Community Brag Posts

Laundry Basket Dresser

This took me about an hour to build. I used two coats of paint and bought the cheapest laundry baskets that Walmart sells here in Alaska ($3.77 each). I added some felt to the bottom corners as it'll be sitting on a hardwood floor. Very happy with the finished product!

Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Recommended Skill Level
Starter Project

Rustic Entry Bench

Submitted by Kravgirl on Sun, 01/07/2018 - 07:42

Sturdy rustic entry bench. 46”x17”x17” high with 

shoe shelf. Built with 4x4 legs and 2x6 seating for max strength. 

Estimated Cost
$75 - $100
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Dark Walnut with semi gloss urethane on seat and matte urethane on rest.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

Fireplace Mantle

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Mon, 12/27/2021 - 08:30

A gift for my husband! Now I’m hoping he will get me the fireplace! Ha ha!

Built from Plan(s)

Comments

Pallet shelf for less than $5.00

Submitted by stedders on Fri, 05/06/2011 - 19:08

This project was super quick, cheap, and easy to make. I created it using an old recycled pallet, vintage sterling silverware, and leftover stain from another project. I simply sanded and stained it.

Estimated Cost
Under $5.00
Estimated Time Investment
An Hour or Two (0-2 Hours)
Finish Used
Mahagony
Recommended Skill Level
Starter Project

Simple Bed (Full Size

Submitted by rlsavard on Wed, 07/03/2013 - 10:03

Great first project I made for my 2 year old son. He loves his "big boy bed" and I thoroughly enjoyed making it. I made the headboard first, then waited a day to do the footboard. I was able to think the process through better during that period and the footboard came out much better than the headboard, although maybe I'm just aware of these differences because I'm the one that made it. All in all it was a great learning experience and a wonderful way to dive into wood working. Thanks for all your plans, Ana!

Estimated Cost
$300 (materials and new tools)
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Recommended Skill Level
Starter Project

Comments

Toy Box/Nightstand

Submitted by AK1013 on Wed, 06/24/2015 - 12:08

This is the 2nd thing I've ever built in my life. I had a ton of trouble with the angle cuts because of an old miter saw and my lack of skills with a protractor but it turned out okay.

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

Rory’s Treehouse

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Tue, 12/28/2021 - 08:51

Recent projects:
Treehouse for my 6-year old granddaughter
Desk for my 6-year old granddaughter

Comments

{mini} ten dollar ledges

I knew I wanted some of these shelves in my daughter's room but it seems bedroom sizes in Australia are quite a bit smaller than the US! I couldn't spare a long wall to fill with books so chose this narrow space to the side of the window.

The length of time I took for this project was for several reasons:
* I was a total beginner!
* I had to cut all of the lengths of wood with a hand saw & sand with sandpaper wrapped around a block of wood.
* It took about 5 coats of paint to cover the wood properly.

I adjusted the measurements from Ana's plans to fit the smaller space & while daunted at first at the prospect of attaching things to walls, I was so thrilled with how they turn out. I'm looking forward to challenging myself with something a little more complex next (perhaps with some power tools this time to assist!).

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Paint
Recommended Skill Level
Starter Project

Comments

Birthday Kitchen

Submitted by katrinaj55 on Sat, 06/27/2015 - 00:01

This was a pretty good and at times challenging project but it was fun and totally worth it when I saw the look on my daughter's face

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$50
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Polyurethane
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Natural Pine

Enjoyed making this queen sized bed frame. Thanks Ana, for the great plans! I am adding some lights to it in the next few weeks, that I'll wire through the 4x4's, to add individual reading lamps. I plan on complimenting the bed frame with your farmhouse style nightstands, that I am going to modify with a hidden power supply and some rollers for the drawers. Once done, I'll submit the brag post! Again, thanks Ana, for your great and inspired plans!

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$175 (4x4's are expensive where I am, and I went with KD Whitewood instead of just regular pine 2x4's)
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Natural
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Door Spice Rack

We just moved into our newly built home, I love to cook, and realized really didn't have a good spot in the pantry for all the spices. This was my first project and in doing internet search for ideas came across Ana White's website, not only did I find the spice cabinet plan I was looking for, but a treasure trove of other projects and ideas. New to this so I have found Ana's site to be such a blessing. Yes, this made me a hero to my wife!

Built from Plan(s)

Fancy Laundry Basket Dresser

This has been on my to-do list for a long time. We have not had a dresser for years, and have used our closets for our clothes. In our old house, I had built a storage unit for our closet, and we used clear plastic storage bins for our smaller, non-hanging items. Then we moved to our current house. Which had nice closets, but the bins didn't work so well. But we made do, fully intending to change it when we had time. Six years later...I found the time. LOL.
When Ana posted the laundry basket dresser, I knew it would work for our current bins! But I wanted them out of the closet, and I didn't really want to look at them. So I thought about doors. Finally worked it out, and here are the changes that I made.
I made it to fit my bins. Added some legs. Added 1x2 trim all around to help hide the plywood and beef it up to help the doors. Added the doors(gotta love that kreg-jig!). I used Ana's plan for the basic glass doors for those, same as the ones I did for my kitchen.
When it came to the inserts, I knew what I wanted, but it just took a bit of time to get everything together.
The inserts are plastic-plexiglass. I LOATHE cutting that stuff, and we won't go into the detail and language that was involved with that part. Finally got two workable pieces. Used my xyron to make circular stickers, and laid them out in my desired pattern. Then sprayed with frosted glass spray paint(awesome stuff!). It gave it that modern edge that I wanted, and disguised the stuff inside.

Estimated Cost
~40
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Valspar glossy black spray paint, valspar aqua
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

My workbench

Thanks for the work bench plans! Mine measures 3 feet by 6 feet. We have a single car garage so I put locking casters on mine to enable me to move it. Easier to clean, easier to access all sides then put it back in the corner. The frame is 2x4, the top is leftover ash flooring. The lower shelf is leftover 2 by (4s, 6s). I may add another layer of ash to the top but it's functional as is. Stands 36 inches tall.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
unfinished as of now. Planning a clear coat for top.
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Owl Love It!

Submitted by dynoboy on Tue, 06/30/2015 - 19:46

I built this as a birthday present for my sister and niece, she loves owls so I figured out a way to enlarge and image and stenciled an owl onto the top of the cover. Super happy with the way that it turned out. I used some retired climbing rope for the handles and screwed them in on the underside. I am going to put some rock around the outside so there is a buffer for the weed whacker.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
~$650
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Exterior Latex Paint
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

A Simple Modern Doll House x 2!

I spent a couple of weekends making the knockoff West Elm Doll Houses using these free plans, as Christmas gifts for my 3 year old honorary nieces. The plans made building the doll houses quite easy! I opted to add trim pieces on the door and window openings, which saved me some headache, since they didn't need to be cut perfectly straight, and I also decided to cut the door and window openings out before attaching the front side to the rest of the house, just in case I messed up. The furniture was a bit harder without any plans (it's noted that the plans will be available soon, but they weren't when I did this build), but I just looked at the photos and made things up as I went along, using scrap wood and wood glue, which was pretty fun. Total cost was about $75 for both of these doll houses, the furniture and spray paint. For the finishing, I used Minwax Wood Finish Oil-Based in Ebony for the roofs and exterior window and door trim, which I stained before attaching. The rest of the house is Benjamin Moore Advance in Chantilly Lace, since that's what I had on hand, followed by two coats of Rust-Oleum spray paint in Satin Clear Enamel. For the furniture I opted to spray paint it all in satin white or black, also followed by two coats of the enamel spray. I used acrylic craft paint on the faucets, to give them a pop of silver. And I added some scrapbook paper for wallpaper and some cut up rug samples, for a little color! Both of my friends' 3 year olds are a little on the young side for these, but they've been enjoying learning how to play with them!

Built from Plan(s)

Comments

cottage bench with storage

My son used your plans to build this bench for his Eagle Scout project. It now resides at the University City, MO Head Start, along with over 90 books that people donated for the children. He couldn't have done it without this site! Thank you so much!

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

Comments

Peppa Pig House

Submitted by Katielauer on Mon, 01/22/2018 - 07:43

Roof to be added later. Modified Dream Dollhouse to 1/2 size -- perfect for 2 yo!

Estimated Cost
$30-45
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Deco Art acrylic paint in wildflower pink. Decopage scrapbook paper to interior walls and floors
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Market Stand

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sun, 01/16/2022 - 06:17

Plans were easy to follow and we were able to build it using scrap and salvaged wood, and leftover paint. Only had to buy screws and the chalkboard sign materials, so very affordable to make. Birthday boy LOVES it! We set it up with some bakery toys, but the dramatic play options are virtually endless. This is one of those type of toys that will be part of all kinds of play with kids of all ages. The size is great for him at 3 years old but I expect it will be usable for many years before he outgrows it. Well worth making.

Built from Plan(s)

Comments

Love, love, love this swing!

Still unhung - but just had to share this wonderful swing we picked up today from our handyman. Thank you, Ana! The modifications to the plan we requested were a higher back and the front side table detail. We had it built for $350 - not including cushions.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
350
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Forest Green paint.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner