 02/20/2017 - 09:06

This was super easy to build and cost me about $150.  I made both my headboard and footboard 6" taller than the plans specified, and used Minwax classic grey stain for the finish color.  I used 1x10 pine boards from home depot in the untreated premium wood section.  They were about $12 for 10ft boards.  I spent some time carefully choosing the ones I liked the best.   I went to the local lumber mill to find untreated 4x4 posts... not easy to find.  Fortunately they sold them to me for $10 a 10ft piece - Only $20 total for those.  

The bed is solid and amazing looking.  I couldn't be happier with it.

Estimated Cost
$150
Estimated Time Investment
Day Project (6-9 Hours)
Finish Used
Minwax classic grey
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Garage shelves

Since piles of anything in garages just ends up being a hard to clean home for spiders, We decided to get some space between totes and open some space to stick the shop vac to clear out critters. This was made of pressure treated wood and plywood bc we are in FL. I used 4 inch decking screws to attach to the wall studs. Ana’s advice of measuring your totes before was very helpful so everything fit where we needed it to.

Estimated Cost
Under 100
Estimated Time Investment
An Hour or Two (0-2 Hours)
Finish Used
None
Recommended Skill Level
Starter Project

Comments

Ana White Admin

Sat, 11/28/2020 - 10:48

Really like how easy it is to customize this plan with the step, making it still achievable!

20 second tidy up coffee table

Submitted by jjsarkinen on Wed, 01/23/2013 - 14:07

Loved making this coffee table and having somewhere to hide all the toys! Was my second project to tackle alone and I probably took longer than most. Only thing was it was a little wobbly for my husband and I so we took it apart and put in metal supports on legs. Sturdy enough that all 5 of my kids have been on there spinning around and it didn't budge. Much larger than you think!

Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Minwax puritan pine and red mahogany. Permanent marker for numbers.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

Lady Goats

Wed, 01/23/2013 - 14:51

Especially for a second-alone-project! I'm usually partial to darker stains, but I kinda dig the medium stain you used, too... Maybe I'll have to start lookin' into those!

jjsarkinen

Wed, 01/30/2013 - 09:36

Thank you! I've seen some of your project and I am always blown away by what you build. :)

Kentwood Bookshelf

Submitted by REASMOM on Tue, 11/18/2014 - 17:00

I followed the plans for the Kentwood Bookshelf but added an extra shelf.  I stained it with Minwax Early American stain & 3 coats of Minwax clear satin polyurethane.

Estimated Cost
$60.00
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
Minwax Early American stain & 3 coats of Minwax water based, oil modified poly.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

Loft Bed

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Thu, 02/23/2017 - 14:53

This was a pretty easy build and super cost efficient! I decided to paint mine instead of staining it and only used stain on the steps for the platform. After it was put together and the mattress was put in I decided to add an extension to the top (not a lot of room between the top of my son's mattress and the upper edge after an 11" mattress was put in) that could be put on and taken off by just un-clasping it!

Love that the footprint on this loft bed is so small and allowed for SOOOO much more room in my son's room to play and store things! Couldn't be happier with this build.... Only downside: Your friends may ask you to build one for their children, haha.

Estimated Cost
$120 after costs of lumber, pocket hole screws, and paint.
Estimated Time Investment
Day Project (6-9 Hours)
Finish Used
Polycrilic coat over paint
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate