Community Brag Posts

Captain America for Grandson #2

A fun project to make ending with a functional product to boot!  I went all out making sure that each truck/shelf would coordinate with each grandson's theme/decor in their bedrooms.  Chase, who will turn one next month, has a super heroes/comics theme for his room.  Therefore, I selected Captain America as the star of the big rig shelf.  Red, white & blue paints, some wooden shapes and some creativity and Captain America was ready for Mr. Smiles.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$75 ~ supplies on Ana's suggested list plus the extras I purchased to create my 'star'
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Rustoleum apple red and navy blue and crafter's choice snowfall (white)
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Simple Modern Toy Boxes

Submitted by papamike on Sat, 10/03/2020 - 16:58

I made two of these. One for each granddaughter at the time. (Since then I have another granddaughter and a grandson.) Made with solid oak everywhere except the top. I made the top with oak plywood for strength. I edged the lid with oak. These were the first projects I ever made where things had to fit tightly together and the beginning of my woodworking hobby.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
Each family wanted a different finish, one a more natural oak and the other a weathered gray stain. I used Verathane stain and satin finish polyurethane on both.
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Comments

Corner Table for stair landing

Project for corner of stair landing at my house. Made in an afternoon using poplar wood -- no finish, only water based matte finish polycrylic. No plan used, please let me know if you would like plan supplied.

Estimated Cost
$30
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
Topcoat only - water based polycrylic
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Comments

Miniature Hope Chest

Submitted by JoanneS on Tue, 10/28/2014 - 18:59

This build is a gift for a friend who is retiring.  It is made from scrap wood and left over finishes, so the only things I had to purchase were the moulding, hinges and “bling”.

Used Georgia’s Jewelry Box plan, with these mods:  made it a little longer with no overhangs; added stop moulding trim around the top and bottom; added some lattice squares for “feet;” added a small sliding tray in aromatic cedar (1/4” cedar closet lining for the tray, stop moulding for the rails), and some self-adhesive rhinestone flourishes (found these at Michaels). 

This would be an afternoon build.  The finish took longer than the build - probably 2 or 3 hrs  (filling, sanding, painting, and attaching the hinges and  “bling”).   It took me much longer to decide how to decorate it, than it did to actually build it ;)

Some squares of sticky-back felt were also added to the bottoms of the feet.

I’m very pleased to say that this gift was a big hit!

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$15
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
Finish is 3 coats of Ace Royal semi-gloss in Crushed Peanut, sanded between coats, and the rhinestones are a champagne gold color. Also added some crystal clear super glue (I used Loctite) around the rhinestones with a tiny artist brush, to make sure the stones stay in place.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

JoanneS

Fri, 10/31/2014 - 15:24

Thank you for the nice comment!  :)  I might build some more of these for Christmas gifts.

:)

Recycling center

Loved building this recycling center. Basically made three cabinets from the plans and then attached them together. Now the dog can't get in the trash and the recycling and empty cans don't gather in the counter and it looks great! I used piano hinges for the doors which makes them feel much more stable.

Estimated Cost
$200 (including 3 garbage cans)
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Comments

Murphy Bed

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Mon, 02/13/2017 - 19:21

More difficult build then I'm used too. Modified it to fit a full mattress but I think it turned out great! It's a lot cheaper to build than most Murphy beds to purchase out there on the market. Enjoyed these plans. Thank you Ana!

Estimated Cost
$250
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Dark walnut
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

2x4 Modern Adirondack Chair and Loveseat

Submitted by SofiaTaz on Sun, 12/06/2020 - 12:51

We loved the Modern Adirondack Chair pattern so much that we adapted it to have a matching love seat. It turned out beautifully!

Estimated Cost
$200 CAD
Finish Used
Dark walnut stain
Recommended Skill Level
Starter Project

Comments

Farmhouse X Table

Submitted by Shugh on Tue, 02/28/2017 - 10:38

I really enjoyed making this plan.  Only disappointment was the red stain finish I chose, live and learn.

The plans were helpful and accurate!! 

Another thing I goofed up on and learned was on the 45's on the legs, I cut along the length instead of the width at first, wasted a 2x4 lol That was a good lesson to learn though.  Shouldn't happen again any time soon...

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
A lot of cost was in the stain and poly not shown here... wood cost was pretty low, around $100 if I remember rightly.
I'm working on the matching bench next, got the wood last night for $35 (Cdn)
Estimated Time Investment
Day Project (6-9 Hours)
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Napoleon Vanity retrofit

Submitted by JoanneS on Sun, 02/17/2013 - 14:35

This is our 20-year-old bathroom vanity, retrofitted to resemble the Napoleon Sink Console. This old cabinet is the standard builder size from the 90’s -- 30” wide x 29 ½” tall x 21” deep – fits a 31” x 22” sink top. The 2 outside drawers are working drawers, and the 2 inside are faux (just fronts). It was a weekend project. Since the sink stayed in place, I had to figure out something for the drawers to slide on. I had 3 sticks of ¾” x ¾” S4S in the garage, so I used these and fashioned a frame to hold the drawers, and also used it on the sides of the drawers as slides (figured the frame out as I went along). I used up some scrap 1x12 to cut the drawer faces and supports at the inside back of the cabinet. Since the space was so tight, I used some scrap 1x2 as bracing attached to the original frame, and attached the added face frame to that. The doors are ½” x 1 ½” craft board and ¼” birch plywood. The drawers are 3/8” x 3 ½” craft board with some ¼” plywood on the bottoms. I re-used the existing hinges and used some knobs from a multi-pack (available from Target) and some left over paint that was on hand. I bought about $30 of materials in addition to my scraps.
Now that I’ve got this one under my belt, it’ll be easier to do this in the other 2 bathrooms. I’ll probably use some 1x2’s instead of the s4s if I have to go out and buy the materials for the next one, it’ll just have slightly different measurements.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$30
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Ace Royal semi-gloss paint, in Wishbone
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Easter Baskets for the grandkids.

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sat, 04/15/2017 - 13:37

Great idea for a quick project and it'll definitely make the grandkids happy.

Estimated Cost
Cheap.....you could you any scraps you have lying around.
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
Spray Paint
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Vegetable Bin

Hand-made vegetable cupboard. Fun and easy project.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$75
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Minwax Provincial
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

Painter's Ladder Shelf for Back Yard

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Mon, 10/04/2021 - 11:49

I came up with the idea of having something on my back porch to hold all my outdoor stuff.... things I wanted handy, like Pool Towels, Gardening tools and gloves, Sunscreen and Bug Spray. I started looking around for something to buy and finally decided to look for something to build. I was looking on the HGTV website when I found this and thought it was perfect. I'm not sure what exactly made me take it one-step further, but I found a small link embedded in the article and I clicked on it, and a love affair was born. I found the Ana-White website with tons and tons and tons of plans to make all the things I've dreamed about making. So, I signed up, printed the plans and got to work. First time I have built from plans and had to work slowly and not rush to complete it the same day. Snuck away in the evening, after dinner and cleanup, and spent about an hour a night in the garage with the heat and the mosquitos. BTW, tucking dryer sheets in your clothing does really keep the critters at bay. And here is the finished product .... doing exactly what I had planned and fitting perfectly in the location I wanted. On to the next project..... I have several printed out and haven't decided which to start on..... Is it the toy box for my son's toys that scatter around the living room.... or the queen-sized Farmhouse bed for my daughter who has been begging for more sleep room. Or the bookshelves for my room..... So may choices.... and I love that about this webiste.

Built from Plan(s)

Comments

Picnic Table

Submitted by Medickep on Mon, 05/06/2013 - 07:39

My wife started looking at expensive patio sets, which I thought were not worth the price, so I decided to build a picnic table. This is not the cheapest table out there, but it's built to last for years!! I used a high quality cedar as I got a price cut from a friend. I also used deck screws, so there would be no rusty screws!! The table top measures 7' long and looks like one you would see at a state park, notHome Depot!

Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Cabot Australian Timber oil: For this project I went with an oil project so I wouldn't have to sand it every year, like so many in my area with their decks. With this product, you simply clean the table and reapply!!
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

Medickep

Thu, 09/05/2013 - 13:04

Thank your hanks for the kind words! This was my first real project and I was pleased with the results!

Gerry Czerniawski

Thu, 08/25/2016 - 09:48

Really like the picnic table - do you have plans for this? (I'm new to this site so apologies if they are here but I just could not see where?).

best wishes

Gerry

Adirondack chair

Easy and fun. Don't worry yourself over the angle on the left side of the stringer. The 15 degree one matters, the other, not so much. Buy an extra 1x4 unless you want to spend a pile of time figuring out how to cut them to maximize the space!

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$35
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
None yet.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Tilt Out Garbage Bin

Submitted by stephie_00 on Thu, 04/23/2015 - 19:16

Modified the plan to use pallet wood and stained it classic grey for a weathered look.

Estimated Cost
$50
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Min wax Classic Gray oil-based stain
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Comments

Post Office / Bank

I used Ana's Library Base Plan and modified it slightly to include cubby holes on the bottom and an acrylic "window" at the top to create a post office for my daughter. This now also gets used as a "bank" and a "fast food window"! Lots of fun!!

Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Paint, Stain
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Adirondack Chair

Submitted by nateDuncan on Mon, 06/03/2013 - 12:10

I had built a few of these chairs a year and a half ago similar to the red ones that you have on the step by step instructions. That was my first time at customer building and painting anything. Needless to say, my skills have improved over time.

So, I wanted to build this chair for my dad for fathers day. He had an old plastic Adirondack chair sitting in his backyard that was really gross. I wanted to replace it with something nice. So he is obviously a UK fan and I wanted to see if I could paint the logo on correctly while also giving myself the opportunity to build something and see if I can make this chair a lot better than the ones I had previously built.

So I decided to curve the back of the chair and curve the ends of the arms. I recently got a nice dewalt random orbital sander which helped out alot in getting it nice and smooth. I made my own wood putty using the leftover sawdust and glue mixed together. I also fastened the wood together using glue and polymer coated screws. Which are supposed to last alot longer than regular wood screws when using pressure treated pine.

I took my time to make sure the pieces were all square when assembled which was better than previous building projects. Also, as far as finishing the chair, I primed it and then put 3 layers of the Kentucky blue Outdoor paint with a brush (which seems like it took forever). I made the stencil by just printing the logo on a piece of cardstock paper. Then I cut out the logo with a razor, then I wrapped the paper in duct tape to make the stencil it a little stronger and to fix the areas that ripped when cutting the card stock paper. Then I cut out the duct tape where the logo is. I made a couple of test paints using the stencil on some scrap to make sure my technique was good. Then once I felt comfortable, I painted 4 coats of very thin paint on the chair where the logo is. After all was dry, I did a light by hand sanding to make it smooth and then sprayed some clear coat on it for an extra level of protection and to make it shine a little.

It was a fun project and my dad really liked it.

Some things I would have done differently for next time would be to use a router to flush cut the seat slats and also use the router to give a nicer rounded edges for the arms and all of the slats as well. Also, It would be nice to mount a stainless bottle opener to the chair to open your drinks (maybe on the outside of the arm of the chair.

Thanks for the plans. I check your site all the time for ideas.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
primer, paint, clear coat
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Pipers Farmhouse Bed

Submitted by Plug5 on Tue, 06/04/2013 - 16:25

My wife, and I wanted to upgrade my 5yr old daughters bed. Hopefully this will give her enough encouragement to actually sleep in her room!

The bed turned out great, and my daughter loves it!

This project took a little longer than usual, because with the exception of the couple pieces of plywood all the parts are made from rough maple lumber. The longest part was planing, and gluing all the parts up.

Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
Dura Clean Satin Paint with sprayed on white primer.

I used a 4"mini roller with a slight texture for the finish.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Cute Vegetable Cupboard

Submitted by kristyzed on Sun, 10/01/2017 - 15:33

I made this cupboard to hold all of my onions, squash, and potatoes that were previously sitting in piles on the laundry room floor.  This little tower has the perfect amount of storage.

 

 

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$75 CAD
Estimated Time Investment
Day Project (6-9 Hours)
Finish Used
I finished this off with 2 coats of primer, 2 coats of Trim White by Sherwin Williams, and 2 coats of clear coat. All coats were done with disposable foam brushes.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner