Community Brag Posts

Kids Adirondack Chair

This was my first Ana White project. A kid size Adirondack chair fit for a princess :). The cost was around $25. I finished it in a weekend, but that was trying to fit it in between laundry, dishes, and taking care of kids. It was easy to do and I learned a lot.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$25
Estimated Time Investment
Day Project (6-9 Hours)
Finish Used
Valspar Gloss Frosty Berry
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Plane old shelf

Submitted by Eatrunplay on Mon, 02/10/2014 - 19:57

I made this shelf with reclaimed random wood but followed the original plans almost exactly. I used an extra large jar of peanut butters top for the front of the plane and the propeller was made for a random little piece of wood I just sanded down the edges to round them. The landing gear is from two corners of scrap wood and I bought the round pieces of wood for the wheels at michaels for about 10cents because I do not have a hole saw.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
5.00 (including paint)
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Three-Legged Stool

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Mon, 05/09/2016 - 13:25

My 13-year-old daughter asked me about making a stool, with the main requirement being it had to have a round seat.  So I turned to this ana-white.com to see if I could find something that we could do and found the plans for the three-legged stool. The first one we made with the dimensions specified in the plans but she thought it was too short.  So we made another one with longer legs and a larger diameter seat.

Estimated Cost
$4. The lumber was scrap and the white paint was leftover. We only bought the blue paint.
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
Rustoleum Painter's Touch
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Combination Workstation

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Wed, 02/12/2020 - 07:45

Combined a few of your plans to make my wife a Workstation. Plans were easy to follow and there were no dimension errors.

Estimated Cost
200.00
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
Combo semi gloss paint and primer
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Milled Wood DIY Table

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Mon, 10/02/2023 - 11:13

This was made from Red Oak trees that were cut down to clear a lot to build our home. We saved the trees with plans of making a dining room table. I used the Triple Pedestal Farm House Table plan and modified it for the size that we wanted to fit our space. The end result was just want we wanted!

Carla Jo DIY 

Built from Plan(s)

Rustic $10 ledges

Submitted by ltl_lisa on Sat, 04/28/2012 - 17:58

This project took my "picture wall" to a higher level!
So easy too.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Time Investment
An Hour or Two (0-2 Hours)
Finish Used
Antique white
Recommended Skill Level
Starter Project

Comments

Faith's Mommy (not verified)

Sat, 10/20/2012 - 12:01

Love the way these shelves are done with the large family picture in the center.....

Tiled Coffee Table

This was one of the 1st woodworking projects I did on my own. I never tiled before so it was a challenge. Even bought myself a tile saw to do it. I could not be more happy with the way it turned out and I love having it in my living room.

Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Stain and poly.
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Comments

Wood slab bar

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sun, 02/16/2020 - 22:03

Hand mad love edge bar

Estimated Cost
300
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Reading nook tent

Submitted by kristyzed on Sun, 02/16/2014 - 14:18

This was the easiest and quickest build I've done yet. The more time consuming part for me was stapling down the curtains on the underside.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$25
Estimated Time Investment
An Hour or Two (0-2 Hours)
Finish Used
I stained the wood with Minwax's Espresso.
Recommended Skill Level
Starter Project

Custom kitchen island

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Tue, 02/18/2020 - 10:04

I built this custom kitchen island for a family friend that wanted something bigger than what can be purchased at a retail store. They also wanted to have a butcher block top for cutting meat. The base is made out of select pine and the stained parts is red oak with a couple strips of birch. The over all project took me 5 days to build. With the top being the longest because it consisted of 94 1 ¼” pieces glued together. Thanks for looking!

Estimated Cost
$1,200
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
White Chalk paint mixed with a little antique white, sanded, and spray with poly. Dark stain for top with butcher block oil and sealer.
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Full Wall Shelving Unit DIY

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Wed, 10/11/2023 - 10:54

Built this for a friend...I had to make some modifications to accommodate the door, but it turned out pretty well.

J Bye

From Cast-off Wall Cabinet to Up-cycled Apothecary Cabinet Conversation Piece!

Hello, my name is Natalie Scott & this is my first Ana-White Brag Post! In the beginning, this cabinet was such a silly thing to find. I almost didn't even accept it from a neighbor, who was going to throw it out, when they offered it to me. It ended up becoming my biggest (& longest!) project yet; & the project of which I'm the most proud!

To see the complete process & transformation, go to:
http://TheVintageMagi.blogspot.com/2012/01/from-trash-to-treasure-entry…

Once I had a plan in place,
1. I went to Jo-Ann Fabrics & got a thin, plywood craft boards.They were 1/4" thick, 6" wide, & 36" long.
2. Of course, I already had the base for the cabinet whose dimensions were slightly different than the plans on Ana-white.com, so the math was up to me. After lots & lots & lots & LOTS of equations, I knew that the drawers would have to be 6" long & 7" wide, which is why I went with the 6" wide boards. Less cutting on my part would ensure more uniformity.
3. I started measuring in 7" at a time (& double-checking & measuring again) & cutting with a circular saw.
4. I used a blend of construction adhesive & wood glue to seal the plywood "drawers" to the cabinet doors. I didn't even need to clamp!
5. After drying, I filled in any large cracks that may have popped up with wood-filler & let that dry before sanding it down.

While the seal on the "drawers" was drying,
6. I painted the cabinet with Rust-Oleum's Ivory Silk Satin Finish spray-paint.
7. I also picked out wooden knobs at $0.94 a piece as well as 6 traditional-style furniture feet & spray-painted them with Rust-Oleum's Oil-Rubbed Bronze.
8. The feet had screws that allowed them to attach right in to "Heavy Duty Top Plates" that I were attached to the bottom of the cabinet.
All of these items were available at Home Depot.

9. Next, I sanded, primed & painted the doors.
10. After some careful measuring, I drilled pilot holes for each knob.
11. I added the shelves back in to the cabinet, which required more touching-up of the paint.
12. I had taken apart a wood pallet, measured the wood, & tried to think of a way to make it into a reclaimed wood top for the cabinet.
13. I cut the boards & made a layout, 4 rows of boards deep, on top of the cabinet, careful to remember the overhang. I added 4 little squares of wood, one in each row of planks, in flattering & uniform positions to complete the desired overhang effect.
14. I sanded the wood, rearranged it, & sanded it some more.
15. I glued the top in place, using the same mix of construction adhesive & wood glue I used before.

16. Next, I used STAINABLE wood-filler to fill in all of the cracks. Then I sanded again from 60-grit up to 200-grit,
17. & made sure by using a LEVEL that the finished surface was FLAT & EVEN.
18. Before it's final sanding, it needed to be extra secure; so I got out the finishing nails & put two nails in each board (except the little squares of wood, which only got one nail), one at each end.
19. I sanded with 220-grit sandpaper.

20. Getting the stain just right for the reclaimed wood top took awhile. Just when I was about to give up, paint & distress it instead, I had an idea. I took what was left (which wasn't much) of the little can of Minwax PolyShades stain in Espresso Brown & added some spoonfuls of Minwax Gel Stain in Hickory (which was MUCH easier to apply) straight into the little can. I shook the can & made a mixture of my own stain that was still a beautiful, dark color - but MUCH easier to apply. I applied 2 coats of stain, following drying-time instructions.
21. I touched up any mistakes on the cabinet with "Goof-Off."
22. I finish covered the stained top with a coat of hardening Minwax Paste Finishing Wax (applied in tiny circles just like waxing a car - "wax on, wax off!").
23. I added the decorative wood trim moldings on the side (using Gorilla brand wood glue mixed with construction adhesive again),
24. attached the finishing touches (like magnets to catch the cabinet doors & keep them shut),
25. & touched up all the ivory-colored paint one last time.

26. I used Rust-Oleum Transformations Decorative Glaze in Java Brown to glaze to the ivory-colored cabinet base (I did not glaze the stained wood top).
27. I coated the whole cabinet with a coat of hardening Minwax Paste Finishing Wax (the same as in step 22).
28. I attached the knobs,
29. & added these "Felt-Gard" self-leveling, heavy-duty felt pads to the bottom of the feet to protect my hardwood floors.
30. It went inside & was decorated, but is still not completely fit with it's final accessories. It looks great!

To see the complete process & transformation, go to:
http://TheVintageMagi.blogspot.com/2012/01/from-trash-to-treasure-entry…

Thank you for the inspiration & all the attention this project has brought my blog & business! Everyone has responded very well & I couldn't be more proud of myself & the accomplishment I feel. I mastered a lot of new tools & products on this project & am ready to start another one! Thank you, Ana-White.com!

"It was more than discovering something that I loved to do -
It was discovering someone I had always been."
~ Natalie ;-*

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$50
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
1. Rust-Oleum's Ivory Silk Satin Finish spray-paint
2. Rust-Oleum's Metallic Finish Oil-Rubbed Bronze spray-paint
3. Minwax STAINABLE Wood-filler
4. Minwax PolyShades stain in Espresso Brown
5. Minwax Gel Stain in Hickory
6. Minwax Paste Finishing Wax
7. Goof-off
8. Rust-Oleum Transformations Decorative Glaze in Java Brown
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Comments

Barn for Tractor Supply animals

Submitted by jonbaty on Tue, 02/18/2014 - 11:13

I built this for a friend's daughter who collects the Tractor Supply farm animals. This is the first time I have cut on angles to make the roof. The directions say built it from bottom to top but I found it easier to start for the top and work down. Then attach the whole roof where it marched on the barn... Hope this helps. I did not finish it cause the friend wanted to stain it herself...

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$40
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
None
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Modern Craft Talbe

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Wed, 05/18/2016 - 13:26

The desk top measures 39" X 69". It extends 15" on one side, creating a counter overhang for a second crafter. The top is supported by a 1X3 frame fashioned after the desk design shared on Ana's brag post (pg. 7 as of this writing). The room has a tile floor, so adhesive-backed felt strips were placed on the bottom of the bookcase units, making it easier to pull the desk into the middle of the room should I need to access my work from both sides.

 

A lumber yard cut all the pieces. Next time I would use 1X12s for the two side pieces.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$220
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
MDF for table top. White wood for bookcases.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Corona square coffee table

Submitted by ygoryanina on Fri, 02/21/2020 - 09:26

Farmhouse style wood coffee table with gorgeous balustrade legs, 38" x 38", 18" high. Stained antique oak, sealed for long life...

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
under $200
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
General Finishes water based stain antique oak, flat water based poly.
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

12' Farmhouse Table

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Mon, 10/16/2023 - 09:03

This is a 12’ Farmhouse Table made from old reclaimed barn wood. I used the plans from Ana White Farmhouse Table and just scaled it for 12’.

Shawn Imes

Comments

VegTrug

Submitted by carongirls on Sat, 02/22/2014 - 18:52

A friend needed a raised garden bed for her husband who is in a wheel chair. I searched and found the VegTrug's. It took a lot of trial and error. I based it off Williams Sonoma's pictures. I wouldn't of attempted this with out a plan if it weren't for Ana's website.

Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Comments

steve badham

Wed, 09/09/2015 - 02:56

We have just set up a "Men'sShed" in our little village here in the UK, and think that these would make a great first project for novice handymen. Are there any plans available to help us?

Steve

Trickman2

Wed, 05/18/2016 - 21:45

Not sure what the story is here,  Maybe she got in trouble for saying Vegtrug?  I would like plans for a DIY Raised planter bed like the above. 

Modern outdoor bench

My last piece of my collection

Estimated Cost
$100
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

gtg673a

Tue, 03/09/2021 - 12:17

Hi Lila - I love this table and bench and have been searching everywhere for the plans. The link you connected to: "2x4 truss benches for Alaska lake cabin" doesn't look like your set at all :(
Maybe it's the wrong link?
Do you have the link for the plans you followed for this table and bench?
Thanks in advance!

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