Community Brag Posts

DIY KidKraft Chic Dollhouse

We're short on money this year so we decided to make our Christmas gifts for the kids. The KidKraft Chic Dollhouse is perfect for my daughter, but it's soo expensive. I used Ana's plans to make one that matches the decor in her room. This dollhouse is so sturdy, we can definitely use it as a bookshelf when she grows out of it!

Content was too heavy to post to please visit http://blog.prettyinprints.com/2011/12/diy-kidkraft-chic-dollhouse/ to see the entire thing (:

Estimated Cost
$100 with paint & floors, $60 or less without
Estimated Time Investment
Day Project (6-9 Hours)
Finish Used
Antique white high gloss for the frame, pink high gloss for the roof & stairs, decoupage walls, decoupaged textured (and paintable) wallpaper from Lowe's for the floors.
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Comments

In reply to by spiceylg

Draftmen888

Fri, 12/11/2015 - 12:02

To my mind very important when out little ones so happy with their toys such as dollhouses from Kidkraft.

Agree with you - really cool job!

Emily W. (not verified)

Mon, 12/19/2011 - 07:35

I'm currently working on this dollhouse, so it's fantastic to see one that another reader has completed. Sometimes I look at what Ana has come up with and think, "Is it possible for someone else to make one that looks that awesome?"

Thanks for proving it can be done. Your dollhouse looks amazing!

As far as hiding it, I second using a neighbor's garage. I remember my brother and I scouring the entire house when we were young, looking for Mom and Dad's secret Christmas stash. Good luck keeping it hidden!

guest (not verified)

Wed, 12/21/2011 - 08:23

We are almost done making our girls house and needed some more ideas on how to finish it. Yous looks great.

Guest (not verified)

Sat, 12/31/2011 - 00:16

Made this for my daughter this Christmas. It was perfect. She loved it. I know she will get years of use out of it. Thank you so much.

JoseO1998

Tue, 07/15/2014 - 02:28

I'm building one for my niece for her birthday in August... I am about 60% done but I really love the job you did...

King size farmhouse bed

Submitted by Jeepers on Sun, 11/03/2013 - 19:25

Used cedar for the planks in the headboard and footboard

Added some common trim pieces like the rope

Built the frame as described in the Queen plans - found that a standard metal ammo can on its side is the perfect height to set up the side panels at the corners.
Used 2x4 studs for the cross slats, but set them on their side to give some added height.

Used minwax Walnut stain - really looks nice on the cedar - just one coat for the cedar

Waxed top of the footboard

Stained a small footstool using Walnut.

Kingsize version is a monster - very solid, no movement or creaking

Estimated Cost
$400
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
Minwax Wipes - Walnut
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

Desktop Organizer

Built this in an afternoon with scraps left from other projects! Using it at at work on my desk. Added 1/4" plywood to base to close up drawer space. Felt strips on bottom of drawer makes the drawer slide out very nicely. 

Estimated Cost
Wood scrap project. Bought drawer pull for $2 and a paint sample from Lowe's.
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
Valspar paint sample in "Prickly Pear" shade. Furniture wax over paint.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Modern Cubby Shelf with hairpin legs

I built this modern cubby storage shelf by making a few modifications to the Rolling Cubby Bench plan. It's a quick project with extra bright paint to add a bit of fun. Check out all of my tips for building this fun storage bench at https://mamaneedsaproject.com/modern-toy-storage-project/ . 

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
White paint, Minwax Polyshade - Mission Oak, Pink paint - Cerise by Sherwin Williams (SW6580)
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

An adaptation of the Rustic Bookshelf!

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Tue, 03/28/2023 - 16:44

During Covid, my husband and I renovated our mountain house. After taking down a wall enclosing a staircase, we were left with awkwardly long pony wall. Originally we planned to do built in bookshelves, but then I decided the x bookshelves would look good and be a lot easier. So we customized the measurements and built them. Then I decided we really needed a bar space, so we built another x bookshelf around the measurements of an inexpensive bar fridge and voila! They look great and we get lots of compliments on both!

Built from Plan(s)

Comments

Clothesline frame

Submitted by Brad Wills on Tue, 11/05/2013 - 19:53

I had a empty space that needed something and this was an expensive fun way to fill it.

Estimated Cost
15.00
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
Varathane weathered gray and ash stains. Behr oyster satin paint with 3 coats of varathane poly.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

Full Open Kitchen cart

Submitted by 914934 on Thu, 01/21/2016 - 10:27

Mom wanted an island for her new large kitchen but something that could be moved out of the way. With all her cabinets and drawers, we omitted the shelves and drawer from the original plan. We also wanted it full across the inside, not just half way. This allows her to put her stool on the shelf out of the way if needed. However, after getting all her furniture into her new home, she decided that she had enough in her new kitchen so she scoots it under the breakfast bar for now. 
This was made on a tight budget. We only had to purchase the 2x4s and casters.
We also used tongue and grove blue pine left over from our house for the bottom shelf and staggered scrap pine 1x4 & 1x6 boards for the top and then routered it to give it smooth rounded edges on top. 

Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
Unfinished. Mom hasn't decided if she wants to paint it or not.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Outdoor sectional, my 2nd diy project

Submitted by SuperKiki on Fri, 06/28/2019 - 09:41
  • I pretty much followed the instructions for each plan. I customized the length to fit my space.
  • There was some bowing on the back rest so I added some vertical supports.
  • Because the sectional is quite long I added some legs in the middle.
  • I stained the sectional twice and had to sand off the stain twice before I decided to paint it. I highly recommend that you test your stain on a cut off piece and pick what you're doing before putting it on your furniture. If I had done this it would have saved me a lot of hours and sanding.
  • I had planned to buy Target cushions for my sectional but I forgot to build the sofa with the cushions I wanted to purchase in mind. I ended up having to make my own in order to get a good fit.
  • I have a tiny patio area and this design really worked amazing to give me a lot of seating and still make it feel spacious.
  • You can definitely build and paint this sectional in a day.
Estimated Cost
$300 for outdoor cushion foam and outdoor fabric.
$150-$200 for wood and supplies
Estimated Time Investment
Day Project (6-9 Hours)
Finish Used
The paint is outdoor matte paint from Home Depot and it worked marvelously, very streak free.
Recommended Skill Level
Starter Project

Comments

Entertainment Console

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sat, 04/08/2023 - 08:27

We needed a new entertainment console for the living room but didn’t want to spend $$$for something everyone else has. I found plans on your site and tweaked them to fit our needs.
This is 70”x31”x24” live edge Maple top and doors have a black epoxy filling the voids. The shelving, sides and trim are ambrosia maple. The fireplace insert has a heat/no heat option. I trimmed it the back with 1/4” maple plywood with ventilation for the fireplace. The top and doors maple is from a tree we cut, slabbed and dried. I finished it with Odies Woods Wax.
All-in-all, $550 in materials. The best part, my husband loves it!

Built from Plan(s)

Comments

King Farmhouse Bed Frame

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sun, 01/24/2016 - 13:26

I spent 3 weekends building this for a friend. It was alot of work but it came out great!! He got the plans from Shanty-2-chic. We modified the plans alot to make it a truly unique piece. 

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$400
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
varathane ash
Recommended Skill Level
Advanced

Fancy X Farmhouse Table

Submitted by melbuckner on Mon, 07/08/2019 - 15:30

Table top is tight knot cedar, sealed with ship n shore, 7 coats spar urethane.

Base is fir, sealed and painted in latex outdoor paint:

Estimated Cost
225 (cedar was 150).
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
Spar Urethane
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Comments

melbuckner

Fri, 10/09/2020 - 16:19

aww this is so sweet~ for some reason I didn't see this comment till now! Thanks! I'm all star struck now :)

Also, my wife subsequently gave the table to her best friend - so now I need to make another one lolol.

Planters!

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Fri, 04/14/2023 - 03:50

These planters are exactly what we needed to warm up this blank siding! The smaller planters are made from pine, the larger from cedar.

Comments

Seasonal And Holiday

Easy Shelf

Here is a pretty simple shelf I built for my closet. Left it backless b/c I wear a 12 1/2 and needed my shoes to be able to hang out back a bit. The top 2 I am using for folded tshirts I don't hang, like undershirts and tank tops.

Material List:
1- 1x10x10 -$13.00 (2 side boards)
2- 1x10x6 - $8.00x2=16 (6 shelves)
24 1 1/4 pocket screws. Had these on hand, could sub for 1 1/2 wood screws if you do not have pocket scew jig set.

Tools:
Tape measure
Quick Square
Miter saw ( which I used) or a Circular saw
Drill

Cut list
*2-59.9+- side boards

*The 1x10x10 was exactly 10ft long, so I marked off 5 feet with a line. Then I just cut on the line with the miter saw. This left me with 2 equal boards. Lets say 59.9 give or take a MM or so. Doesnt matter as long as they are even. If you mess the cut up, stack them on top of each other and recut to equal.

*6-23.9+- Shelves

*Again the 1x10x6 was exactly 6ft, so I made 2 lines, one at 2ft, the next at 4ft. Split them when cutting, and had 3 equal boards. Size can be smaller if you like, this is how I did it.

Now the fun part, and probably second longest time consuming part, behind drilling pocket holes.

I took the 2 side boards and clamped them so they would be flush and even side by side. (both face down side to side so you have one clamped board of 1x20x59.5 so to speak) I used my quick square to mark off .75(thickness of shelf boards). Start at the bottom or top, draw line. then,start next at 11 inches, step and repeat.In the end should have 5 shelves exactly 11 inches apart.

I next predrilled my 6 shelf boards with 2 pocket screw holes on each side, about 3 1/2 inches from each edge. This was most time consuming, you could use 1 1/2in screws and go from side boards into shelf boards and save time, also if you don't have pocket hole jig.

Assembling, I started at bottom, attached side boards to both side of bottom shelf, and worked my way up.The lines you pre-drew act as marker for next shelf,and help a ton when trying to keep everything square. The last one,top part, should be snug to put in. I find its best to do this way as everything keeps square as long as you have straight lumber.

Cost overall-$30.00 since I had screws, total time was around 2 hours to complete, and this was me having to explain everything to the little one lol

Estimated Time Investment
An Hour or Two (0-2 Hours)
Finish Used
I didn't do anything but sand down rough edges. This may get painted, but for now its in the closet as is. Since I used pocket holes, staining or painting would be easier since there is no need for wood filler. Sand and go. Nice little shelf for around 30.00. Enjoy and PS Dont mind the mess in my garage lol
Recommended Skill Level
Starter Project

Comments

Rustic Stepstool

I'm loving the finish on this, and it's a useful little project.

Estimated Cost
15
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
I painted it green, and then sanded the edges. I covered the whole thing in the walnut gel stain. This darkened the green and stained the newly exposed wood.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Our farm house table

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Wed, 01/27/2016 - 03:23

This table took me a few days to build and finish over my Christmas vacation. It's made completely of reclaimed wood. I left as many defects as I could to give it character. I'm finishing a bench for it now. Building this has brought the family together again. We are now eating at the table each night instead of in front of the tv. This table Is going to be in our family for many years to come. Thanks for your great plans Ana.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$20 for pocket screws and stain.
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Minwax Golden Pecan stain on top. Three coats of Minwax Satin Laquer.
The base is painted with some old off white semi gloss latex I had in the garage, then rubbed with some dark walnut stain.
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Little Cottage Loft Bed

Submitted by BGBuild on Tue, 07/16/2019 - 07:14

My daughter absolutely loves this bed, and everyone who comes over can't help but to compliment it. I was able to build it in 4 pieces in the basement then carry them up to our apartment and put them all together. It was not an easy build especially since I kept making little mistakes and had to go back and fix them. For example I did not use wood glue at first for the bars so after I screwed them all into place i relaxed they wobbled and twisted so I had to unscrew all of them, add glue and screw them all back in. But overall the instructions were pretty simple to follow and I am very happy with the way it came out.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$300
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
Chalkboard paint
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Comments

Simple and fast

Submitted by Bread0186 on Tue, 04/18/2023 - 11:42

Took me maybe 30 minutes to put this together. Used 1-5/8 spacing, every other row is a little tight, but they work.

Built from Plan(s)

Comments

Two bunk beds for my girls...

Submitted by pjhaan on Sun, 12/25/2011 - 14:45

I made two different versions and reversed side the ladders were on. I learned from the mistakes I made on the first bed and the second one came together a little easier.

I left them natural and the girls will pick a paint color in the spring.

Although I can sew, my wife made both sets of mattresses along with a bunch of doll clothes.

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