Community Brag Posts

reclaimed timber farmhouse table - first build

wanted a big table for christmas, this is over 8 foot, and we couldn't afford a table like that so having seen the site thought i'd try and build one. thanks for the plans absolutely great
first project, no real woodwork experience but competent diy-er

made mainly out of reclaimed wood, the top and side apron are made of old scaffold boards and the main brace a chunk of wood form my neighbours shed.

i did have to buy some 2x4s for the legs and the cross braces

sides painted and the top waxed, looks a bit patchy in the photos but the finish is good.

all in all cost about £70

Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
paint and wax
Recommended Skill Level
Starter Project

Produce bin toy box

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Mon, 02/15/2016 - 10:51

Handmade

Estimated Cost
100ish
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

When husband breaks it I can fix it.

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Tue, 10/01/2019 - 19:42

My husband broke out entertainment stand all out of glass. This is my very first project. All by my self. Inspired from being broke and have 2x4 laying around.

Estimated Cost
$50
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

Tryde coffee table tweaked

Submitted by ccobb1612 on Tue, 05/30/2023 - 08:58

Tweaked the Tryde Coffee table plans to fit daughters desired look with added magazine shelf and appropriate dimensions. Weekend project turned longer due to top color changes and re-sanding off stain a couple times. Settled on Ebony stain and ivory paint bottom. Love the plans from Ana White.

Built from Plan(s)

Comments

Thumb chair

Submitted by Chef Sowa on Tue, 01/17/2012 - 18:11

Second plan I decided to build from this site, my daughter loves it. She's 19 months old now, but should grow into it fairly soon, she can still climb into it though. Slapped it together in less than an hour. Small modifications from the original plan. I used a 1 x 12 tread (leftover from a previous project) for the seat and back. Painted and sealed it, and let dry over night. Thanks again Ana!

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$5
Estimated Time Investment
An Hour or Two (0-2 Hours)
Finish Used
Spray paint
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

American Girl Canopy Bed

Submitted by sraper2 on Tue, 12/03/2013 - 17:01

I built the American Girl canopy bed and closet for a family friend for Christmas. This plan was so much fun to make! I will definitely be making a few more for Christmas. I put a tutorial for the mattress I made and will be adding tutorials for the rest of the bedding on my blog tomorrow. Thanks so much!!

Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
Primer, white pain
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Built two headboards for my boys!

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Wed, 02/17/2016 - 08:03

I'm not a carpenter by any stretch of the imagination. This is the first building project I've done in God knows how long. Having a brad nailer is almost a must. it make the assembly of this headboard a piece of cake. The hardest part by far for me was finding untreated 4x4's. especially since we wanted to leave them the natural color of the wood. I finally found a local lumber yard that also had a pallet shop where they make custom pallets for area businesses. They had some untreated 4x4's that they use to make pallets with. It took me quite a while to pick out some good ones from the bunch. Even after being very selective with the 4x4's I still had to take 80 grit sandpaper on a belt sander to them to get them to the finished product. They turned out great though. I would say that I'm a jack of all trades type of person, but had no experience building anything remotely close to furniture before. I am usually handy when it comes to figuring things out and doing work with my hands though. If you are looking for a good project to try out, then this one is a great one to start on. As for now, I don't plan to make the footboard and rails for this bed. These headboards cost me a total of about $52 or $53 each in materials. It took me a total of about 5-6 hours to build (2 hours of that was sanding on the 4x4's.)

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$55 for headboard only.
Finish Used
natural
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Bar / Buffet Table

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Wed, 10/02/2019 - 06:23

Made from a combination of Ana White plans to build the ultimate home bar! I used the Rustic Sideboard / Buffet Table and Modular Bar Wine Grid Hutch plans for this custom build

Estimated Cost
$200
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Comments

Simple Play Kitchen

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sun, 06/04/2023 - 13:03

I made this play kitchen as a Christmas present for my kids, and it’s been a big hit! It’s built mostly from leftover hardwood plywood, and a couple of 1x12 pine boards. The oven knobs and faucet were cut from redwood scraps and attached with 1/2” dowels to freely rotate. The vertical surfaces were painted with leftover house paint and sealed with water-based polycrylic. It was a fun build, and I learned some new skills (like installing hinges)! Thanks for the plans!

Comments

Fort bed!

Submitted by paulashley on Sun, 01/22/2012 - 17:07

We are so thankful for the plan! This is our first building project (ever!) My son loves his new fort bed, and we feel so empowered to have done it ourselves!

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
For us, about $70 total
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

mamalecia11

Wed, 01/25/2012 - 19:47

I was looking for a cute, simple bed for our 9 year old son as he gets a room to himself for the first time in his life(we adopted him from Haiti 2 years ago, where he shared with 4-8 little boys and then he has shared with his little sister since they came to us). This is just what I was looking for and didn't know it-haha.

Mantel

My parents have hated their fireplace since they moved into their house 18 years ago. When they moved in it was black bricks, so we painted it white, but it was still really sad looking. I finally got on Ana's site and found plans for Mimi's Faux Mantel and got to work. We just love how it turned out. Really warms up the space and now the fireplace in the focal point of the room. Thanks Ana!

Estimated Cost
$75
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
minwax prestain, minwax red mahogany (2 coats), minwax polyurethane (2 coats)
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

Margery

Sun, 10/05/2014 - 18:34

what a fantastic job you did!  That settles it....this week I'm picking up my materials and getting to work.  I've thought about it for long enough.  Your mantel is an inspiration to me because it's exactly what I've been looking for.  Your parents must be so happy.  again, Great Job!!!

Coffee table with toy storage

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sat, 02/20/2016 - 11:09

Coffee table with built in toy storage with glaze coat top

Estimated Cost
$180
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Walnut stain with glaze coat top.
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Kitchen Island

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Wed, 10/02/2019 - 16:21

Our kitchen REALLY needed an island, and with a few modifications from Ana's plan, we had the perfect new piece for our home!

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$300
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Plant stand so grand :-)

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Fri, 06/09/2023 - 14:20

Was recommended by YT (yes I subscribed) thought it was awesome. Just getting into woodworking and thought it was perfect to try. Appreciate the help, very kind. Godspeed.

Comments

Pet Feeder

Submitted by lazyLiz on Thu, 01/26/2012 - 16:48

I am building a TV console and hutch (will be posting soon) and I have left over of small cut of boards from this project. While waiting for my media center to dry, I built this pet feeder.

I have this messy eater dog (weimaraner) who slobbers all over my floor moulding. Worst thing...she bangs the wall with her aluminum bowl when she tries to lick every single bits of her food there is! So, with that story to tell, I designed and built her a pet feeder(inspired by the small pet feeder plan). And no more banging and messy wall!

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
I'd say $ 2.00 to $5.00 (every materials used were left overs from my media center project)
Estimated Time Investment
An Hour or Two (0-2 Hours)
Finish Used
glossy white paint and drops of colored paint for the name and prints
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Clubhouse bed!

This took me for-ever to build but mainly because I have an infant plus two other children. I think the actual time in hours was about 15 for the build and about the same for finish work. We modified the plans to fit my sons full size mattress. We also spent a lot on lumber because, initially, I thought I would stain but ended up painting.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
Primer and 4 (yes 4!) coats of water based paint. DO NOT use Valspar.
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Comments

Headboard with lights

Submitted by wtclarke1 on Thu, 10/03/2019 - 10:21

This is a queen size headboard I built for our guest room.  This is inspired by http://ana-white.com/woodworking-projects/reclaimed-wood-headboard-queen-size.

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

Comments

Simple jig to save time and increase accuracy

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Thu, 06/15/2023 - 12:13

I downloaded the plans for the octagonal table. I have made several and used a few different woods, made a few minor design changes as well as creating a routine and using a jig or two. This jig fits in between the two boards that form the seat support frame. I used a large paint stick and a scrap piece of 2 x 4. Using a table saw, I cut a groove in the 2" edge, approximately 1/2" deep, this took two passes (pass it through, turn it and pass again), a slight adjustment and another two passes. Insert the paint stick and seat all the way down. Place jig between seat support frame, might be a little snug or use a clamp to hold in place. Adjust so just the paint stick sticks up enough to separate seat boards. With seat boards against the jig, it forms the perfect angle/guide to match cuts. I also used 1/2" spacers to create consistent spacing. Love the various plans you make available as well as your videos.

Comments

ipex bookshelf

Submitted by jkolo on Thu, 02/02/2012 - 22:27

Great bookcase. I used a 3" screw through the top center into the wall to add lateral stability. Now it is rock solid. The majority of time was spent sanding and finishing.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$100
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
The all-in-one stain with poly doesn't coat evenly on pine. I ended up stopping half way through, sanding it off, then used a Minwax stain, then Satin poly.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Kids Step Stool

My sister wanted a step stool for her grand-daughter via her daughter-in-law. Like our mother and grand-mother before us, we stood by the sink with our hands in the wash water "helping" with the dishes. She asked it I could build a stool. After searching through several plans, I came across this vintage step stool and changed it up a little for the personal touch. I added the cartoon characters to fit with my great-nieces theme and she now has something that she can "brag" about as she grows.

Estimated Cost
Less than $20.00
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
Minwax Oak stain, Minwax Provincial stain, latex paint for cartoon characters and 2 coats of Minwax Polycrylic. When using stain, I prefer to wipe on with old rag or t-shirt, it seems to cover better. As far as with the acrylic, I use a foam brush going with the grain whenever possible.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner