Community Brag Posts

I needed an outdoor table and thought this design would look lovely on my patio. I used 2x8's for the table and bench tops, which meant I couldn't run them through my 6" jointer; so I had to plane them as they came from the store. This resulted in a fair amount of sanding once I assembled the tops with a kreg jig and glue. Plugged the pocketholes  and used an outdoor deck stain for protection. The stain over the plugged pocketholes looked interesting enough that I almost used those sides for the exposed tops, but ultimately decided on the cleaner finish. The 4x4 legs and apron are in a black matte exterior paint, and I used a 1 5/8" forstner bit for the umbrella holes. It's a fun project, and assembly doesn't take too long at all. My patio is now a great place for a morning cup of coffee while reading the paper and has already become the spot for neighborhood gatherings.

These cubbies are the next step in organizing my sewing/guest room. I plan to fill the shelves with fabric and books very soon!

With a few modifications, I made this table into an actovity table for my son. 

I made the lid out of 1/4" plywood so it would be lighter, painted one side in chalkboard paint and glued down lego base plates to the other.

Instead of a shelf underneath, I added sliders to hold storage bins.

I also mounted a curtain rod on one end to hold a roll of art paper and cut slots in the end trim pieces to feed it through.

My husband and I built the 10 dollar ledges to use for book storage in our nursery. I love how they allow you to display the books as well as store them. This is the second time we have used this plan for wall decor in our house, and our fifth build overall from one of Ana's plans. I love all the fun options! 

For the small size, we only needed three boards so it was inexpensive and they came out great. 

I really wanted some outdoor furniture but did not want to spend the thousands for a sectional. I used this plan and created the entire sectional for less than $500!

Wood =

Industrial chandelier for our dining room made from black iron pipe pieces from Lowes and some leftover black walnut scraps. It was a sometimes frustrating design-as-you go project that required loads of help from my electrical engineer husband. Love how it finally turned out!

I loved this plan, but needed to cut down the size. I added fabric to the side panels to make it a little prettier. I had my ply cut at Home Depot, but cut all of the rest of the wood with my little had miter box, which added a lot more time to the process, but it was worth it! More details on my blog. Great plan, as always, Ana!

I built this headboard to coordinate with the nightstand, tv console and blanket ladder I had previously built. We recently purchased a King size bed and found ourselves in desparate need of a furniture makeover. I modified the plans to fit our bed, and wanted a beefier look so I used a combination of twelve 1x6s and three 1x4s as opposed to only using 1x4s for the panel back. I also used 1x6s for the trim as well. Legs were made of 1x4s, doubled up at the bottom for additional support. I built it so that the legs could bolt to the bedframe using lag bolts. I also wanted it to be a bit taller so I increased the height to 56" tall.

Simple picture frame made from old scraps of wood I found laying around. 

When my wife and I bought our new house, our little apartment-size table looked dumb in our new dining room. With the help of Ana White's plans, my first ever building project was a great success. The project took some extra time because I was doing it by myself in the afternoons and whenever I found the chance. The plans were for a 9ft table and matching bench, but our dining room wasn't quite that big. I shaved about 14 inches off the length and planed the boards for a flat surface (making the table and bench slightly narrower.) As an absolute amateur, I cannot stress how important the use of the Kreg Jig was for this project! With a little bit of patience, love, and faith in yourself, you can do anything you put your mind to. I am so honored to have built the table at which my children will grow up sitting. Thank you, Ana White!

What a great little feeder! I didn't put mine in the window yet, because the screens are on for the summer. I screwed a metal flange into the bottom of the bird feed then screwed a metal pipe into the flange. Then put it in the ground under the window.  I'll add the suction cups and put it in the window in the fall.  I love watching the birds!