Community Brag Posts

Needed a two seat bench for an existing table.  Used biscuits instead of pocket screws to manufacture the seating surface.  Cut 1/4" from each edge of the 2x4  (original 1.5" x 3.5" => now 1.5" x 3.0") so the premilled humps would not be evident on the seating surface.  The surface now has 6 layers of boards for 6x3=18" width instead of the plans 5x3.5 = 17.5"  Great plans, easy to modify!

My new Craft Table I built from Ana White's plans. I combined her plans from her Modern Craft Table (http://ana-white.com/2010/09/modern-craft-table) and the desk drawer from her Craft Tabletop for the Modular Collection (http://ana-white.com/2010/02/plans-bedford-project-table-top-with.html). I modified the plans slightly, I added 1x2's aroung the tabletop instead of edge banding or nosing to give it a nice decorative finish. I also used 1 x 3's instead of using 1 x 2's for the floating base for the tabletop so you could see more of the floating base since the 1 x 2's around the tabletop covered up the majority of the floating base from view. I also created a frame for the table top to sit on which also helped stabilized the 2 bookshelves in place, as well as adding support to the frame of the drawers.

Table and bench before we finished it

We had been saving up for a table like this one from Restoration Hardware or Urban Barn or West Elm but needless to say it was taking a while (just for the table)... then we stumbled upon @Shanty2Chic on Pinterest and loved the idea.

As far as woodworking/furniture making goes, I have taken a turn at it here and there but this was our first major project and it worked out great. We decided to go with two benches and we're currently hunting for chairs, maybe a DIY as the ones we want are also pretty expensive for what they are!

We bought all the wood, subbing the 96" 2x10s for 72" 2x10s and subbed the 2x4s in the X legs for 4x4s. I like the one piece better than the 2x4s and we attached the X pieces to the 4x4 using 2-1/2" pocket screws. After cutting and sanding, we assembled the table and set out staining it with a brush and a clean rag using the "brush on - wipe off" method which gave us a nice look at the grain pattern. The stain we chose was Varathane Weathered Grey and did one coat which gave us the look we were after. After staining we applied three coats of Varathane Matte Finish clear to allow for that "natural wood feel".

New to raising chickens, but eager to jump right in to it.
We bought a pre-made coop for the main home for our new chicks and it's very nice, not something I could do myself since I'm not yet at that level, but I saw this chicken tractor and thought it would come in handy for what I have in mind so I made up my mind to build it.
The lumber, chicken wire, staples, and wheels are all store bought new and came to about $75. The materials we had on hand were the screws, hinges, plastic coated metal shelving (used in the nesting area, I thought that would make it easy to clean), paint, and the corner piece of vinyl siding for the roof cap (hubby's brilliant idea, and I painted it green with spray paint for vinyl).
I did not try to build it quickly, I don't really know how much time it took me, but if I had to guess I'd guess total time would amount to about 3 afternoons, by myself.
I wanted to leave the top on the one side open with the option to slap on the other boards if/when the need arises. I have the other t1-11 panels that can sit right in those areas because I stapled the chicken wire in a way that would allow it.
I also added a flip up panel as seen in the pictures for access. I didn't want a small door that I would have a hard time getting to things in there. I'm so glad I added this feature, it sure gives plenty of room for me to maintain the food and water dispensers as well as get in there and catch the little chickies :)
I wanted it green to blend into the wooded background in our backyard. I didn't want to take any beauty away from the cedar greenhouse and fencing we added last year, and this tractor would be moved from time to time and I felt this green that we had on hand was perfect to help it blend in rather than stand out.
This thing is heavy! I have a hard time moving it around and usually need my husband to move it so I won't hurt myself. I am considering some options... I don't like the rope I have on it to pull it, any suggestions would be appreciated.
As with the other items I've made with Ana's plans, this was fun and pretty easy to make. I love this site! Soon I will take on my next project, I've bought and gathered the materials, I'm anxious to get started :)
Thank you for looking :)

This is a modified version of the sturdy workbench. I made it six feet long, about three feet wide (I can't remember exactly), and 36'' high. Since I'm 6'2'', I needed a bench that didn't keep me constantly bending over.

I used Douglas Fir framing lumber and 3/4'' plywood for the surface. The plywood was a cheap replaceable option since hardwood is extremely expensive in my area. The wood warped a bit after I built it, so its clearly not perfect. But who cares, its a workbench after all...

I used left over paint / stain I had laying around in the garage. The gray is a custom mix interior paint, and the stain is Minwax Golden Oak. I used 1 coat of stain, and three coats of Poly.

I used these plans and modified the height to create functional countertop and shelving in my garage. I added a little face framing too. Thank you for the inspiration Ana!

I wanted to use our laundry basket dresser as a collector for dirty laundry in our bathroom, and wanted it to have doors so it would blend in better. I also made the shelf above for our towels. It is painted white with a faux-zinc finish on the top. I made the top slightly larger so it would overhang and added cute little bun feet. My talented friend Carli helped me build the doors (and by helped I mean I handed her things while she impressed me with all her tools and skills!) and frame.

I built ledge shelves for our kitchen using reclaimed wood I painted teal, then silver, then flat black (Napoleon).

Love having them. :)

DIY grid mirror. Used exact plan. 

I built this cabinet to store magazines and diapers (towels when the time comes) in the small 1/2 bath.

The top was made with left over oak pieces from when I ripped out the carpet and 2x12 stairs and replaced with oak treads.

Rustic X-Console Table made from just 2x6s striped in half to make the legs instead of using 2x4s and cutting down a 2x6 to 1 1/2in cuts to make 1x1 stripes.  I used 3/4in sanded plywood for the shelves. Everything was put together with Kreg jig screws and wood glue. Stain was applied using an air compressor and spray gun to spray a even coat of stain in sections at a time, while the stain is still wet, I wipe off the excess stain with a clean rag leaving an even wood stain finish results. This cuts the staining from what would normally take hours of painful hand staining to just minutes with a spray gun. After the stain drys, I go over the table with either fine wool pad or 1000 grit sand paper to remove any rough spots. I then apply the polyurethane with the spray gun as well. Once that dries, I go over the table again with 2000 grit wet/dry sand paper leaving a ultra smooth even finish. I use a total of 6 (2x6 white pine boards) striped to needed sizes and half of (4x8 sanded 3/4in plywood) for this project. I had to modify the demensions for the different sizes of cuts, but overall saving money instead of buying the individual 2x4s,1x1s, and solid pine boards. It takes a bit longer but well worth it.

I scoured the web unsuccessfully for months trying to find a cabinet big enough to store everything we needed to store. I wanted something huge and bright and simple, and so I decided to just build away. It's 8'4" long, 18" deep and 36" tall. Topped with a slab of Giallo Napoleon granite and painted a nice plain white. Took me only a few nights to build and paint, thanks to my power nailer and power paint sprayer. Thanks to a great deal on a remnant granite slab, this was just about $400 total start to finish. I winged the entire plan and didn't really use any plans in particular, though I have gathered many great ideas and tips from this site.

I got inspired by Ana to design my own toy garage - so that there would be somewhere to store all the hot wheels that kept piling up! I have no idea what the angle is for the driveway ramp - it was trial and error with help from my husband, but it's pretty sturdy. Between the mitered cut and the copious amounts of glue, it holds the weight of a 25 lb toddler walking up it (though I try to discourage it!).
I used chalkboard paint and acrylics - so that we can draw parking stalls, lanes, or arrows as desired - my son helped with the painting. So far, the favorite activities are sending the cars down the ramp, one after another...

From watching Olympic gymnast Simone Biles on the television to running, flipping and twirling all around our living room — my girls LOVE everything gymnastics. Both girls began competing with a local gymnastics club. Now that my oldest has moved up and is pretty serious about practicing her beam handstands and dismounts, she begged me to build a raised balance beam with suede covering so it would have a similar feel to her beam at the gym.

If you can relate to this, or even if you have a new gymnast (like my youngest in the pic above) wanting to improve their skills at home, then this comprehensive tutorial on how to build a raised balance beam is for you.

Full plans available on my blog The Creative 'Carr'penter. You can also find and pin this tutorial on Pinterest here.

Ana White inspired Rustic X Coffee Table finished with dark walnut stain and Annie Sloan graphite chalk paint.

Built by Kelly Flood Gugliemoni, shared on Facebook.

Sliding barn door hardware is DIY, cabinets are DIY - tutorials linked below.

Helped a friend build this one - plans were great! See blog post for more info.