Community Brag Posts

Poplar and birch expanded dog crate

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Wed, 02/24/2016 - 10:47

I saw this plan on pinterest and really liked the way it looked. I bought the wood, but let it sit for a year because it wasn't a priority. Well, we were getting a new dog and he needed a little more room due to hip surgery. So, I expanded the crate dimension and got to work. I added 6 inches to the width, and 4 to the length but turns out I was about an inch shy all the way around to fit a plastic liner tray. Next one will be better. I used birch plywood on the side panels and the bottom panel, but used 4 inch wide board to create a slatted top rather than a solid top. I put hinges on the top with a window latch style lock, and put 2 slider style gate locks on the door. the color was from using medium walnut Danish oil, finished with 3 coats of gloss poly. During the project, I took time to teach my 9 yr old daughter how to use various tools, from the drill to the power miter saw. It was a great bonding time for us, and for a worthwhile reason- the new dog.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$350-400
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Medium walnut Danish oil, glossy polyurethane
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Cedar log table

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Tue, 06/20/2023 - 12:01

All cut up with our sawmill! Francesca and Bob Schilling. Beaverdam, Virginia

Comments

Wine Rack

Submitted by Bredimi on Tue, 02/07/2012 - 15:35

I loved the Holman Entertaining Shleves from Pottery Barn, however, I didn't like the price. Taking the $10 ledge plans and modifying them, I set out to make my own. I used a 1 x 10 (bottom), 1 x 6 (back) and a 1 x 3 (front). They are 23 7/8 inches long to get the 3 shelves out of 6 foot boards. To get the holes to hold the top of the bottle, I used a 1 and 1/4 inch forstner bit. Since I had gift cards left from Christmas I splurged on the wood and bought the select pine.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
I had gift cards, but my out of pocket expenses for the 3 shelves was $22.89
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
I painted them Valspar Lincoln Cottage Black
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Comments

babysteps

Tue, 01/14/2014 - 10:55

I love your adaptation of the original design. I have been looking for an example of someone who made this plan into a wider shelf. Has it held up well? I was worried about the stress on the joints when you make it deeper. Has yours handled the weight of the bottles?

Desk Bling accessory sets for Christmas

Submitted by JoanneS on Tue, 12/17/2013 - 14:28

These desk sets were made from scrap wood and left over finishes, and are the inspiration for the desk bling accessory set plan, the cedar 1-board desk accessory set plan, and the 1-board cedar 2 drawer desktop storage cube plan. I had a ball planning and building these 4 sets over the summer, and gave them to the girls at work today as Christmas gifts. They were a big hit!

The cube sides and drawer fronts are made from scraps of wainscoat paneling.

The gray set is a distressed finish (not shown - the matching cube storage included pulls painted in oil rubbed bronze). The Espresso painted set received pulls spray-painted in silver. The Onyx set was stained with Minwax Express color, with pulls spray-painted in silver. The blue set received 2 coats of paint, and a Walnut glaze. Those pulls were done with a gray paint wash, with sea glass pebbles glued on the fronts.

The pulls are all made from pieces of S4S moulding, sanded and then painted. These also received a poly topcoat before attaching with super glue.

Total time for each set is about an afternoon each. Each set received multiple coats for the finishes, but was well worth the effort.

For some added "bling," I raided my stash of sticky-back felt scraps and applied to the bottoms of each piece, along with the drawer bottoms.

Estimated Cost
all materials already on hand, except for the sea glass (purchased at Michael's)
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
Gray: 1 coat white, 1 coat gray (Ace, Greek Column), distressed with 100-grit sandpaper, 1 coat polycrylic satin.
Espresso: 3 coats Benjamin Moore aura paint in Wenge, 1 coat polycrylic satin.
Onyx: 2 coats Minwax Express Color in Onyx (brushed on), 2 coats polycrylic satin.
Blue: 2 coats Clark & Kensington tinted to Benjamin Moore's Blue Echo, glazed with Minwax Express Color in Walnut, top coated with Minwax Oil Modified water based poly in satin.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Rustic x + tryde combo media stand

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sun, 02/28/2016 - 09:47

I saw someone else make a stand similar to this by combining the rustic x and tryde plans. I just used 1x for the sides instead of the x. Didn't take more than a few hrs to build but finishing took forever bc a couple boards were crowned so I sanded forever. If anyone has aby questions or needs help feel free to email me @ [email protected]

Estimated Cost
100-150
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
Jacobean minnwax, semi gloss polyurethane
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

fancy jewelry box

Made this with my brother as a gift for my daughter 20th birthday . Wood is from reclaimed cypress and hand rubbed shellac finish

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$100
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Shellac
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Factory Cart Coffee Table

Submitted by Syndee on Fri, 02/10/2012 - 22:11

(Sorry my photos aren't the best, there is a black spot on my lens which shows up on some pictures.)

I had a lot of fun making this! I'd been wanting a vintage factory cart for over a year when I found this plan on Pinterest which led me here. I wanted to get a rustic industrial look so I made the table in the picture from the Ana White site that is stained and not the green one. After getting the base built, my husband and I decided we wanted it taller (since we have a dog who would love to sniff at whatever we put on it). And while I'm at it, why not add some storage? So I added more 2x4s and attached them to both the base and additional 1x6s. I put the 1x6s on the front and both sides, leaving the back open. I flipped the whole thing over, put the casters on and added plywood to the bottom of those 2x4s. then added two small boards give support to the plywood, which created a storage shelf. I then sanded and stained it and finished it off with two coats of semi-gloss poly. I did not counter-sink my screws or used wood filler as I was going for the rustic industrial look and I love the way it looks. It is very sturdy, too. I have moved it all around, slid it on its side trying to get some decent pictures and its just as sturdy as ever.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
< $100
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Stain color is Kona. Two coats of poly.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

Wood block pyramid

Submitted by Lsh108 on Sat, 12/21/2013 - 06:35

What a great little gift idea and made this in about 4 hours. HD had 2x2 poplar turning blocks that were perfectly straight and pretty smooth to start with. Required minimal sanding. Each board was $1.98 but was 32 inches long. So you have to buy 15. Start with the larger cuts first. The end of each board will produce one or two of the smaller cuts. Used the food coloring and also coconut oil on the blocks.
Great project, had fun doing it.

Estimated Cost
$32
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
Food coloring and coconut oil
Recommended Skill Level
Starter Project

Comments

2x4 Truss Bench

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Mon, 02/29/2016 - 18:07

I made my bench a little shorter (54") and did not need the center support.  I also cut the top and bottom of the leg horizontals 3/4" shorter so the legs tucked under the bench top more.  It was a great bench and looks good with the Fancy X Farmhouse Table I also followed from Ana White.

Estimated Cost
$20
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
Frame: Off White Paint
Top: MinWax Early American stain with a Spar Urethane gloss finish.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

Bunk Beds

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Thu, 10/10/2019 - 17:26

A lot of fun to build and not that hard at all. Thank you for the great plans.

Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Minwax Polycrylic Semi gloss
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Garden Bench

Submitted by sidman on Tue, 02/14/2012 - 02:50

When I saw this we had to build it. Hope you like!

Estimated Cost
45.00
Estimated Time Investment
Day Project (6-9 Hours)
Finish Used
Painted black with a poly coating.
Recommended Skill Level
Starter Project

Comments

Margaret Kubiszyn (not verified)

Tue, 02/14/2012 - 07:11

I love this, but the link to the plans is broken!

Fire Pit Benches

Submitted by tsmonson on Mon, 12/23/2013 - 21:24

This was an easy plan to follow! We built these for around our fire pit. The finishes is what took the longest. The tops are stained American Walnut.

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

Comments

Tiny House Ontario

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Fri, 03/04/2016 - 12:43

I looked at all the sofas that people built and took bits out of a lot of them to decide what I needed to fit my needs. I am in a tiny house and I wanted the sofa to be super versatile as well as being good for storage. I decided to build it the size of a double bed, but to divide this into three sections so that it can be used as a sectional, a seating area for meals and a bed for overnight guests. It was a lot easier than I thought it would be.

Thank you for this, I would not have known where to begin.

I decided on brightly printed outdoor fabric because the interior of my tiny house is all wood and I though the bright colours would be a nice addition. The outdoor fabric was chosen so that it would resist water and stains as well as pet hair.

Estimated Cost
$487.
Estimated Time Investment
Day Project (6-9 Hours)
Finish Used
water proof outdoor fabric
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Built in dining bench

Submitted by aahmad79 on Sun, 10/13/2019 - 09:14

I used the mudroom bench plans and modified them slightly to account for the wider space and air registers underneath. Thanks Ana!

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$450
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Comments

DIY Potting Bench

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sun, 07/02/2023 - 11:37

Such an easy build with a little woodworking experience. I am in love with this project and am so excited to have done it myself!

Amy

Built from Plan(s)

My new sewing table!!

Submitted by sattaway on Sun, 02/19/2012 - 20:46

I consider this my first build...notice the ribbon rack and painter's ladder shelf also in the photo. Those were just confidence boosters to help me tackle the craft table I've been asking my hubby to build me for years. I just got tired of waiting, and decided to give it a try. With a 2 and 6 year old in the house, this took me a few weeks to complete...building during nap time and forgoing sleep on some evenings just to get it done. :) The drawers were by far the trickiest part of the whole thing. My first attempt was with 16" euro side mount slides, and I couldn't get the drawers in because they are inset under the tabletop. I ended up going with just a regular side mount drawer slide ($4.30 per drawer). The bookcases and the drawers are just your standard white cabinet paint, but the tabletop is finished in Martha Stewart's Potter's Clay textured paint (Hacienda) with a top coat of polyurethane. I also made the table top twice as thick by gluing 2 pieces of plywood together and screwing them together through the bottom piece. The height of the table is perfect for cutting fabric...no more backaches from bending over a table to cut fabric. I can't wait to move on to my next project! :)

Estimated Cost
$150
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

Sandie

Mon, 02/20/2012 - 14:28

Great job! I love it when women finally figure out that they CAN build! Everything looks great!!!!

counter raised beds

2 - 2x12x8

2 - 2x3x8

2 - 4x4x8 (cedar, fur is cheaper and will work fine also)

16 - 5/16x4 lag screws 

16 - 5/16 washers

3x10 feet 1/4 hardware wire

20 - 3inch wood screws (outdoor rated, deck screws or the like) 

you will have left overs if you buy extra lags you can make some other boxes depending on how high you want these, or set them on ground without legs. and use the wood screws 

Estimated Cost
$75
Estimated Time Investment
An Hour or Two (0-2 Hours)
Finish Used
no finish
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Farmhouse Nesting Tables

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Fri, 10/18/2019 - 08:34

First real furniture project. Used pocket screws for just about everything and added some decorative 2" bread boards.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
Under $100
Estimated Time Investment
Day Project (6-9 Hours)
Finish Used
Early American Stain with Polyurethane finish
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

DIY Mantle with Hearth

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Fri, 07/07/2023 - 11:04

We’ve made three of these: this one’s on a “hearth” in our sala on Guam; my husband put another one in our bedroom here, and the third faux fireplace is in our bedroom in Missouri. Later this year he’s building one requested by our daughter for her living room.

Kelley

Seasonal And Holiday
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