Community Brag Posts

Hailey Storage Bed

Submitted by mebohn on Fri, 08/17/2012 - 19:36

I think I Iove this bed more than my little girl. It's really a beautiful bed with lots of storage. I put magnetic closures on the insides of the cabinets to hold them closed. I also put the same applique on the headboard as Ana. I looked for a different one, but it's the girliest we could find at the time and my little princess loved it. It's a very sturdy bed. I put a week long project, but again, as I've stated before on other posts, it would probably not take nearly as long if you have help with the building or especially with the kids! When you have to stop every 5 minutes and take care of kids and home, it takes a little longer. All the building mommies out there know exactly what I'm talking about! Thank you so much, Ana, for all you do and for all of the empowerment and motivation.

Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
Valspar White Spray Paint, 2-3 coats, sanding in between coats
Minwax Polycrylic Spray
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Comments

Stone Bird House

Submitted by sawdust on Sun, 06/08/2014 - 16:59

I've been collecting small flat rocks off the road every time I take the dog for a walk. Unfortunately my grout cracked, I probably used the wrong type. Anyone who can tell me what I should have used instead? Suggestions very welcome, as I might try this again.

Estimated Cost
$5.00
Estimated Time Investment
An Hour or Two (0-2 Hours)
Finish Used
Tiled road rocks. No finish.
Recommended Skill Level
Starter Project

Comments

Lady Goats

Mon, 06/09/2014 - 14:28

I love this idea! What kind of grout did you use? I would imagine that for such large gaps between the rocks, you'd have to use a sanded grout (most state whether they're for indoor/outdoor use, but I've only seen ones that say both). But it could have cracked because the wood underneath expanded or contracted or the grout wasn't the right consistency.. Love, love, love!

In reply to by Lady Goats

sawdust

Wed, 06/18/2014 - 09:30

Thank you for your comment on my birdhouse! I talked to a contractor who suggested that my grout was too watery when I started. I also used Polyblend non-sanded grout. I may use sanded next time. Trying to decide if I should give it another go, I kind of want to!

RH Inspired Shanty Hutch & Sideboard + glass doors

Submitted by mandi10uga on Fri, 09/09/2016 - 10:50

This was my first woodworking project ever - and am thrilled!! Thank you Ana-White.com!! I needed a beautiful china cabinet for a fraction of the retail cost. Once I found plans on this website, I bought some power tools and got started! I only worked a couple of hours each weekend so it took a while to finish.

 

I modified the Shanty sideboard and Shanty hutch plans in a few ways: Shorter overall width to more comfortably fit my dining room, shorter height (which I now regret), fewer shelves in the hutch, different method to attach shelves, and added glass doors to the hutch. My shelves were not perfectly flush with the cabinet walls (oops) so I couldn't use pocket holes to attach them. Because I detest traditional shelving hardware, I just secured 1/2-in quarter round to the walls and rested the shelves on that.

 

For the glass hutch doors, I built frames similar to the sideboard doors' frames -- two frames for each door, for a total of 8 frames. On 4 frames, I used a rabbit router bit to create an inset for the glass I bought and had cut at Lowe's. I secured the glass with glazier's points and silicon caulk, then attached an un-routered frame to the back of each door with screws. I chose to keep the screws on the back visible and accessible so that I could easily replace the glass if needed without destroying the door.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$630 plus $70 for fancy door knobs
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
Followed Ana-White staining tutorial and used Minwax Weathered Oak (1st coat) and Minwax Special Walnut (2nd coat). Used matte polyurethane clear coat.
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Comments

Ultimate Workbench for me

Submitted by ianr on Mon, 06/22/2020 - 15:13

I altered the original plans in the following ways:

  • Only built one rolling cart because I already had a multi-drawer tool chest that fit right under the workbench.
  • Built the right half of the workbench as a separate piece from the miter table because attic access is right above it and we need to move the workbench to get to it.
  • Built a half cart for the table saw because the Dewalt contractor saw extends too far to the sides to have it boxed in.
  • I'm going to add a sliding plate that locks down for my miter saw so I can pull it away from the wall without dragging or lifting it.
  • I used a nail gun with two inch nails instead of staples since I don't own a staple gun that holds staples that long.

I'm not that experienced with projects so here are a couple of things I learned:

  • Attach the castors far enough under the cart so that the wheel never extends beyond the sides.
  • Watch what grade sandpaper you use on the plywood. It's easy to strip off a layer.
  • This was not a one-person project for me. Even with clamps, I still needed help bracing parts and rotating pieces.

Thanks for the great plan! Now I can start on all the other projects on our improvement list.

Estimated Cost
350
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Connie's coop

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sat, 09/10/2016 - 23:45

http://www.backyardchickens.com/a/connies-coop

 

I built this and posted it on 6/8/15 on backyardchickens.com and it has been "pinned" a few thousand times since then... 

Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Standing Console for Teaching

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Wed, 04/10/2024 - 07:48

I am a teacher and constantly bending over lower desks and I did not have a table to teach off of in the front of the room. So, I built one with Ana’s ideas of a console table with two shelves. I found a link to Kreg from her site and here was this table. I changed the height and width to give proper support of my back (counter hight) and a width that would hold a teacher book. I liked the A-Frame loom and had not built anything like this before, so I learned. I burned the wood for a fun mix of light and dark wood tones. My dad gave me some router bits and I used one to curve the edges of the top, ropy under frame, and shelves. That way all edges are curved for myself and students. I finished it with a coat of poly and a light sanding in between. Thank you Ana for the skills, confidence, and now a love for creating something useful and fun! My students and parents were shocked !! Plus it adds so much warmth to the classroom. Blessings, Jennifer

Lego Table

Submitted by jwerne2 on Thu, 08/23/2012 - 10:33

Our two boys are really starting to get into Legos so we knew we needed a place for them to play (especially after repeatedly stepping on Legos--ouch!). My husband designed this simple plan after looking at some expensive designs online. He cut a small notch out of the top so legos can be pushed into the storage container. We just used a simple under bed storage box, which is great because it is large and holds a ton of legos.

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

Hailey Wall Magazine Rack

Submitted by dave_83 on Sat, 06/14/2014 - 23:03

This was my first ever project. I initially intended to use it for office storage but it ended up taking its place in the kitchen - and proving most useful for storage there too!

Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
Colron wood dye - American Walnut
Recommended Skill Level
Starter Project

Comments

Channing Bookcase

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Tue, 09/13/2016 - 09:47

Stained with Minwax Jacobean. Thank you for the plans!

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$200 per bookcase
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Minwax Jacobean and Semi-gloss Poly
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Desk for a 9-year old

Submitted by b25pilot on Mon, 06/29/2020 - 02:59

With all my recent prowess in woodworking my 9-yo daughter asked me to build a desk for her room. She drew something up, something simple with a shelf for her “phone and tablet”.
I complied and built a 18”x36”x30”desk, just the right size to fit at the end of her bed. I formed the legs using 2x4s and used my circular saw and my multi-tool to create an embedded 3/4x4 “design feature” to hold the shelf up. The top is 3/4” plywood that I had sitting around with wood filler and a lot of sanding (60 grit and 220 grit). Would have preferred a hardwood top but was shooting for $30 total materials cost. My wife and daughter have chosen a color and they will paint the desk tomorrow.

Estimated Cost
$25
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
White Satin Paint

Comments

4 Drawer Entry Way Bench

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Mon, 04/15/2024 - 10:49

I had an empty space next to my stair case and desparately needed a place for my kids to hand their back packs and put their shoes that wasn't all over the place! I adjusted Ana's plans for 4 drawers since there are 4 of us and added board and batten. I also was placing the bench over an outlet which I didn't want to lose so I got an extension piece and cut a space out for it on top with a jig saw. Love the way it came out!

Built from Plan(s)

Mom's fancy California King

Submitted by danaxboo on Sat, 08/25/2012 - 08:58

Mom's Fancy Farmhouse in California King, Glazed.

I used the headboard measurements from the original plan, and the width/length measurements from the California King plan. My first plan was to distress (above picture) and I loved it, but when I brought it downstairs it didnt really match... So I repainted and Glazed :) Not to bad for buying my first "power tool" less than a month ago!!

Estimated Cost
Under $250 (paint, stain, hardware, wood, everything!!)
Estimated Time Investment
Day Project (6-9 Hours)
Finish Used
Antiqued white, glazed with Jacobean
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Farmhouse dining table with straight legs

Submitted by isti799 on Wed, 06/18/2014 - 22:12

I'm homemade woodworker. This is my first job!

Estimated Cost
100 $
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
2 coat waterbased stain ( trilak vekonylazur)
3 coat+1 coat tabletop waterbased furniture varnish (Trilak vizes butorlakk)
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

Garden Enclosure with Raised Beds

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sat, 04/20/2024 - 07:39

I finished my first project. Although there are some cosmetic errors, I think overall it’s amazing. We had a lot of wood left behind by the builder of our log home. So, I was able to use a lot of that. I made some adjustments to the height of the boxes to help the back!

Michelle M - Jefferson, NC

Built from Plan(s)
Seasonal And Holiday

Our first build!

Submitted by helenc on Sun, 06/22/2014 - 04:05

This is our first build. Instructions were easy to follow but we didn't go much on the bottom center drawer runners!
I love the second layer of slide out drawers we use for the printer , paper and electronic gadgets!

Estimated Cost
not sure
Finish Used
birch plywood painted white and top stained walnut and all coated with poly
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

spiceylg

Wed, 06/25/2014 - 05:37

Love this. What great mods and you even tackled drawers for a first build?! I'm too chicken and still haven't tried. Especially love how you used slide outs in the middle. Clever!

Fold down laptop desk

Submitted by Taa-daa on Wed, 09/21/2016 - 21:42

Inspired by Ana's Flip down wall art desk. It has different dimentions since wall space was limited. I used a magnet as a lock, added upholstered back, dowel for storage and extended the bottom part to add some strength. It is very handy!

 

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
30$
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
spray paint and home made chalk paint
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

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