Community Brag Posts

My wife and daughter wanted a shelf for her room - had to be pink. All I had to go on was a picture from a Pottery Barn ad. It's made from poplar and was my first kreg pocket hole project.

This was my first real build and it was a lot of fun. My girlfriend helped me out from time to time even though it was brutally cold in my un-heated, uninsulated, detatched garage.

We used a sagey green for the paint and 2 coats of gloss poly on the top. Added holes in the back with a hole saw for wires and cables. I stacked the false fronts and drilled them for the knobs all at the same time for consistency.

All in for about $210 including $40 in knobs, but I did make the drawers out of some scrap I had laying around.

The pocket hole joinery makes this pretty easy, but I'd highly recommend a table saw for consistent cuts and deminsions. Also, definitely use lay out lines and double check for squareness before driving the screws during assembly. Take your time, and enjoy the process. It starts to look very much "diy" in that not good "ummmmmm..." kind of way before the end where it all comes together.

I liked the other brag post with shorter arms

Really helps add storage to my office.  Thanks Ana and Shanty 2 Chic

We just moved to a farm and luckily the house has a wood shop! So we chose to do this farm house table as our first build at our new house. It was so much fun....and it was a great project for my husband and I to work on together! Total working time was about 10 hours, that did not include the time it took for the stain to dry and the poly to set. I am incredibly impatient and probably applied the poly over the stain too early, but with a project like a "rustic farmhouse table", the imperfections from my haste go unnoticed. Next build: barn doors.

My first brag post!

UPDATED: New photo with bar and stools on covered porch. Very happy with how it worked.

We wanted the Ballard Sutton Console Bar Table and three stools to go with our outdoor furniture. Unfortunately, that little package was going to run about $2,500. Decided instead to see if I could build the things and make up my own stools to match. So basically by studying the picture a little bit figured out my plan. Then the stools are more or less a mini version of the table with a couple modifications.

I haven't itemized the bill, but built 3 stools for about $50, and the table was a little less. Incidentally, I can never find decent common 2x2s, so I have started ripping 2x4s into two 2x2s, and they come out clean, sturdy, smooth, and most important, straight!

Stained them using MinWax Puritan Pine to try and get the new teak look we wanted. Not too dark -- wiped the stain after 5 minutes.

Have the stool plans if anyone is curious!

Best regards!

cstarliper

Made From Grandy Plans

This is a base loft bed which was my first project. I used raw pine for everything, and then stained. I added the flip top desk, and cubbys on the back wall as well for more storage. But then one of friends had an old play ground set, which he was selling at a ridiculously low price! Due to the pool and BBQ island however, it did not make sense to put these in the back yard. SO, I decided to take down the ladder and give him a rock wall! Both my son and daughter absolutely love it! I am now going to build the platform on the foot of the bed for the slide. More to come!!!! ;)

I designed and built this for our stairs landing.  I'm loving all the storage!    I used a patterned contact paper on the back of the bookshelves.

I made the ends with 2x4s and the middle with 1x4s.  The most expensive thing was the seat cushions.

My husband and I built this together over the course of three months. We would grab an hour here and there when we had the time.

I am notorious for my numerous "projects", but my husband is so patient and he usually indulges my curiosity. We both learned so much building this, and even though he feigns indifference, I can tell that my husband is just as proud as I am of the end result. We are absolute beginners and my critical eyes can find many imperfections, but I can't help but be amazed that we actually built this thing - this is huge for us!!

We plan to build the rest of the wall system eventually (piece by piece), but I couldn't wait to share.

Thanks Ana for giving us so much of yourself!!

P.S: Lumber wise you get what you pay for - even if you are painting, go for the higher quality plywood and craftboard. The price premium is well worth the frustration it will save you - especially if you are a beginner like us.

Built this 8' x 3' buffet/serving table from scrap wood gathered from work. I bought (2) 2x4's for the legs and the 1" particle board for stability under the slats on top. Finished with Red Mahogany and Polycrylic. It was built as a gift for my church and will now be used for Easter Service for Communion. One of many projects I've made and very happy with how this turned out. 

Based off of Ana Whi'te Benchright Coffee Table with a chevron/herringbone table top

I'm so thankful for Ana's March scrap work love challenge for encouraging me to make use of scrap lumber.  I completed several scrap work projects last month.  This is a volcano stacker I made from a scrap piece of 1x12 pine.  I got the pattern from the book Natural Wooden Toys.  I used my scroll saw to cut out the shape.  I painted it with craft acrylic paint and sealed it with Mod Podge.  The toy is a hit with the little guy!

Together with my wife, we decided to start making our own furniture and it was our first project. It took us a week to complete it (it took us longer than most people as we had to learn from scratch how to use the tools for each of the steps such as the circular saw, sander, pocket holes, etc.). We also learned the hard way how critical it is to use straight boards and how difficult it is to find straight 2x2. Overall we loved the process and are very excited by the final result!