Community Brag Posts

Outhouse

Submitted by taimysha on Thu, 01/20/2022 - 18:13

This is the 1st Ana White project I ever built. I now have several items of hers under my belt. I built this the summer of 2017 for the solar eclipse. We live directly in the path with longest viewing times. I placed an ad and got responses from all over the country of people wanting to stay on our property. This outhouse like all of Ana's other plans were easy to adapt to fit my needs. I extended the roof to include the covered porch and only used tin. I also added a couple of shelves a 2 mirrors. Almost everything I used to build this were things we already had. It's mainly built used our old swimming pool deck that we had torn down. The versatility and the clarity of Ana's project plans make this my go to building site!!

Comments

Our First Project

Submitted by Simplyel on Fri, 05/20/2011 - 19:56

My dear husband built the bed and I painted it. He found that it was easy to make. Thank you Ana, we love it. We are waiting for our new mattress!

Estimated Cost
Less than $175.00
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Latex White Paint. I want to distress it but he is not sure. Figure we will live with it for awhile and then decide.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

a miniature version for a one year old

I was looking for inspiration for the grandchildren when
I came across the full size version. I have now made 3 of the 1\3 sized as pictured, in different colours. It takes longer to paint them than make them.

Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Ronseal exterior wood treatment
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Console Table

Submitted by ctummins on Sun, 07/12/2015 - 01:47

First table I've built. The Rustic X Console Table was fun and fairly simple. A little complicated since we live in Hawaii and decent cheap wood is difficult to come by. Makes my entrance way very inviting. 

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

Dress Up Center

Needed to get the girls Dresses out of the nursery, this will work.

Estimated Cost
100-150
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Latex Paint
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

wider kentwood bookshelf

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Mon, 01/31/2022 - 11:45

I made a wider bookshelf with reclaimed wood. Those wood slats 1*4 and 2*4 were from pallets .I used pocket hole to put them together. After painting, it looks much better.

Comments

Outdoor Patio Deck Chairs

Submitted by nlindauer on Tue, 05/24/2011 - 06:42

Made these chairs from plans found on the Kerig Jig website. I added the cup holders for convenience and lowered the seats by 2 inches to account for our short legs. Chairs were stained with an outdoor fence treatment that was tinted with a light grey color.

Estimated Time Investment
Day Project (6-9 Hours)
Finish Used
Olympic Maximum Solid - Grey Base
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

JRSMRS's $50 Daybed Brag Post

The daybed took about 4 weekends, and started with a lot of trial-and-error. Around the 3rd weekend, and a lot of "redo-ing", it started taking shape! This daybed will go on our screen porch, along with the homemade outdoor pillows and mattress cover. This project was definitely frustrating at times, but has been well worth the effort.

Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
Pressure treated lumber for the frame, and 5/8" wooden dowels for the design.
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Fancy X Desk

Submitted by eralben on Thu, 07/16/2015 - 11:55

I made this desk for my wife's office space.  The plans for this desk are great and easy to follow.  The only change I made was I shortened the size of the desk top to fit in our space.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$55.
Estimated Time Investment
Day Project (6-9 Hours)
Finish Used
Kona stain
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Plus One Puzzle

Submitted by mtairymd on Sun, 02/04/2018 - 08:29

This is one of my favorite puzzles so far. You are given 8 blocks that must be placed in a box. They will fit and the box will be "totally filled." Once you are done, slide the lid on the top to complete the puzzle. Your test subjects might feel pretty smart by knowing that they solved this puzzle within a few minutes. However, you have a surprise. Pull the extra piece from the lid and tell them to place it in the box. I've tested this puzzle with 20 people so far and the common response is "No Way!". But yep, it can be done.

This video shows the solution but doesn't answer the why. Do you see a difference?

https://youtu.be/D8V0wRFAoz8

 

Estimated Cost
Besides the box, everything was built with scrap wood.
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
Oil
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Miter Saw Cart

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Tue, 02/22/2022 - 08:51

Followed the plans and it came out great. I am still thinking about the extension on the right side since the hinges are so expensive.

Built from Plan(s)

Comments

Library Cart - Teachers Gift

Submitted by lollypoppy on Fri, 05/27/2011 - 09:32

The moment I saw this I knew it would be a perfect teachers gift for my daughters teacher. She loved it.
This was only my second project, the first being the 10 dollar ledges. I'm glad I tried a smaller project before tackling the farmhouse bed. I think it helped with just knowing how to assemble a project a bit better.
I used my Kreg Jig and it worked marvelous! Also I ended up not having a jigsaw so I just cut the top at a 35 degree angle with the miter saw and rounded the edges a bit with the sander. I was going to add handles but the top goes up enough that it's easy to manuever without. I also wanted her to be able to fit it in anywhere and was worried that the handles sticking out would just get in the way.
Overall I think it turned out great. Her teacher loves it. Thank you Anna for such wonderful plans!!

Krista

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
35
Estimated Time Investment
Day Project (6-9 Hours)
Finish Used
White gloss paint
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Toy 2x4 Cubicle Shelf

This was the first project my husband and I attempted. I'm new to building but he has lots of experience. Went real well, I should have taken the advice though to measure and cut trim at the end. I did it at the start to get it sanded and we ended up needing to redo it all with new wood. So happy with the end result though, tons of storage for baby's toys.

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

Comments

NannyGoat

Wed, 05/12/2021 - 20:02

Do you have the plans for this? It looks really great for my grandchild's toys.
THanks.
Nancy

Halltree

Submitted by worrow on Mon, 07/20/2015 - 11:45

My wife was dying to have me build her a halltree for the entryway in out house. She drew up some "blueprints" and we started building together. I know the finished project is dark but from the before pic you can visualize it.

 

I'm sorry for not having the plans up. I will get her "blueprint" scanned for everyone to use as this was our design.

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

Comments

worrow

Mon, 07/20/2015 - 15:37

We used provincial by Minwax. My picture really doesn't do it the justice it deserves.

worrow

Mon, 07/20/2015 - 15:39

Finish is Provincial by Minwax, oh and satin polyurethane also made by minwax.

Console X Table

Submitted by Worrell16 on Wed, 02/14/2018 - 19:43

A lot of fun to try.  X’s were challenging, and used the pickled white washed stain for the first time.

Estimated Cost
$75
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
Simple dark walnut with white wash stain.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Rustic x console table

Submitted by langlena on Fri, 07/19/2013 - 08:19

This was my first project! I love how it came out. Now my husband want the matching end tables. Can't wait to get started

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
I followed the plans exactly. The stain that was used was minwax red mahogany and then I coated with a couple coats of polyurithane.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

4x4 Table w/ "Restoration Hardware" Finish

Submitted by AndyAlva on Fri, 09/06/2019 - 12:57

Loved how rad this table turned out. I wanted a mad beefcake table top -- so I chose 2x12s for a more industrial look. To get perfect seams and a completely flat surace for the table top, I planed each 2x12 multiple times, followed by many sessions in a jointer to get my edges to a beautiful 90 degrees. Once I had the top measured out to the length and width I wanted, I ripped the pieces down closer to a 2x10. Following that, I domino joined the pieces with a crap-ton of glue and clamped it for 2 days. To finish, I created an original 5-step stain process (including white wash) to get a weathered, Restoration Hardware-inspired final look. So stoked on it! (Wifey loves it too, so that's a huge win). 

-Andy 

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$150
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
Minwax Stains Used:
- Jacobean
- Classic Grey
- Weathered Oak

Varathane Stain:
- Briarsmoke

White Wash -- 80% Walmart Matte White, 20% Water
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Comments

Book ledges

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Mon, 04/04/2022 - 14:54

I took your plans for the beginner book ledges and modified them for our 90 degree space. I had to learn about mitre and bevel cuts so that was fun.

I also learnt that when the wood is slightly warped it pays to be attentive to the eventual install and how stress will flow through the work.

Built from Plan(s)

Comments

Perfect Bookshelves

Submitted by BreBuskey on Thu, 06/02/2011 - 08:56

We were searching for the perfect bookshelves for our girls' room. We came across these bookshelves and decided to build them ourselves. In the end it worked out perfect! The book are easy enough for our 6 & 3 year old daughters to put away, they look amazing, and it was special building them with my husband as a gift to our daughters. You can find more info on the room and bookshelves on my blog www.brebuskey.blogspot.com

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$100.00
Estimated Time Investment
Day Project (6-9 Hours)
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

cooler for dads day

My dad made most everything I have ever had in life including the house I live in. So I wanted to make him something this dad's day that he could really use and enjoy. He just built a hang out place in his back yard that I call "his fort" Since he's in his 60's now and a little more mellow, he has a lot of little parties with friends, family, basically anyone who wants to come hang out in his back yard. lol. (He claims to have made the fort a covered stage for my 12 year old and his band. But I know the truth. hehe. it's his fort :) ) So I thought this cooler stand would come in handy. He saw me working on it a few days before fathers day and told me he was afraid I was gonna make his something girly. hehe. He's such a man's man. I love my pops and am soooo happy he likes my gift. Its already in use in the fort. hehe

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
about $80 for wood, stain, polyspray and hinges and handles. I had the cooler and faucet spout and plastic tubing and screws already
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
Minwax "weathered oak" 3 coats on the pine 2 on cedar. Sprayed with Vurathane spray polyurathane in a spray can. I love it. The sheen is satin so you can hardly tell its there, no gloss at all.
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Comments

sgilly

Sun, 07/21/2013 - 13:00

Turned out really nice! I'm sure he was very happy with your gift.
PS: I'd love to have a fort like your Dad's. What a cute little place to escape to!

In reply to by sgilly

Melodys socal …

Mon, 07/22/2013 - 20:43

Thank you Sue :) his fort is so awesome. both my sister and I have houses on my dads property. The picture of his fort is from my balcony and I can see my dad in his fort every day. It makes me so happy to see him over there just relaxing (with his cooler hehe) looking around the yard at the trees, creek and all of his hard life's work. Everyone needs a grown up fort in my opinion.