Community Brag Posts

Cooler, Natural Rustic look 4 my Pops

1st I want to say, the part thats uncovered on the middle will be covered but Im letting pops customize that spot with a picture or whatever he chooses.

My dad made most everything I have ever had in life including the house I live in. So I wanted to make him something this dad's day that he could really use and enjoy. He just built a hang out place in his back yard that I call "his fort" Since he's in his 60's now and a little more mellow, he has a lot of little parties with friends, family, basically anyone who wants to come hang out in his back yard. lol. (He claims to have made the fort a covered stage for my 12 year old and his band. But I know the truth. hehe. it's his fort :) ) So I thought this cooler stand would come in handy. He saw me working on it a few days before fathers day and told me he was afraid I was gonna make his something girly. hehe. He's such a man's man. I love my pops and am soooo happy he likes my gift. Its already in use in the fort. hehe

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$50 bucks or so but I had the cooler and hinges
Estimated Time Investment
Day Project (6-9 Hours)
Finish Used
I used Minwax Weathered Oak. You can't really tell in the pictures because at that time it had only 1 coat and the pine needed 2 coats to really even tell its there. But it turned out really nice, my dad's a mountain man so he loves rustic-y things. After stain I sprayed it with Minwax Poly (I can't remember the full name sorry) its the one in a spray can. Satin finish so you cant see any gloss
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Comments

Lasso the Moon

Fri, 06/28/2013 - 10:51

I love this! What a great gift for your dad's fort.
He sounds like a cool guy. Thanks for sharing!
Anna

SoCaliforniaMel

Sun, 07/07/2013 - 00:27

Thank you, I'm just returning some of his hand made hard work. Thank you for the best father day idea ever. I'm sure I would have made him some girly thing if I hadn't come across your cooler plans. hehe. He is so happy with it and its held up, even with regular use and his heavy hand. :P it's the only thing keeping things cool in his fort and he brags to all of his friends about how his daughter made it for him.
Thanks again!
~Melody

Farm House Table

Submitted by tedwarm on Fri, 05/29/2015 - 05:50

I used local Colorado beetle killed pine. I based the table on Anna's Farm House Table plans. I used the bread ends to create pull outs for 11 inch extensions on each end.

Estimated Cost
$350, not counting the planer that burned out during the milling of the wood.
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
seven layers satin wipe on poly, two layers finish wax using steel wool
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Carrots Included

Submitted by hoffer5353 on Sun, 12/24/2017 - 07:16

Adorable gift ready for Christmas!

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
This project was less than $10 because I used hardware and scraps in my shop.
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
Minwax Express Colors
Spray Paint
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Work Bench

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Fri, 12/24/2021 - 20:36

Built the DIY garage work bench, added wheels came out perfect...plans from Ana White were awesome@

Comments

Doll House Book Case

Submitted by jennrmoran on Tue, 04/19/2011 - 08:28

We combined Grace's bookshelf plans and the doll house book shelf to make one big shelf system. It is built mainly from mdf except for the trim. It took about a week. 

Estimated Cost
150.00
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
We primed the shelf and then painted it with semi gloss white paint.
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Farmhouse Table

Submitted by CLieLee on Sat, 06/22/2013 - 14:11

This was our first project. A bunch of "nfl widows" decided to make these tables together. While building with friends is fun, doing all the cuts and prep work for three tables at once will take forever!

If I did it again:
1) Let your wood fully dry out before laying the top boards - it will warp and lift a bit
2) Stain the top and all sides of the 2x6s - if they do warp you don't want to see unstained wood
3) Be extremely careful with your glue - stain will not stick to glue
4) Wood filler does not stain the same as the wood and you will be able to see it
5) Attach your end boards to the 2x6s first. Otherwise they will tend to sag and tilt down.

Estimated Cost
90
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Ebony Stain - Minwax with two coats of semi gloss sealant
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Bunk Bed plans

Submitted by mgibson on Tue, 06/02/2015 - 13:23

Easy project for making bunk beds. Plan was very easy to follow!

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

Loft bed

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sun, 12/26/2021 - 13:03

I used your loft bed plan and made some adjustments to better suit our needs. My daughter absolutely loves her bed and we love having all the extra room under her bed. Thank you and I will be using many more of your plans.

Justin

Comments

Simple kids chairs

Submitted by ralarid on Thu, 04/21/2011 - 19:04

I built two of the $4 kids chairs for my two kiddos. After building the first one (the white one) I changed the plan a little to use pocket hole screws as much as possible to avoid the visible screw heads on the seat slats. I really love how the red one turned out.

Estimated Cost
$5
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
One the white one I used spray primer and white spray paint. On the red one I used Minwax wipe on stain. It was really easy to use.
Recommended Skill Level
Starter Project

Outdoor Farmhouse Table made of Cedar

Submitted by PattiSca on Mon, 06/24/2013 - 06:55

We used the plans for the Farmhouse Table Knockoff similar to the one from RH, to build this table. We made some changes, and some hints:

1. The table is made of Cedar, as it will be used outside. Pine is just not an outdoor-friendly material, but Cedar is rather insect-proof. This will be used at a beach house.

2. We used 1x, not 2x on the top. The top just seemed to clunky with the 2x size. Plus, it's near impossible to find 2x in cedar.

3. We couldn't find 8x1 or 8x2 for the breadboard, so we used 6x1 (same as the table top).

4. We measured the length of the breadboard before we cut. I"m glad my husband made that suggestion because I found the seven (7) 1x6's totaled 38 3/4, not 38 1/2 as the plans call for. So it really does depend on the wood and humidity and such. So I think it's a wise decision to measure the width of all of the boards before you cut that piece.

5. We did not screw into the table top as recommended by the plans.

Estimated Cost
$250, including screws
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
None at this time. My sister wants to age the wood first, and then I'm going to bug her until she puts a marine grade finish on it :)
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Kitchen Table

Submitted by dcdorey on Sat, 06/06/2015 - 10:32

Simple farmhouse table

Estimated Time Investment
An Hour or Two (0-2 Hours)
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Table for barbecue

Submitted by Pjc6 on Sat, 12/30/2017 - 11:38

Modified plans to make it a little larger. Top is brown and bottom is ‘wild currant’ (red)

Estimated Cost
$80
Estimated Time Investment
Day Project (6-9 Hours)
Finish Used
Top was Olympic paint / sealant. Bottom was SW enamel acrylic
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Bunk bed

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sun, 12/26/2021 - 14:45

Great build, easy to follow, very affordable. Thanks so much.

Comments

Tryde Coffee Table

Submitted by kylihoot on Mon, 04/25/2011 - 19:36

This was a build for My Mother-In-Law, she loves it!
I did not use 4x4s, I used two 2x4s because I was concerned the treated lumber would not stain properly.
Thanks Ana!

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
40$
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Minwax Dark Walnut Stain,and Minwax water based clear satin polyurathane. I used an old sock to apply the stain, with the grain!
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Farmhouse Bedside Table

Submitted by pkniland on Tue, 06/25/2013 - 13:37

Use poplar because it takes paint so well. Ended up using a preambled worktop for the top. Pocket screws and glue.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$100
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
White base with a mahogany stain.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

jshock

Tue, 09/22/2015 - 09:21

How do I find the plans for these two bed side night stands?

Rustic table

Submitted by jdawn1988 on Mon, 01/01/2018 - 16:05

We built our table from the rustic table plans and I am in love. I am a beginner and I was so scared but it turned out amazing!! Thank you for giving me the courage and confidence to start building my own furniture! 

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Minwax stain in slate
Minwax polycrylic
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Cottage Loft Bed WITH Stairs

Submitted by mdesign on Fri, 04/29/2011 - 11:37

I've been working on this little dandy since before Ana posted her Cottage Loft bed. It took longer because of the 1x6's but I thought it would be cuter that way and more cottage looking. All of the 1x6 boards were fastened together with the Kreg Jig, and the house is sturdy and HEAVY! My intentions were never to use it as a loft bed but rather a playhouse for my two girls and a place to put all their stuff. My oldest has however fallen in love with it, so when I feel comfortable with her sleeping that far off the ground I would guess that it will become a bed. For those of you that are contemplating it a Kreg Jig and some kind of paint sprayer are absolute musts for this project, no way around it! And don't plan on completing it in a short amount of time, with babysitters and being a stay at home mom it took almost a month from first board cut to bringing it back in from the garage. I'll post more on my blog if you'd like to check it out!

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
Paint and distressing
Recommended Skill Level
Advanced