Community Brag Posts

Storage Cubbies

I used 1x8 instead of 1x6s and added an extra column to fit the exact space I wanted my cubby. It is perfect for storage of my Sizzix dies! The more corner clamps you have, the faster this will go.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
50
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Homemade chalk finish paint
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Full Storage (Captains) Bed

This was a pretty quick build and works perfectly in my son's room.  I love all the room for the cubbies!  All of his cars and tracks stay off the ground!

The only tricky part for me was attaching the first edges and keeping it straight.  Since I was doing this all by myself, I used my nail gun to attach them quickly and then drilled in screws to secure them.

I kept them in three separate parts so it was easier to take upstairs and then I used my nail gun to attach the slats in the middle.  Pretty easy and inexpensive for a nice wood full size bed frame!

Check out my blog post for more pictures of my build!  http://www.leapoffaithcrafting.com/diy-full-bed-frame-storage/

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$110
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
I filled all holes with wood filler. Sanded with 120 grit and then 220 grit sandpaper. Applied Varathane Colonial Maple with brush, let soak a few minutes, and then wiped off with towel.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Modern Adirondack chair

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Tue, 10/05/2021 - 14:39

I made four of these chairs and my wife has ‘ordered’ more for the spring, the will probably be more purple ones

Comments

Post Office / Bank

I used Ana's Library Base Plan and modified it slightly to include cubby holes on the bottom and an acrylic "window" at the top to create a post office for my daughter. This now also gets used as a "bank" and a "fast food window"! Lots of fun!!

Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Paint, Stain
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Out door sectional

This is my first woodwork project, completed as a team, with my husband. Was good fun at times and frustrating at times! Our wood was thicker by a couple of millimetres out meaning the plans needed to be tweaked.
Table was designed with the chair structure.

We had cushions and covers made to measure (we live in SE Asia so cheaper than UK or US) about £200.

Looking forward to building some deck chairs next!!

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

PB Connor Table

Connor table

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

Salsa Console

This took two weekends to complete. It makes a huge difference when you take time for a good paint job.  

 

I used the best grade pine at Lowes so I didn't have to sand everything and there is less chance for warped boards.  This is why my cost was more.

 

I also added trim around the middle and bottom bands to really make it pop. Overall, I am very pleased with the results.

Estimated Cost
$300
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
Satin paint and natural chestnut stain
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Kids Adirondack Chair!

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Wed, 10/06/2021 - 05:59

I built this chair for my brand new grandson. I cut out the letters and inlaid them into the front of the chair. Lots of fun!!

Built from Plan(s)

Comments

Barn door table, Inspired by the Tryde Table

Submitted by LeslieD on Mon, 03/14/2011 - 14:33

This is my first project and I was very excited about doing it. I wanted something unique but something like the Tryde table.
I hope you all enjoy it and get inspiration from this table like I did.
Thank you Ana.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
150.00
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
The only thing I did by hand is use a hand saw. Everything I used besides that was electric. It took me more time to make this table because I have never built anything before and wanted to take my time. I started on a Sunday and was done by Wednesday.
Measure twice, cut once.
Recommended Skill Level
Starter Project

Spa Side Table

I completed this table with my 5 year old daughter as my assistant. My husband requested a table to put next to our new hot tub to set his drinks on and this is perfect. We only put one board on the top because I felt since it would be outside, I wanted a smooth top. I just screwed it in diagonally from the bottom. I also used spar varnish since it would be outside.

Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
Rust-o-Leum Ultimate Wood Stain in Kona
Semi-gloss Spar Varnish (3 coats)
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Small shop layout

This week's project was to reorganize my small garage shop for a better layout. Hopefully you can get some ideas from my shop to better organize your own.

 

Blog: http://www.lanebroswoodshop.com/2015/04/new-shop-layout.html

 

Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VuRVXdg-YNA

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

Etched Decorative Mirrors

Submitted by Malka on Wed, 09/13/2017 - 01:40

4 Etched Decorative Mirrors and 1 Faux Waterfall Edge Mirror. Bought the cheap Wal-Mart Mirrors and customised them with etchings and frames.

Estimated Cost
$15-20 a Mirror
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
Minwax Early American, Classic Grey, Special Walnut, Provincial
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

2x4 Outdoor Chair

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Thu, 10/07/2021 - 13:52

The stain is a dark black teal, better seen in direct sunlight. The foam for the cushions was cut from an old IKEA mattress, and cushion cover were made from extra canvas we had. We're happy with the result.

Built from Plan(s)

Toy Workbench

Submitted by alifrancis on Thu, 03/17/2011 - 14:46

I have always loved handmade gifts, both giving them and recieving them.  So when we got an invitation to our friend's 3yr old son's party, I knew the perfect gift.  I loved this plan from the moment Ana posted it, but my kids were just too old for it now :(

This was a very inexpensive an easy build.  The best part was putting a giant bow around it and taking it to the party.  Jax lit up when he saw it. 

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$15 including paint
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
Used a Kilz spray primer and sanded it after dried. Painted it with Kelly Moore Blue that we had left over in our garage in an eggshell finish. Finished it off with two coats of Minwax Polycrylic.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Adirondack Chair

Submitted by nateDuncan on Mon, 06/03/2013 - 12:10

I had built a few of these chairs a year and a half ago similar to the red ones that you have on the step by step instructions. That was my first time at customer building and painting anything. Needless to say, my skills have improved over time.

So, I wanted to build this chair for my dad for fathers day. He had an old plastic Adirondack chair sitting in his backyard that was really gross. I wanted to replace it with something nice. So he is obviously a UK fan and I wanted to see if I could paint the logo on correctly while also giving myself the opportunity to build something and see if I can make this chair a lot better than the ones I had previously built.

So I decided to curve the back of the chair and curve the ends of the arms. I recently got a nice dewalt random orbital sander which helped out alot in getting it nice and smooth. I made my own wood putty using the leftover sawdust and glue mixed together. I also fastened the wood together using glue and polymer coated screws. Which are supposed to last alot longer than regular wood screws when using pressure treated pine.

I took my time to make sure the pieces were all square when assembled which was better than previous building projects. Also, as far as finishing the chair, I primed it and then put 3 layers of the Kentucky blue Outdoor paint with a brush (which seems like it took forever). I made the stencil by just printing the logo on a piece of cardstock paper. Then I cut out the logo with a razor, then I wrapped the paper in duct tape to make the stencil it a little stronger and to fix the areas that ripped when cutting the card stock paper. Then I cut out the duct tape where the logo is. I made a couple of test paints using the stencil on some scrap to make sure my technique was good. Then once I felt comfortable, I painted 4 coats of very thin paint on the chair where the logo is. After all was dry, I did a light by hand sanding to make it smooth and then sprayed some clear coat on it for an extra level of protection and to make it shine a little.

It was a fun project and my dad really liked it.

Some things I would have done differently for next time would be to use a router to flush cut the seat slats and also use the router to give a nicer rounded edges for the arms and all of the slats as well. Also, It would be nice to mount a stainless bottle opener to the chair to open your drinks (maybe on the outside of the arm of the chair.

Thanks for the plans. I check your site all the time for ideas.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
primer, paint, clear coat
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Clubhouse Bed -Full Size with Slide

Submitted by Heatherdee on Sat, 05/02/2015 - 17:44

Thank you Ana for the clubhouse bed plans! I added 15" to the width of the rails to accommodate a full size mattress. On the other side I made a slide platform! I chose a standard plastic slide because I couldn't find a way to make a wooden slide at home with the swoop at the bottom to keep the kids from hitting the carpet hard :). We couldn't have a green outdoor-looking slide, am I right? I used Rustoleum  spray paint made for plastic in French Lilac color.  After the paint I used a top a coat of Minwax 3x polyurethane. I also used the Rustoleum spray paint for the window grids. 

To accommodate the slide specs I needed to raise this bed 5".  I just made each leg 5" longer.  Also, the ceiling in my daughter's room slopes down so I cut the point off the back of the bed.  Totally not noticeable.  I needed to do this even if I hadn't raised the bed :)

I also added full window frames around the window to make the bed a little more girly!  One unexpected result is that the bedroom looks BIGGER with this bed in it. She had a twin size step 2 plastic castle bed before but now there is so much more room to play. Win!  Changing the sheets isn't too bad but you need to get in the bed to do it.

I built this bed by myself. Don't be afraid, you can do this! Once the panels are assembled they get a bit heavy so you have to be sort of creative to drag them across the garage floor :)

Next up: mailbox for the bed, shelves under the slide and window boxes!

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
Valspar Flat White Paint in Glacier; Minwax 3x Polyurethane (I would maybe use wax or something next time! Maybe even semi-gloss paint)
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Comments

My dining table

Submitted by Rob Dunham on Fri, 09/15/2017 - 14:09

I've built various pieces from this site, but this is my first "share". I built this table a couple a month ago, taking ideas from various plans on this site. The top of the table is hard maple, the legs, benches are all wormy maple. 

I bought the lumber from a mennonite mill about 45mins away from me, fantastic place. The table top was in their "clearance" section already laminated together, so I had them but it to size. 

I tried my best doing mortise/tenon joints to join the table aprons/legs. They weren't perfect, but it worked. 

I loved building this and I really want to make another. Thanks very much Ana for the site and all the plans you make available. It's a blessing. 

 

Oh, apologies for the two photos on its side, I can't get them to upload properly...

Estimated Cost
$600
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
General Finish
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Comments

Counter height dining set

Submitted by Lukilla on Sun, 10/10/2021 - 10:18

Threw this together over a 4 day weekend. Love how light these chairs are.

Substituted edge glued project panel for the table top and seats instead of joining several planks.

Used a combination dark walnut, jacobean, and early American stain on the finish.

Comments

King Fancy Farmhouse Bed

I made this bed pretty much by myself, my hubby helped me assemble it in the bedroom.  It is king size so I had to do my own measurements.  To my surprise it was pretty easy.  Just make your measurements accurate.  Had  blast.  Next project please!

Estimated Cost
$130 I splurged on the trim and spent $37. Plus I had 2x4's on hand for the bed frame.
Estimated Time Investment
Day Project (6-9 Hours)
Finish Used
Dark walnut I had on hand. I couldn't find the gel stain I wanted. I would have preferred to not see such a contrast with the grain then I sealed it with a satin spray. After a few months I ended up painting the bed. I was just not happy with the wood look.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Pipers Farmhouse Bed

Submitted by Plug5 on Tue, 06/04/2013 - 16:25

My wife, and I wanted to upgrade my 5yr old daughters bed. Hopefully this will give her enough encouragement to actually sleep in her room!

The bed turned out great, and my daughter loves it!

This project took a little longer than usual, because with the exception of the couple pieces of plywood all the parts are made from rough maple lumber. The longest part was planing, and gluing all the parts up.

Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
Dura Clean Satin Paint with sprayed on white primer.

I used a 4"mini roller with a slight texture for the finish.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner