Community Brag Posts

This was my first project without a set of plans, and all I had was a pitiful hand-drawn diagram and a lot of good ideas from prior Ana-White projects/plans (Google sketchup seems beyond my intellectual capacity!). I started with a spare piece of cherry that I wanted to use somewhere, so it became the basis for the top of this office shelf unit. I had to go with the dimensions of the cherry, so everything was built around that.

I used maple plywood for the base and sides of the cabinet, and pine furring strips for the frame/edging. Then, once I had the entire unit put together, I decided that I would like to stain just the frame. I had to take the whole project apart (all 51 pieces), stain the frame/edges, varnish the interior portions of the maple, and re-assemble without ruining the finish.

I try to never use glue because it's the one action that can't be reversed. I made a critical error on this (in a rush) when I installed the lower shelf in the wrong place and glued in a panel that hid all the screws. I thought the thing was totally ruined. My husband suggested adding a 2nd divider and calling it a "design feature". It saved the whole project.

Once re-assembled, I didn't want my Kreg holes to show, and I haven't had much luck with the Kreg plugs. So, I added a mitered frame around the insides and stained it cherry to match the edges.

Minwax didn't have a water-based cherry that I liked, so I mixed my own out of various water-based stains. That process took over a week to get just the right tone. This was the first time I've used Minwax Polycrylic, and I will be using this product forever...it is fantastic.

I just took the idea of the farmhouse, and crossed it with a bed in a photo my wife found on Pottery Barn Teen.

The back is one peice of plywood, and I just used the planks for accent. The top of the headboard is a 4X4, with a routed bottom edge. I made the crown pieces on the posts out of a couple of routed squares of MDF stacked.

The footboard is quite similiar to the Farmhouse footboard just with the plywood and accent planks instead of just planks.

It was super easy and cost less than $150.

Our little girls playhouse....

L2.2m x W1.2m x H to apex 1.8m,

Made from overworked pallets and a rough sketch!

All planks were 2.2m in length which determined the house length and were 40mm thick.

Made in panels to ease assembly and if we decide to move it as it weighs an awful lot!!!

Used the plans for the Fire Station Loft Bed up until the final finish, then slightly customized. Used scrap pieces and jig saw to create some fun rockets. Plans were wonderful and easy to follow. Kreg Jig was so cool to use. Recommend using screws, even if countersunk, so that the bed can be taken apart as needed. Also recommend that you measure the path you must take from your work area to the final destination before gluing and nailing (thus the screw comment) so you don't have to take it apart and build a second time!

Thanks to my dad for partnering with me on this one. Did it 100% as a team. Couldn't have done it without your help!

I followed the basic design plans with just two modifications.  I did not screw the sofa back to the bottom frame - instead I propped into place with bungee cords so I can fold it down for easy Winter time storage!  I also added arm rests to each chair.  I used a Kreg jib to screw it all together.  

We followed the tea cart plan (mostly). Since the scalloped edge looked hard to us, we bought molding for trim instead. We had a mitre saw so used that to cut the molding at 45 degree angles. The kids have been putting all sorts of toys on it and right now it's their legos.

I made this doll bed for my niece for Christmas. I made it a bit smaller than the original plans, and I was really happy with how it turned out! I sewed the pillows and bedding from quilting pieces. It's the perfect size for a baby doll. My sister loved it, my niece is only 10 months old, but she will grow into it soon. Had a lot of fun making it!

I saw a table similar to this at Pier 1 and loved it, but didn't want to spend $400. I saw the plan for a farmhouse play table, then found one for a turned leg farmhouse kitchen table. The plan for the turned leg farmhouse table was not detailed at all though. The instructions for building the table top included, "put together the table top." LOL this was my very first project... I needed some more instruction!! So I went on YouTube and watched Ana's video where she made a coffee table pretty much the same style and kind of went off those instructions. I love the way it turned out! Everyone was so impressed that I was actually able to build it! (With a little help from my husband, father, and brother-in-law)

I want to eventually build another one like this, but use better quality wood. I purchased all of the wood from Lowe's, even the legs. I figured since this was my very first project I shouldn't use good, more expensive lumber since there was a good possibility I might mess something up!

We built 2 XLarge Porch Benches,they where easy to build & look fabulous! Best part was it was a fraction of the cost if I were to buy these new!!! Thank you Ana!!! 

-Sandra 

Outdoor collection is the best. Used 2x4's instead of 1x4's for all of the legs and backs. 1x4's for all of the seating areas. 

Full Tutorial of my DIY Mitten Storage HERE!

This was the first pic I took of my mitten storage slowly coming together.

EEEEEKK! I can’t wait to have my mudroom organized!!!

I used the Hailey Storage Bed (twin) as my inspiration for this window seat.  Built just one of the benches fitted to match the exact width of my window.   I also added trim to the cubbies to make it look more finished.   I bought the foam from Home Depot and covered it with a table cloth I loved but never really used on my table.  I had the baskets and boxes laying around and they give it a nice touch.  I was going to put doors in the center when I started, but liked the look of the open storage, so just trimmed out the cubbies.  

This is my fourth build from Ana's plans and I'm so pleased with how it came out.

A note on finishing - to me the hardest part of any project!  I stained it with minwax Early American and used 2 coats of Spar Varnish over that.   I was very nervous after I put the first coat of stain on as it wasn't the color I thought it would turn out to be.  I toyed with the idea of adding another color over the top, but decided just to leave it overnight and relook at it in the morning.  I'm so glad I did.  It had mellowed significantly overnight and was just the right color.  I added a second coat to try and cover up any of the streakiness, then added the spar varnish (satin finish) and it made it gleam.  

After Xmas I decided we needed a better place to keep our growing collection of board games. I made mine a bit deeper to fit our longer board games. Also, put a 3rd door on it. We also needed a central place to charge our phones and tablets. Paired with the top of the bedside charging table this cabinet is the perfect solution. Thank you!

Reclaimed wood Truss end table. Modified legs and top with what I could find. Picture doesn't show the angles well but I think this is one of my favorite projects. My first time using angles but it was a great project to learn on. So simple but looks great. It's a little big for an end table so I usually use it as an entryway table.

Believe it or not, this is my very first furniture project.  Inspired by my 8 yrs old son special needs to be able to draw his curtains close whenever he felt the need, I happily took on the challenge to build this for his pirate themed bedroom.  I have not filled the holes yet nor have I stained it in the walnut finish we have chosen.  The weather is just too cold for my taste (will wait until spring).  Currently, I will work on hemming the curtains.  I am just so proud that I could not wait until next year to share it with you all. I carefully changed the dimensions to a full size bed, changed the storage shelves sizes to accommodate 8 cube bins and 2 book shelves, added the canopy and some multi-coloured adjustable LED lights. Feeling so proud and have one really thrilled little boy!  Thanks Ana!!!