Community Brag Posts

Floating "Book" Shelves

I wanted to make floating shelves. As I was making them, I got the idea to decorate them like books.

Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
To decorate I used card paper to round one side and covered it with scrap book paper. I used three coats of shellac for protection.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

DIY Minecraft Torches

My favorite 7 year old recently had a Minecraft themed birthday party.    For party favors, I made Minecraft torches from a 2×2 board.   Painting each pixel of the torch was an incredibly time consuming process.  This is definitely not a project you want to procrastinate on.   I would budget two hours per a torch.   The torches are 1.5″ wide and 7.5″ tall.  The scale for the pixels is 0.75 inches.  I am pretty happy with how the torches came out.  It is a great way to use leftover 2×2 boards in the garage and a neat treat for fans of the game.

Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
Acrylic craft paint sealed with Mod Podge (Matte Finish)
Recommended Skill Level
Starter Project

Outdoor sectional!!

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Wed, 07/05/2017 - 16:12

My husband followed your design for an outdoor sectional for our pool deck. We LOVE it!! Our boys helped and we were able to get the whole thing done in two days!! 

Estimated Cost
Wood and screws: $110
Sunbrella Cushions: $584 (on sale through Home Depot)
White Paint: $30
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Worth every penny, sweat dripple and sun burn (we finally got smart and set up our pop up canopy for shade). We did buy the cushions first, when they were on sale. We used 25 x 25 and I feel like we could have gone a little smaller, but maybe as we use them, they will settle smaller.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner
Seasonal And Holiday

Adorable Rustic Bench

Submitted by beingbrook on Wed, 03/09/2011 - 12:34

Love the rustic bench! This project took my husband about an hour or two to build and then a little primer and paint and it was ready to use. It was a pretty easy build and we didn’t modify the plans at all. We liked the bench so much that we made another one! My biggest tip is to always read the comments on the plans because people leave great feedback about their experience as well as any tips that they used. It cost us less than $30 to build two benches. Sanded really well and then filled screw holes with wood fill. Primed and painted with Behr’s powdered blush.

 

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Adorable Rustic Bench

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$15-20
Estimated Time Investment
An Hour or Two (0-2 Hours)
Finish Used
A coat of primer followed by a coat of Behr's Powdered Blush.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

2x4 cubby

Submitted by arkep on Tue, 05/14/2013 - 19:26

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

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$50 (I already had the casters and paint)
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
white primer, followed by Benjamin Moore Advance Paint (white)
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Bunny Easter Basket

Submitted by DMax2010 on Sun, 04/05/2015 - 10:02

My son loved his new Easter basket! This was super cute to make and I just used scrap wood. The paint was CeCe Caldwell's chalk paint in Blue Montana Sky. I used CeCe Caldwell's Clear Wax for the finish. Love these projects!

Estimated Cost
Used scrap wood and materials I already had
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
CeCe Caldwell's Blue Montana Sky chalk paint and Clear Wax for the finish
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

OUTSIDE FARMHOUSE TABLE

Submitted by DiRico.PF on Fri, 07/14/2017 - 00:17

We just recently moved and we need a dining table for outside. I wasn't happy or interested in the high cost of a low quality crappy steel table set. So i went out and bought the lumber and built the table.I noted that it took me a week to build this table. If I had the weekend dedicated to building it, it would have only taken me the weekend, but life got in the way and it took me a solid week. I used treated lumber for the legs of the table and went with untreated for the rest. I applied some Behr Weatherproofing stain. I thought it turned out great. The only problem i had with the table was that in the plans they are made for a 4X4 that is actually a 4X4. The ones i acquired was 3 1/2 X 3 1/2. It did not cause to much of a problem I just added an extra inch on the skirt. I also was not a big fan of having the feet of the table in direct contact with the ground. Especially on those rainy days. ( Which we have been having a lot of this season) So i went out and I got some Hockey Pucks. Yup some good ol' Canadian hockey pucks. I centered them and screwed them in. Not only do they elevate the table they act as a good grip to the patio stones. By the way this was my first build ever. Excited to get the benches done now. 

Estimated Cost
All lumber I purchased (including benches) Which I am completing soon with Stain came up to a grand total of 250$ Canadian.
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
I used Behr WeatherProofing Semi-Transparent. I sanded at 220 and Stained. Rinse and Repeat for a total of 3 times.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Farmhouse doll bed

Submitted by heidikuz on Wed, 03/09/2011 - 14:07

I am in the process of making my own queen size farmhouse bed but this one came along a lot quicker and my daughter loves it. :) She recently got zebra and hot pink bedding so we made a blanket to match.

Estimated Cost
Less than $10
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
White paint
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Farmhouse table

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Mon, 10/04/2021 - 15:58

Farmhouse table

Comments

Dog Kennel End table (small)

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!

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Clark & Kensington, Paint & Primer all in one from Ace.
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Modified Tall Panel Headboard

Submitted by RenoRustic on Thu, 04/09/2015 - 21:31

I built this headboard as a birthday gift for my grandmother. She had a rickety, old makeshift headboard composed of a couple of 2x4's and some lattice that was spray painted. I modified the plans to fit her Full size bed and lowered the height down to 62".

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$180-$200
Estimated Time Investment
Day Project (6-9 Hours)
Finish Used
I sanded the entire headboard with 80 & 120 grit. I matched some Behr semi-gloss paint to the color of her door and baseboard trim. Painted it with my FinishMax paint sprayer, sanding between coats with 400 grit. 3 coats of paint overall.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

Mom End Table

Finished the X end table, turned out great.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Mix of Minwax Dark Walnut & Classic Grey
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Pedestal table base with hinoki wood top.

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Mon, 10/04/2021 - 17:44

I used Anna Whites DIY plans to build the base for our dining room table. Then I went to my “wood guy” RV and picked up a beautiful piece of hinoki wood for the top. Love it 😍

Although advance, the pedestal plans were very straightforward and easy to follow. Made me look like a pro.

Comments

Nightstands for Christmas

Submitted by ambermae on Thu, 03/10/2011 - 06:21

I made this pair of nightstands as Christmas gifts for my husband in 2010. They were my first project and I'm pleased with how they turned out!

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$80
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Minwax stain plus Tung Oil
Recommended Skill Level
Starter Project

Triple Pedestal Farmhouse Table & Bench

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!

Estimated Cost
$300 + necessary tools
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
Minwax Brand, Early American Stain and Minwax Brand Polyurethane
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

Building for six

Wed, 08/21/2013 - 12:26

I love how smooth your tabletop looks! I grew-up with a kitchen table with a grove all the way around it and can't imagine dealing with that again. Can you go into more detail about how you planed the boards and how difficult the process was? I have built a couple pieces from Ana's site but am still new to all of this...any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
Sarah

Alexis Bench

Submitted by kvinjbj on Mon, 04/13/2015 - 09:48

This is only my second build.  I love it and am very proud.  I made this for my son and daughter in law to put at the foot of their bed.  It took a couple of times for me to get drawer glides on right but I did it!  I love wood working and want to keep learning!

Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

Cooler stand

Submitted by Flowerchld on Tue, 08/08/2017 - 16:26

Large cooler stand built for a huge cooler. I wanted to be able to take the cooler out, so it oversized for the cooler, with slats on the bottom to hold the cooler for draining without water sitting on a solid surface inside.

Estimated Cost
$100 plus hardware.
Estimated Time Investment
Day Project (6-9 Hours)
Finish Used
Poly stain
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Who's Afraid of the Simple Bed?

Submitted by QueenMahin on Thu, 03/10/2011 - 21:11

Building Ana’s farmhouse doll bed went so well that I felt ready to take on a full-sized bed.

Each project seems to come with its own set of lessons. I learned the hard way about the “Measure twice, cut once” rule with a couple of “oops” cuts that sent me back on another trip to the Blue store.

Sourcing untreated 4×4′s was also an issue. I ended up gluing and screwing 2×4′s together to use as the headboard and footboard legs.

The biggest issue, though, was my own fear. Sure I hit some stumbling blocks during the build, but resolved them and got the headboard and footboard all put together… and then choked. Who the heck makes her own bed? Is this really going to work? I delayed and delayed the final steps of screwing the siderails to the legs and attaching slats until I finally had to give myself a stern talking-to and a self-imposed deadline! Has anyone else ever been scared to push through to the final steps?

OK, here goes! I wasn’t sure that I understood the step about toenailing lagbolts through the end of the cleats into the legs until I got out the drill and tried it. Yup, it worked just fine! Next came the slats, and then when I hoisted the mattress on and saw that I had built a bed…. Well, I don’t even know how to describe that feeling of success and empowerment. Wow!

Ana, I wish I could thank you for all that you do.

Estimated Cost
$100
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
Paint or Stain Color/Type:Minwax American Chestnut
Finishing Technique: Was stuck in indecisive mode for a while and sanded and stained and sanded and stained, which resulted in a kind of weathered looking finish. Not what I thought I was going for, but now I count this as a success story and I love it!

Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Vintage Step Stool

Submitted by chrisiross on Mon, 05/27/2013 - 08:18

I made this awesome step stool for my daughter to be able to reach things a little bit better. It works perfectly. And the heart adds the perfect touch, don't you think?

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Time Investment
An Hour or Two (0-2 Hours)
Finish Used
paint and poly
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Fixing the awkward mantel

My friend just bought a condo here in Atlanta, and it only had an awkward tile mantel. She had requested we update this, so one Saturday  we decided to tackle this. The plans were super easy to follow - and we could not be more excited with the results!! 

Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner