Community Brag Posts

First Anna project, I needed a bench by the pool, so I did waterproof it, which is holding up well, and it's extremely nice even with my limited skills. Definately worth the time and sanding.
Things I learned, need to measure each cut out. I didn't, so my slats are not all the same length. Still works really good, but I should've measure, cut, measure, cut, because I didn't take into account the width of the blade. I wouldn't use so much wood filler. I really glopped it on there. The sanding and staining pre, good call.
I would've used 2 pieces of wood for each leg.
Well, next one. I've already learned so much from making it and had a great time making it. Can't wait to get started on the table to match!

Thisi s a bedside table that I made for my good friend Gayle for next to her log bed in her log cabin at Higgins Lake, MI

This was my first Ana White project and it turned out beautifully if I do say so myself! 

My husband and I were able to put this together over the course of two weekend days. Then it took me an eternity to paint/finish it. But we love it now and so does our little girl!

Our version. Now covered by an offset umbrella.

This was a fun and very rewarding project.  Thank you Ana for sharing your talent with us.  I got tired of stores wanting too much money for cheaply built bar stools, so I turned to the internet and found Ana.  These stools are quality built, and at a fraction of the cost.  The only thing I altered in Ana's original plan was the backrest.  I tried to build the horizontal braces but kept damaging the wood.  So I just built them vertically.

My nephew and his wife are expecting a new baby. This is my e-husband's nephew and we wanted to do something different than I have ever done so the former in-laws wouldn't  recognize the work. I sent them several pictures and this is the one that they choose. I drew up simple plans and put one together. I didn't like the first one so I built this and I absolutely love it. It took me 1 full Saturday, a week of breaks (I come home at breaks from work to work in my garage), an hour each night and a few hours the second Saturday. The hardest part was making the holes for the slats. I used a 1/2" auger bit to make 3 holes and then used a carving tool to make them the right size. It felt like it took forever. Lots of router work but I think this is the best thing I have made thus far. 

Very quick to do. I made a few modifications to the plans as you can see. I also stained the pieces before gluing and screwing together. My boys LOVE this one...

This was a first project choice when I needed to figure out what to do for some entry way furniture. Everything was so expensive in the stores and with my creative sense, I was influenced by the simplicity of some of the furniture featured at Hobby Lobby and told myself I could build that myself!! I looked through pinterest to gather ideas to build my own piece and came across a pin (hillary locker) and stumbled upon Ana-white.com where I found not only an inspiration but a whole how-to and blueprint to build with! Without counting the time spent trying to get home depot to cut all the pieces correctly the first time and chucking pieces with the saw blade they were cutting across the store almost hitting myself and my husband, saving up for the table saw so it would not happen again, and stopping to stay at my post as mom, I would say the project being worked on took 6-9 hours. there was a lot of stages like letting wood filler dry before sanding, letting primer and paint steps dry before continuing so it took time for stages. First project and time getting used to the new saw and kreg jig that I purchased but learned rapidly. I do suggest the kreg jig!!! It made the furniture so solid and professional. I suggest making sure the cuts are right on because it made the whole difference!

This was a project that took me about 4 weekends.  Last year I installed the French doors.  I decided that this was the year to finish them and the rest of my wife's office with a custom Wainscotting, based off the farmhouse style.  In order to keep it cheap, I used 4' x 8' sheets of 3/4" mdf.  I would then rip them to the width of my choosing, based upon design.  Overall, I used 4 4'x8' 1/4" plywood (for backing), I used 5 4'x8' 3/4" mdf... At a cost of $29/sheet. After installation, filling holes and seams, I primed then painted using a spray gun.  Total cost: about $350.  The room is much more rich, and really lightens up the space.  

House numbers 

I used Ana's plans for her factory cart coffee table to create my new coffee table. It was super easy and cheap! I used 1x10's for the sides to make it a bit taller. I found my casters at Northern Tool for $12 a piece. That was the main cost of the table. I used Gorilla Glue and 2" nails to hold everything together. I had it done in a couple hours and I love it! You can see more details at http://www.shanty-2-chic.com/2011/06/crate-coffee-table-reveal.html !

The wood for this project cost me about $50 from Lowes (and this was combined with making a 3ft square table and another love seat, so in total for all 3 was about $145).

I didn't add the trim pieces (I felt they were unnecessary and more likely to come apart or fall off), I used only 1x3 for the slats on the seat and back, and 1x4 for the seat back top rails. I used 2x3 for the legs because the 2x2 was horrible quality and I used a 2x3 for the front cleat, which I think makes it stronger.

I also didn't attach the back the way the instructions say as I thought all those screws would look ugly, so I fashioned a wooden corner brace to hold the back in place, and used metal corner braces and screws (in 3 places, UNDER the back rest 2x4) to hold the seat back still and then only 2 screws to hold the bottom of the back in place. I added photos of these changes to help you see what I did.

One HUGE TIP - assemble the frame (minus the slats) and stain / paint that part, THEN stain and polyurethane the slats before attaching - it's horrible to try to stain or paint with the slats in place as there are too many tiny gaps to fill!

All in all, I think this plan of Ana's is brilliant - it's simple, rustic looking and yet looks great on my deck - I will take a photo of the 2 sofa and table as soon as the second sofa dries enough to finish assembly.

First sofa took me a little longer as I was getting used to the Kreg, second sofa has taken me about 6 hours in total so far.

One issue I do have is that I think I would use a 2x4 for the top rail of the seat back, simply because the 1x4 has a tendency to split easily.

If you make this project, you won't be sorry, it looks awesome!

I found this fabulous vintage metal flat file cabinet at an antique store (Hunt & Gather Vintage Market, in Princeton, MA), but it didn't have a base or a top, so I went searching online for something that I could build.  The Corona Coffee Table plans were going to be perfect!  I just had to make a few adjustments:

1. Build it to fit my flat file cabinet.  
2. I didn't inset my apron 1x3 boards because I wanted the top ones to be flush with the edge of the flat file cabinet, and then I wanted the bottom ones to match.
3. There was a "lip" on the top of the flat file cabinet, so I had to build a thin trim around the bottom edge of the table-top.  This lip keeps the top from sliding off the flat file cabinet, but just to be sure there wasn't any wiggle, I put a bead of silicone around the top of the metal cabinet and then placed the wood top on.  

LOVE how this table turned out!  It's counter-height and the perfect centerpiece for my craft room.

Took roughly 15hrs and $500... We bought the top at Lowes for $150 on sale (Acacia), because it turns out butcher block counter tops of this size (considered an "Island" top) are like $500 and I don't know who can afford those shenanigans but certainly not us. Interesting point: in as much as I totally appreciate the design (Thank You Ana!) the instructions are mostly beautiful but have a few key areas with room for improvement. If you are thinking of building this take some time to go over all the materials and really map out the project. I purchased everything in 8' lengths as per the shopping list, I realized afterwards that because my unit is only 5' long I now have many 3' cut-offs.... had I purhased 10' lengths, you see where I'm going with this yes? I would have paid more per board but had less leftovers. I think I also have a package of unopened screws and an extra board from the shopping list, no big deal, it's like the 10 hot dogs for an 8 pack of buns conundrum, I've now entered an infinite loop. I also realized too late that to use the pocket hole screws to secure the counter top I would need to drill the holes (using my handy dandy Kreg Jig) before putting the slats on the top shelf or else I couldn't get my drill in, rookie move I know...You may find, as I learned, Lowes/Home Depot do not carry such things as 4x4s that are not pressure treated and therefore not ideal to have in one's kitchen...I ended up purchasing all the lumber at an actual lumberyard (Peacock Lumber, Oshawa, Canada), which was cool, because now I know where that place is, and it smells nice. Have fun with your build. I tried to post some other pictures but they kept coming up sideways, story of my life. Take a look on Facebook if you want Adam Connor in Pickering, Canada, I'm not shy ;-)

Hanging the board and batten wall is incredibly easy and fast! It's when you decide to paint it black that complicates things!
You can check out the whole tearful/funny experience here http://isteppedoutofmycomfortzone.blogspot.com/2011/04/and-opened-can-o…