Community Brag Posts

simple outdoor chairs

My sister needed outdoor chairs and these were perfect for her front porch. I made them as a birthday gift (she got them a few weeks early). The cushions were bought at Garden Ridge for $60 for each set and the wood was all scrap wood left over from other projects. These really are easy to make!

I am thinking of making the couch for my mom since the chairs turned out to be so comfortable and relaxing to sit on.

Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Rustoleum black flat spray paint for wood and finished with a gloss spray.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

Raised Toy Box

Submitted by nuarty145 on Tue, 02/18/2014 - 06:45

My best man (and his wife) are expecting their first child and this was my very first project. The Kreg Jig is great but you need a right angle clamp to put this box together. I stained the project using Minwax white tint base in their driftwood color, I'm not a big fan of the color on the entire box but it serves it purpose as being gender neutral for any future kids. I bought the letters at a crafts store and painted them white and then sanded off the edges and rubbed Danish Oil on it to give it the "distressed" looked.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$40 + stain & letters
Estimated Time Investment
An Hour or Two (0-2 Hours)
Finish Used
Minwax white tint base, driftwood
Recommended Skill Level
Starter Project

Kid room closet

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Tue, 05/17/2016 - 12:18

I used Ana's simple closet organizer and some other brag posts and created a closet organizer for my craft/kid size room.  

 

I used:

(6) 1x12x6' pine for tower and shelving

(4)  1x4"x6' pine for all the cleats

(3) sets of closet rod holders

(2) 4' 1.25" wooden dowels

I primed everything outside after cutting the pieces, which took way too much spray primer - I should have just used brush on.  Then painted the finish coat in place using some good Benjamin Moore trim paint.

 

I'm happy with how it all turned out - errors and all.  

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
Total cost is under $100. I had paint and screws on hand.
Estimated Time Investment
Day Project (6-9 Hours)
Finish Used
Primer and interior low gloss paint. The actual color is a special mix I call Andersen because I had it mixed to match my Andersen windows and trim. Somewhere around white and grey in color.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Easy DIY Twin Beds

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sun, 10/15/2023 - 19:24

I have twins and they were fastly growing out of their toddler beds, so when I found Ana's plan for the easy twin bed (I made XL twin beds) I was ecstatic. In less than 4 days, both beds were built, painted, and ready for bedding!

BonjourTwinMama

Addicted to benches

Ana's benches are soo addictive - I had to try my hands at this one! It is meant for the porch on the new house to be built sometime next (?) year. I must say, I didn't quite manage to get accurate cut-outs with the jig saw, but the design is quite forgiving. The timber is Cypress Pine - an Australian native - sold as fence pickets in the convenient size of 65mmx20mm. I love the grain and variation in colors, ranging from chocolate to blond, and think it is totally underrated. The is top made from 5 planks, so a little wider than the original plans.

Estimated Cost
$28 for timber, finish was a relic found in the garage
Estimated Time Investment
Day Project (6-9 Hours)
Finish Used
3 coats of clear, exterior grade oil based polyurethane
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

spiceylg

Tue, 05/08/2012 - 05:49

That came out great and that wood is absolutely beautiful! Smart choice!

Perfect for growing into

We modified the plans a little so that our little girls bed would fit snug into the bedframe. We also cheated and bought round short legs from Lowes and stained them with Rust-Oleum Dark Walnut. We wanted the bed to sit low since she is only 3 and I also didnt want her to be able to stuff things under her bed!!

Estimated Cost
Counting the cost of fabric and wood (including headboard) it was about $100
Estimated Time Investment
Day Project (6-9 Hours)
Finish Used
Fabric and batting. Legs are stained with Rust-Oleum Dark Walnut.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

Master Closet System

Submitted by pde00311 on Mon, 02/24/2014 - 22:06

When we bought our bungalow, the entire attic was refurbished as a master bedroom. With so much space in such a narrow and somewhat awkward area, we thought we should convert the nook at the end of the room into a master closet area.

Estimated Cost
100
Estimated Time Investment
Day Project (6-9 Hours)
Finish Used
Behr Navajo white paint with a couple of layers of Minwax polycrylic
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Love seats

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Wed, 05/25/2016 - 07:03

Custom love seats built

Recommended Skill Level
Starter Project

Library Book Cart

I was sick of all the books all over the front room. I needed to find something to store them on. Our kids had broken those cheap bookshelves from a big box store, so I need something sturdy. As you can tell by the pictures our youngest son loves to sit on it. I used the jig saw to cut the curves and it was super easy. I used a plate for the pattern on the curve. Great idea and plans!

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
We used two coats of Valspar white paint.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Playhouse with swingset

Submitted by GreenEnvy on Tue, 02/25/2014 - 21:58

I combined a few different plans here, mostly the Playhouse deck, swingset.

I haven't finished it yet, this spring I want to finish the exterior as it's just primed plywood right now. Still going to add a window above the balcony (there is a loft up there).

I insulated the roof/ceiling and will insulate the walls when we finish it. In the bottom we'll be putting in a sandbox with a cover that folds up into benches.

It was a fun project and should give our girls many years of fun.

Estimated Cost
$1000
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
Right now the plywood is just primed, we'll be putting some sort of siding or other exterior sheets to finish it.
Recommended Skill Level
Advanced

X console

I built these tables for a friend in need. I enjoyed building these. Need these for my house now.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$100
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Dark walnut stain
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Little Helper Stand

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sun, 10/29/2023 - 19:08

Toddler Stool for my granddaughter! It had two levels.

PAKI my Grandfather name!

First Project-Dog Kennel/End Table

I just finished my first project with a Kreg Jig, I used the colors from another kennel project that we found on the site because we thought it would go well with our living room. I adjusted the plans to fit our furniture and dogs, so it is shorter and not as deep as the the original plans show.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$60
Estimated Time Investment
Day Project (6-9 Hours)
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

Desert Diva (not verified)

Thu, 05/31/2012 - 18:35

This is a fabulous idea. We live in a small space and this is a two for one idea. I think we will be making this soon. Thanks so much for the idea. I would have never thought of this on my own.

Dining table

Submitted by will on Mon, 03/03/2014 - 07:43

I found this table idea on:

http://diy-my-homes.com/stunning-purebond-plywood-dining-table/

...then went for it. This is only the third thing I have built so it was one of those "Sure, I can do that" projects. At first I tried the hairpin metal legs, but they just didn't look right so I went with another design which I feel came out much better. Did a mix of 1 1/2" Birch and Oak strips on top of 3/4" MDF for the top. 2x6 routed out X for the legs bound together with 3 1/2" lag bolts and a 4x4. The chairs you see I picked up for $10 each from IU's surplus warehouse and the before/after are in the picture. All in all I am happy!

Thanks to Ana, Kelly and Dave for sharing their plans.

Estimated Cost
Table and Chairs - $250
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Minwax Express - Black, Walnut, Oak, Black/Walnut mixed to make espresso, Minwax poly oil based seal.

Legs - Black gloss spray paint and clear coat.
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Comments

Nightstand

Submitted by RobA on Tue, 05/31/2016 - 21:16

I built this mostly with scraps I had from other projects so I didn't follow the plans exactly.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$40
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Miniwax walnut gel stain
3 coats Miniwax polycyclic semi gloss
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Scrapwood Potting Bench

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Mon, 03/23/2020 - 15:51

I wanted to plant some herbs and have them easily accessible from my kitchen, plus I had a ton of scrap wood lying around the garage. Hence, my scrap-wood planting bench. No cost to build and only a couple of days. It's not as deep as the original post due to where it will be located. The size is 39 in.x10.5 in.x48 in.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$0
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Recommended Skill Level
Starter Project

Chalkboard Shelf

Submitted by beansurfin on Mon, 05/21/2012 - 14:02

This is a smaller version of the easiest chalkboard shelf. We needed a smaller shelf to fit between the garage door and coat closet so this was it. It was also my first time using my Kreg Jig, which I love. Such a simple little project but I am excited.

Estimated Cost
Less the $10
Estimated Time Investment
An Hour or Two (0-2 Hours)
Finish Used
Chalk board spray paint.
Recommended Skill Level
Starter Project
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