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This was my first DIY build. Having been inspired by my good friend, the brilliant Jen Woodhouse of The House of Wood, I decided surely I could do this too. So I picked something that looked like a challenge, but that we also needed. We have an old piano we bought from Craigslist that has heretofore been benchless. So I used the Flip Top Storage Bench plans, headed to Home Depot, collected the wood (and let them cut it - but made a few of my own cuts, too), and got to work.

I had a little trouble at first, simply because, after assembling the sides and aprons, the unit did NOT square up. I took a few pieces apart and realized it wasn't user error (what?), but warped wood. That's right: one of my 1x3s was warped and bendy. So I rebuilt that side with some of my leftovers, and made sure to square up after each step, and lo and behold it came together!

It's not perfect - one of my legs is a bit off, so it wobbles when no one's sitting on it, but there's no issue when it bears weight - but for my first build, I'm quite pleased! And now that I know I can do this...well, this is just the beginning!

Total time it took me was probably around 15 hours, which includes practicing using my circular saw and kreg jig (both of which were straight out of the box when I started), along with my rebuilding the side.

I used Minwax pre-stain wood conditioner after sanding, followed by two coats of Rustoleum spray stain in Kona. I sanded with 400 grit sand paper after each coat of stain, and finished with one coat of semi-gloss polyurethane. I considered a few more coats of stain, but so fell in love with the weathered look that evolved from the staining and sanding that I just left it!

I also spray painted the hinges - that was a bit of an accident (I didn't know how NOT to cover them in stain...), but turned out to my liking!

My estimated cost is about $100, which covers the wood (including the extra 1x3s and an extra 1x2 I needed for a screw-up), nails, screws, three cans of spray stain, polyurethane, wood conditioner, paint brushes, two packs of sandpaper, and my hand sander. All but the wood will be used in my next few projects too, so that cost covers QUITE a bit!

I made these super easy herb planters for my daughter. When I say easy I really mean super simple. I built 4 planters within 1 hour, that includes cutting the wood. I used all cedar pickets from Home Depot. The black rack was sitting under my patio collecting everyone's junk. I decided to use it to stack all the planters. I spruced it up with a little touch of black spray paint. The planters look awesome outside next to the elevated planter I also made. Thanks Ana!! You rock!! 

We used the plan about using one sheet of plywood to make a closet organizer (http://www.ana-white.com/2013/03/plans/closet-organizer-one-sheet-plywo…) to make several shelves for our master closet.

We added a seating area with hidden storage, using an upcycled crib mattress for the seat (instead of buying new materials to make a seat cushion). 

We added multiple wood dowels for the rods across. There is wood across the top of the whole closet system so we can store things up above. 

This project added a lot of extra storage for us and we're so happy with how it came out. The shelves were pretty reasonable to build.

Read more: http://www.diydanielle.com/2017/01/how-to-build-walk-in-closet.html

My husband and I built this play kitchen for our 3-year-old daughter. It was only our second project, and we couldn't be prouder of it! We modified the fridge and freezer doors to look more like the "real" one, and used a router on all the edges. My mother-in-law sewed the cute curtain from the plans at http://thecraftingchicks.com/2010/04/giveaway-2-custom-photo-backdrop-a…

We now have plans to add a microwave and dish shelf, and an oven light in the oven. Our daughter and son love playing with it!

Inspired by two different plans because we wanted storage and the barn-look of the headboard. Cedar wood has been stained with a woolsteel/vinegar mix plus few cats of black tea.

Pretty happy with the result. Only drawback: very heavy bed, hard to move with two people even without the headboard.

I made this project with my son to give to his friend who is getting an American Girl Doll for her birthday. This was an easy project that came together quickly. I'd say it's an all day project considering the painting and sewing time.  I modified the project as suggested with a larger piece of wood for the headboard and footboard, and I used Ana's tutorial for the mattress. I built this bed with scraps I had on hand. 

I made this bookcase for my nephews, based on the Bankers Bookcase plans and pictures. The rounded corners were made by tracing an aluminum can.

I just used up some pallet wood and scrap wood for this. My painting skills obviously need to be tuned but it came out adorable anyway! Thanks Ana and Killer B!

I just Modified the Camp Loft Bed to a Playhouse Slide for my Children. What a nice Christmas gift ;)

My first furniture build using my Kreg HD jig, 3/8 Rockler Dow jig and my imagination as I went along. I was making a twin bed frame so I got the dimensions form the box spring and went form there. I made it 3 inches wider then the box spring and 3 inches longer. I glued to the runners a 2X2 and screwd it down with my Kreg 2 1/2 decking screws which made it nice and solid.  I used the dowling jig for the headboard and footboard to give it a distinctive look. I cut the dows to the length I desired and then glued one side in. Now making the otherside line up is a bit of a task. I found angling the final piece  and lining one are two at a time and working my way to the opposite side worked best. When you get the last dow lined up take a rubber mallet and give it several good wacks to take out your fruststions (LOL) and sinc the down in until they are bottomed out. I use 3 Kreg HD screws on each side of the rails along with Oak dows to mount the headboard and footboard to the runners. Workd out just great! The bed is solid and dows not creak in the least. It's as if the bed were carved out of one piece of wood.

The paint I used a base coat of Creamy Oat. Then I painted Elmers glue over the base coat and let it get tacky. Then I drenched it with the green top coat and sat back and watched it crack. It was awesome to watch it crack! Don't worry about it running are dripping you can come back after and take a razor blade and gently remove the drips keeping the razor flat against the finish and not angling it in to the paint. Remember it's supposed to look old and weathered. You can also use the cheapest throw away brrushes you can find. Be sloopy! No worries at all. The thicker you add the glue the wider the cracks will be. Practice on a few scraps to get the feel. I let it cure for 3 days because of the thickness of the paint then covered it with 3 coats of Rust-Oleum's water based Ultimate Polyurethane semi gloss.

I am so proud of this build. Came out better then I ever thought and I love the unique paint as well. Time comsuming but well worth it!

 Made the 3-table set with 2 Rustic X end Tables and a Rustic X Coffee Table. These are my first woodworking projects ever and I'm so excited to do more!

Built this desk for my parents to fit in their office space. It is made to look like the Hendrix desk except smaller. I sandwiched together 2 pieces of plywood to make the desktop thick and sturdy.

easy build

RusticX living room set with a tea/steel wool-vinegar treatment and a paste wax finish.

Loved the simplicity of this design. It turned out beautiful. My sectional is 6'X10'X10'.

My son is getting to the age where he wants to see everything we are doing whether it's in the kitchen or at the workbench out in the garage. This tower is PERFECT! We were eyeballing a $200 tower on Amazon but I was thrilled to find these plans. Even with the hingest I think I came in under $40. He immediately figured out how to climb up by himself and the top rung is a good height for him. This is going to get a lot of use! The build itself was an easy afternoon but of course the multiple coats of polyurethane took a few days since they had to dry. Thank you the wonderful plans!