Community Brag Posts

Barnwood Frames - variaton

Submitted by merle323 on Mon, 12/26/2011 - 20:45

Frames I made for my Mother and my wife for Christmas. Painted with Chalkboard paint so they can change them however they want

Estimated Cost
$15-$20
Estimated Time Investment
An Hour or Two (0-2 Hours)
Finish Used
Chalkboard Paint
Recommended Skill Level
Starter Project

girly girls

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Tue, 02/02/2016 - 19:38

My neighbor danny made these beds

Estimated Cost
700
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Recommended Skill Level
Advanced

Farmhouse King Bed

Submitted by aehutton33 on Wed, 07/24/2019 - 09:17

We used 2x6s on the sides so we wouldn't have a ledge on the side of the bed. Everything still lined up really well! We also used brackets to put the sides onto the headboard and footboard. It made it easier to put together and seems sturdier. 

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$120
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Minwax Weathered Oak
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Comments

okstout4

Mon, 10/19/2020 - 19:53

I thought about doing brackets too, but not sure how that would work w/the cleets on each side for the slats.

Toys boxes

Submitted by Cheryl on Fri, 12/30/2011 - 21:15

We made two toy boxes for the Make Two Challenge. A single mom with two small children needed a little boost for christmas this year. I used the stacking toy box plans but dressed it up a bit with trim and added casters. The plan was very easy to follow.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$40.00
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
Red and blue spray paint and minwax stain
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

Rustic X Coffee Table

Submitted by Celeste808 on Mon, 11/18/2013 - 17:24

Modified the plan to have no legs and added caster to the bottom so that it can be rolled easily around. Easy to build. I am in love with Ana's plans! Only cost $40 in wood!

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
Top: Minwax Ebony and Minwax Driftwood Stain
Bottom: White Semi-gloss paint
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

First DIY Project

Submitted by Barnes9916 on Thu, 02/04/2016 - 16:16

This is my first DIY project and I learned alot. It was fairly easy to put together following the ste-by-step plans. I did however have to cut the legs of the table down by three inches due to mis-measuring, but besides that minor hiccup this project was great. This was also the first time ever applying, or even working with, wood stain. Some of the areas did not come out as dark as I wanted, but the overall look of the stain, and the finished product we're pleased with.

 

For my next project I'm going to really try my hand, step everything up a notch, and attempt the Faux Fireplace Mantle with Hidden Storage Cabinets ( http://www.ana-white.com/2014/11/free_plans/faux-fireplace-mantle-hidden-storage-cabinets ). Wish me luck!

Estimated Time Investment
Day Project (6-9 Hours)
Finish Used
Minwax Dark Walnut, Semi-Gloss
Recommended Skill Level
Starter Project

Double trash can cabinet

Submitted by jenklase on Thu, 05/04/2023 - 15:43

Double trash can cabinet made of plywood. Included soft close hinge. Holds 2 13 gallon cans.

Comments

It's no mud room, but it sure helps!

Submitted by Debi G on Tue, 01/03/2012 - 17:29

My husband, who is otherwise amazing and free of bad habits, always set his work bag, jacket, lunch box, keys, and more on the kitchen table. Our house does not have a coat closet, entryway, or any sort of nook near the door, so I used the only available space in our kitchen to craft a locker for his stuff. There's a cut-out for a light switch (deck light) and an outlet, which made it easy to craft a charging station on the middle shelf. The dog food and water is on the bottom, with a rubber mat beneath them. His hats and lunchbox go on the top shelf. Now we're both happy!

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
two pine boards for the sides, and two 2' by 4' sheets of thin plywood for the back. Everything else is from scraps.
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
Behr premium poppy seed with primer
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

Debi G

Sun, 03/04/2012 - 05:54

Thanks! It's been a big help, and now my son wants one too.

Fire truck bed

Submitted by mari beth on Wed, 11/20/2013 - 15:28

Had a great time building this bed for my 2 year old son. The toughest part was building a slanted ladder that he could climb up. The project turned out way better than I expected and my son loves it.

Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Recommended Skill Level
Starter Project

Comments

JoanneS

Wed, 11/20/2013 - 15:37

You did a marvelous job on this, and your details are fab! Wonderful build! Your son is lucky his mom is an amazing builder. And this was your first project? I'm blown away! :)

Tryde Console Table

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sun, 02/07/2016 - 01:19

I used the Tryde Console Table plans to make a small table to go in our conference room.  I liked the design, but if I had to do it again, I probably would have not built in the breadboard ends.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Stepping Stool

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Wed, 08/28/2019 - 04:49

I love the ease of your plans.

Comments

Modern Adirondack chairs

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Mon, 05/08/2023 - 09:20

Finished the second chair using Kreg holes fir the arms
Cedar looks good I think

Comments

Doll Canopy Bed

Submitted by tifhamer on Thu, 01/05/2012 - 18:59

I adapted the bunk bed to make the 70s style canopy bed for Julie.

Estimated Cost
$ 25 for wood and fabric
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

Farmhouse Table Brag Post

Submitted by nate_kara on Sat, 11/23/2013 - 10:10

I can't say enough how much I love my farmhouse table! Oddly enough, it took me three years to post these brag photos. We changed the plans to make a table suitable for 10 people and have filled it many times over! It has made two big moves almost completely unscathed. Because we tend to move a lot, we used 4 lag bolts to attach each of the legs and didn't glue them on. The table is very sturdy with this modification, so much so that I can stand on it to change light bulbs in our chandelier without any movement at all! We used spar urethane to seal the wood. We did five coats so that coasters and hot pads were optional. We have no water or heat marks even with a lot of careless use.

Estimated Cost
$75
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
We used one coat of gunstock colored stain rubbed on with a dry cloth and rubbed off with another cloth after sitting for a couple of minutes. Once the stain dried, we used steel wool 000 to flatten the raised wood grain a little and gave it the first coat of urethane. We gave it a total of five coats, with steel wool between each coat and none after the final coat.
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Pallet Scraps Table

Submitted by BERobinson on Tue, 02/09/2016 - 07:28

Had a bunch of scrap wood laying around from deconstructed and unused pallets. Great idea for a table top. NOTE: Table top will be uneven because of different widths and thicknesses of pallet scraps. Use a planer if you have access.

Estimated Cost
FREE
Estimated Time Investment
Day Project (6-9 Hours)
Finish Used
deep redwood stain on the top with a poly finish. Same stain on legs, then painted with white chalk paint, sanded down, and waxed with a dirty black paint rag.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Bookshelf

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sun, 09/15/2019 - 18:35

This was my first project in about 10+ years, so it's not perfect. Thanks to my oldest son who bought me a compound miter saw for Mother's Day and a few of my hubby's tools. My son's and I completed this project over the weekend. Looking forward to our next team project.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$40
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Provincial stain

Upmarket hardwood Adirondack

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Tue, 05/16/2023 - 11:33

Loved design so decided on hardwood and no visible screw heads….. took a while but loved the result

Comments

Seasonal And Holiday

Nesting Tables

Submitted by jenn923 on Sun, 01/08/2012 - 10:40

I was really excited when I saw this plan. I needed a side table for my guest bedroom and these are perfect. The plans were very easy to follow - the only thing I did differently was I left off the angle braces. The hardest part of the project was waiting on the paint to dry. I've done a few other projects but this my best work so far...I'm getting better and better with each build. So excited to start something else...

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$20
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
Very light blue - Oops paint from Lowe's
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

Kate (not verified)

Sun, 01/08/2012 - 13:08

They look great! I'm sure your guests will love them.

I'm currently still in the painting stage of a modified version of just the large of the Preston tables. I love seeing one fully completed!

Laura Fama

Sun, 01/08/2012 - 13:37

Awesome!!! ... What a great job you did!!! I am making these too... glad to see how great they look... can't wait to finish mine now!

Turned Leg Farmhouse Table

This projected started with a mishap. I bought table legs from Lowes that were 35" tall, and after trying to decide if I could somehow make our chairs taller...I returned them for the correct set. The set I used was from Waddell online (the manufacturer). 29" Country Pine legs. With shipping these were the most expensive part of the entire project. The rest went according to plan. Once the table was done I decided on a whim to make a matching bench. I bought the bench legs from Home Depot and a bit more pine for the seat. The bench legs were 15" country pine also. I guessed on the measurements for it, and it came out okay. The only hard part was that my drill didn't fit with the Kreg bit on it when I was trying to screw in the bench supports. I actually had to borrow a shorter drill and bit from a friend to complete it! The staining took me a long time because I don't have a heated garage and the temperatures dropped below comfortable to work on it.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$130 for table and bench
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
I used oil based pre-stain by Minwax so the stain would cover evenly (mostly because I used such a soft wood). Then two coats of Minwax oil based stain in Special Walnut. I was planning on going darker, but this Special Walnut had that Pottery Barn rustic look I love. Lastly I did 3 coats of Minwax oil based Polyurethane in Satin finish. The first coat looked great, the second coat ended an ugly cloudy gray color. So...I didn't read the instructions and now I know. STIR STIR STIR. You have to stir this finish for a long time prior to each application. I thought stirring it was was enough. Don't make this mistake! Then I sanded forever and started over...3 coats.


UPDATE: I moved to a house with grey wood floors and the table didn't match at all. So I sanded the top coat of poly off and added Minwax Classic Grey Stain over the Special Walnut from last year. One more coat of poly and this table looks like it was made to match the floors!!
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments