Community Brag Posts

Child's Picnic Table/Sandbox

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Tue, 04/05/2016 - 06:20

I saw this on pintrest and took the big Kids picnic table and modified it to include a removable top and sandbox.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Recommended Skill Level
Starter Project

Christmas Tree Shelf

Submitted by shelberrrs on Wed, 12/11/2019 - 01:45

Made this for my MIL as part of her Christmas gift! It was a quick, easy and fun build. I’ll update photos once she hangs it and add her decor

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$30
Estimated Time Investment
An Hour or Two (0-2 Hours)
Finish Used
Briarsmoke
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Farmhouse Table

Submitted by johnandash on Wed, 01/15/2014 - 12:47

My husband surprised me with a big pile of wood in the garage on Christmas morning. 3 weeks later, this beautiful table is in my kitchen. The pictures do not do it justice - it turned out amazing. We have plans to make the matching bench when it warms a bit - our garage is freezing!

It took at least 20 hours to cut the wood, sand and assemble. It took another 10+ plus hours to stain and put 3 coats of the polyurethane.

The great people at Orange cut our wood for us, and we took it home and notched it out using a jigsaw. Once we got the hang of it, it was really easy.

We had a hard time finding 2 3/4 screws, so we used 2 1/2. It worked great. We used Elmer's Carpenter's Wood Filler in natural to fill the screw holes. It turned out so nice and looks great with the stain on top.

Neither my husband or I have very much experience building anything, so we took our time - measuring about 60 times and cutting once. However, it paid off. The table looks so great and I cannot wait to make the matching bench!

Estimated Cost
Around $250 (including stain and polyurethane)
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
Minwax English Chestnut 233 - wiped on with a cotton cloth
Minwax Polyurethane Clear Semi-Gloss - brushed on with a Purdy brush

We left the stain on, without wiping any off - 1 coat.
3 coats of polyurethane
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Tardis Murphy Bed

Submitted by alleysrats on Thu, 04/07/2016 - 19:40

I took the original plan design for a Murphy bed - it was inspired by a Dr. Who themed bed that used a Murphy Bed Kit - I've used Ana White's plans before and thought why spend $$$ on a kit when you don't have to.  I few trips to the store and a weekend later I have my very own Tardis Murphy Bed.  It cost about $140 to build not including the mattress and accessories cost (light kit/upholstery panel/police box sign etc) I raised it up about 4" to attach legs and added some puck lights for a lighting effect.  I think it came together rather nicely.  I just have to add handles and the magnetic closures and it will be all done.

 

It took me all weekend to build by myself - had my brother help me with mounting the mattress box in the cabinet.  I would suggest having wood cut at the lumbar yard as it is difficult to cut the 8 and 12" boards unless you have a bigger table saw that I do.

Estimated Cost
$140 not including accessories which added about another $40 to cost. Mattress was additional $180.
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

Workbench

Submitted by joja on Sun, 04/01/2012 - 15:30

Another project inspired by Ana!

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

Nesting side tables

Nesting tables with golden oak stain and poly on top.  The last pic of the small table made with 1x2's for 2 legs and 2x2's for the other 2.  Distressed by my daughter Kimberly.  

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
50.00
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
MInwax Golden Oak.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

My son's step stool

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sun, 04/10/2016 - 20:23

Fun project that my son and our next soon to be baby will enjoy for a long time. Plans were very easy to fallow and easy to build.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$30 but that was because I used cedar. Would have been cheaper with pine.
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
Sanded to 120 grit and the applied 3 coats of spray lacquer. Then I lightly sanded with 320 grit sandpaper and then applied 1 more coat of spray lacquer.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Queen Farmhouse bed with storage and Farmhouse Doll Bed

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sun, 12/22/2019 - 05:45

I built this queen size Farm House bed using the basic instructions from Ana's Plans. I wanted hidden storage underneath, so I altered the bed support. The bed opens on both sides for easy access. The bed box is pretty heavy so i want to make sure the weight was self supported. i went back in a stained the feet so you cannot see them. I also made a matching Farmhouse Doll Bed using Ana's plans!!

Estimated Cost
$400
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
Min Wax Espresso stain and Min Wax poly
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Modern Potting Bench

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sat, 08/26/2023 - 12:20

I was tired of having potting plants and soil stacked up at the end of my driveway taking away from the aesthetic of the gardens so I built myself a potting stand. I love the two tone although I wish I decided on the colours prior to assembling. It would have saved me a lot of masking.

Mary Wikene

Media bench

Submitted by joja on Thu, 04/05/2012 - 06:58

Inspired by Ana!

Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
Stain.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Doll Loft Bed McKenna

Submitted by LARMO on Mon, 01/20/2014 - 11:57

I made this for a grand-daughter for Christmas and followed the McKenna Doll plan from the plan catalog . My wife made the pad and quilt from a link on the doll plan site. Made from scraps left over using my Kreg jig and spray painted with a gloss purple, her favorite color. I also made a bulletin board near the desk and added cup hooks for the hangars on the ladder side.

Estimated Cost
$50
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
Krylon Gloss Spray Paint purple
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Rustic X Coffee Table

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Wed, 04/13/2016 - 08:59

Fun project. It ended up being more time consuming than I had originally planned.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$85.00
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
Custom Mixed Minwax stain combination
Minwax Polycrylic
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

my first project

Submitted by metalmx on Sun, 04/08/2012 - 01:03

my best friend has built a couple of projects from this site. i enjoyed helping him a bit so when he decided to build one of these for yes baby that is due this summer, i figured i'd double up and build one for myself while we were at it. i haven't built anything since high school (10 years ago). he had all the tools and had made a lot of mistakes along the way so he brought be up to speed and told me a lot of "don't do this...trust me" tips that are helpful.

we used premium ply wood cut to 1x12s and poplar 1x2's for this. total wood cost was about 30 bucks per shelf. I decided to use a trim router for my framing along the outer edge. I think it gives it a professional look at it took 10 minutes to do.

NOTE: if you want to rout around the entire top and you used pocket holes....DONT DO IT. we found that one out the hard way on the other shelf. if your bit does anything but slightly round the edge it's gonna hit the screws. :(

i made a last second change and went with a vibrant red and a dark dark black to make it up. i couldn't be happier. it doesn't match my room at all but i don't care at this point. my friend did a great job taping off the trim and the lines are just awesome.

This thing is stout. i'm not a small man and would not hesitate to stand on top of this thing all day. can't wait to show it off to anyone i can:)

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
40-50 dollars with paint included.
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
satin black and ruby red satin for the trim. both paint a brand i forgot from lowes.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

Truss Table

I have been wanted to build this table for over a year and finally had the time for it. The plans made the cuts very simple.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Watco Danish Oil - Natural
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Comments

Closet-to-Mudroom Conversion

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Fri, 04/15/2016 - 21:41

Starting from the Extra Wide Shoe Bench plans, I expanded the upper section considerably. The cabinetry is all cut from hardwood plywood and joined with pocket screws and glue. I don't have a table saw, so a circular saw and straightedge were extensively used.

Estimated Cost
$400.00
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
Gloss paint.
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Modified Triple Pedestal Table

Submitted by pkw on Mon, 12/30/2019 - 02:02

 this table and chairs was a joint effort between my lifelong best friend’s son and I, his dad had just recently passed away and it was a good way for us to stay busy and also to help furnish his new house he’d just moved into, we used stock pine 2x and 1x lumber from the big box store and StoneCoat countertops epoxy resin on the table top.This was a lot fun and not too difficult to make and we were super happy with the way this project turned out!

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
approx $130 in lumber and supplies and about an additional $100 in the epoxy resin
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Minwax wood conditioner and Minwax dark walnut stain
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Junior Size Classic Bunk Bed

We built this in our living room start to finish - we live in an NYC apartment. Because of the small room size we chose to modify the plans to a small mattress - hoping that it will last our boys until they are about 5 and 7 (currently 2 and almost here). This blog post outlines our buy and cut list for the modified size: http://wp.me/p3DCu3-Kd

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$215 (plus $200 for mattresses and bedding)
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
None
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner
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