Community Brag Posts

Craftsman playhouse!

Love how this turned out!! Thank you thank you Ana!! Plans were great, I think we got it done for just about $250! 

Thanks again!

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$250
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Comments

Rustic End Table

Submitted by wacman on Wed, 03/08/2017 - 09:34

Since everyone else is making them, I had to jump on the bandwagon.  Typical end table, but I left off the metal trim (for now at least) and used a wire brush on the top boards to eat away at the wood and raise the grain.  It gives it tremendous texture and really makes it look more like old reclaimed lumber.

Estimated Cost
$30
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
Minwax Special Walnut with a layer of poly on top
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Toy Chest

Submitted by tomm3289 on Tue, 12/29/2020 - 11:48

Built this for my grandson for christmas. First woodworking project I've done.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$160
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Polyurethane
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Mini Media Wall

Submitted by sraper2 on Mon, 02/04/2013 - 06:46

I changed the size of this to fit underneath my sons playhouse loft bed. It fits perfectly in the space between the door and wall of the bed. Put a kids leather chair in there and now he has his own personal man cave :)

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

My first build

After following Ana and a couple other talented ladies I decided to get a Kreg and take some action! I made a few adjustments to the size and I used pocket screws to put this together. It is solid! Found the baskets at Lowes and fell in love. It was super easy and my husband couldn't believe I put it together so fast. I has added much needed storage to the front door and we just love it.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$70 total
Baskets were $45!
Estimated Time Investment
An Hour or Two (0-2 Hours)
Finish Used
Flat black spray paint
Minwax dark walnut stain
Wood conditioner to seal
Recommended Skill Level
Starter Project

Comments

JoanneS

Sun, 12/07/2014 - 17:48

This looks super!  You did a great job and it looks beautifully constructed.  Congrats!  The finish is lovely. :)

X-base farmhouse table with zinc top

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sat, 03/11/2017 - 11:05

We used leftover white oak from the railing in our house, so our cost was just the zinc top, which we got from Rotometals. Total cost was around $200, all said and done. 

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$200
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Rubio Monocoat
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Entryway & Coffeetable

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Fri, 01/01/2021 - 18:46

This was my first time making a project with plans from the site. They were easy to follow and modify to my sizes. I am extremely happy.

The cost of wood is higher due to the pandemic, however. A 2x4 was nearly $5.50 in Ohio.

Estimated Cost
$120
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
Gray stain, applied with a foam brush.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Rustic Sideboard / Buffet Table

This was our second project (though I'm proud to say that I was able to put the bulk of it together all by myself...and that's because of the miracle of the Kreg Jig pocket hole kit!)

First I had to modify the plans so that the sideboard wasn't as deep (about 16" deep...so just a couple/few inches off the original plans). Then we bought the wood. My husband helped me cut most of the pieces, and then I started drilling pocket holes. It felt like it took forever! But once that was done, I was able to put it together so quick...like an IKEA furniture! BUT! I really should have checked for SQUARE better than I did, b/c once it REALLY started coming together, things were a little off kilter... Thank goodness my husband had the patience to SAND THE HECK out of the bottom of the poor thing to level it back out. :P

The door fronts took forever...and the drawers took a while to fit in correctly (all of which my hubs did). We had left our lumber on the patio, and the second day it got rained on. It might have helped if our lumber didn't get wet (to help keep things straight and square).

The things that took the longest: squaring, leveling, doors and drawers, and the base molding (I ended up using a 2x4 and 1x2 to build my own base along the bottom...we wanted to stain the wood instead of paint it, and didn't want to pay the $$$ for paintable molding).

I used the same Rustoleum Dark Walnut stain that I had used on our Farmhouse Table...but I didn't shake it enough before using it, then left it on longer than I should have, so it is much darker than our table. Eventually may want to paint over it since it was so hard to get stain in all the nooks and crannies.

I didn't think to stain the inside of the doors. I will have to go back and paint it someday. We used particle board for the bottom and inside shelf (much cheaper than plywood). I tried staining the bottom piece, but it just soaked in the stain. So I used some dark brown spray paint instead. Worked like a charm. Planning on painting/covering the shelves one day, too.

OH! AND, I couldn't find the wider "bead board" (or whatever it is that everyone else used on their sideboards), so we used plywood as a backing, then attached some thin Poplar boards on the front for the appearance of planked boards. VERY painstaking. Would recommend a different method for that part.

(Timing: We started building this around the beginning of November, brought it in and used it before it was finished...then finished it a couple days before Christmas. Just the other day I added some drawer liners).

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$200-300 for lumber.
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
Rustoleum Dark Walnut
Deft Clear Satin, 1 coat.
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Comments

hillarylouise

Wed, 02/06/2013 - 15:20

I saw your comment on my blog and had to come take a peek! It sounds like it was a challenging project, but you did a fantastic job. Beautiful!

Kentwood Twin Bed

Submitted by meganomesh on Wed, 12/10/2014 - 13:32

My husband and I built this bed for my sister-in-law for Christmas. It took us about a week of working an hour or so a day on it. Most of that time was staining. The actually assembly took about 2 hours. 

I included a picture of how we attach the siderails to the headboard/footboard. We use a bracket that the 1x2 slides into. It is screwed to both the siderail and the headboard with 1 1/4" screws. We also attach a small L bracket to each corner with helps remove any wiggle that was there previously. It really makes the bed much more stable by adding those little L brackets. Again, we used 1 1/4" screws to attach them. 

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$110-$120 (price includes wood, stain and hardware)
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
Sanded well
1 coat of pre-conditioner
1 coat of Minwax early american
2 coats of Minwax Mission Oak with Polyurethane, Satin
Steel Wool after each coat of the stain with poly
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

meganomesh

Wed, 12/10/2014 - 13:55

I had some trouble with the submission of my form and now it's not allowing me to edit so I'll write the details in the comments.

The assembly took about 2 hours but we worked on the bed about a week due to the many coats of stain etc.

Here's how we finished the bed:
1 coat of Minwax pre conditioner
1 coat of Minwax Early American
2 coats of Minwax Mission Oak stain with poly, satin
Steel wool the project after each coat of stain with poly

I included a picture of the hardware we use to attach the side rails to the bed. The big bracket holds the side rails up. The little "L" bracket in each corner makes it so the bed doesn't wiggle or move. This is our 4th bed to build and we have found this set-up to make a very secure, sturdy bed.

meganomesh

Wed, 12/10/2014 - 14:01

I had some trouble with the submission of my form and now it's not allowing me to edit so I'll write the details in the comments.

The assembly took about 2 hours but we worked on the bed about a week due to the many coats of stain etc.

Here's how we finished the bed:
1 coat of Minwax pre conditioner
1 coat of Minwax Early American
2 coats of Minwax Mission Oak stain with poly, satin
Steel wool the project after each coat of stain with poly

I included a picture of the hardware we use to attach the side rails to the bed. The big bracket holds the side rails up. The little "L" bracket in each corner makes it so the bed doesn't wiggle or move. This is our 4th bed to build and we have found this set-up to make a very secure, sturdy bed.

Rustic Media Center

Rustic Media Center stained with teal and white distressed paint. 

Estimated Cost
$350
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Kona Stain, Teal and White Paint
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Junk Drawer No More

Submitted by mom of 4 on Fri, 02/08/2013 - 15:23

I finally got tired of my junk drawer being messy, so I took 10 minutes today and a piece of scrap wood and made this drawer divider. I even have a dedicated cubby for my tape measure!

Estimated Cost
nothing
Finish Used
I left it unfinished.
Recommended Skill Level
Starter Project

Kid storage chairs

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Wed, 03/15/2017 - 08:50

I followed Anna White's plan to build this chairs. My kids love them. Thanks for the free plan. It took me a while to finished it because they were my first project.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
about 30 to 40 for two chairs.
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
simi gross paint self primer.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Pot holder

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Tue, 01/12/2021 - 06:21

Working off your idea. Added another holder. There will be a bottom drawer for bigger stuff.

Built from Plan(s)
Finish Used
Will be painted
Recommended Skill Level
Starter Project

Farmhouse Dining Table

Submitted by sastricker on Mon, 02/11/2013 - 08:20

Using the plans provide, I simply changed the measurements needed for my dining room. A really fun build and a great looking end product!

Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Gunstock Stain with Minwax Satin Polyurethane finish; Behr paint (Bone Folder) on legs
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

FARMHOUSE TABLE

Submitted by beefcake on Tue, 12/16/2014 - 11:03

All the boards are ran through a jointer and planer making each board squared.

No rounded ends.

Stain conditioner used.

Finish - Minwax Early American

 

 

Estimated Cost
$85
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Cedar Toy Box

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Fri, 03/17/2017 - 17:07

I wanted an easy toy box made from pallets. I came across the plans for the Simple Cedar Wooden Toy Box and decided it would be easier to but a few lengths of cedar fencing than to tear apart a bunch of pallets.

 

I omitted the feet and rope handles and opted for a carved wooden sign for personalization. I thought it was going to be too small, but soon realized it is a decent sized box.

 

I used Minwax Jacobean stain and am very happy with the end result.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$30
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
Minwax Jacobean
Recommended Skill Level
Starter Project

Hemnes Linen Cabinet

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sun, 01/17/2021 - 09:59

I modified the Hemnes Linen Cabinet plans to fit this space. Instead of painting, I burned and stained the cabinet before applying polyurethane.

Estimated Cost
$300
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Burned and stained wood with polyurethane. I used a blow torch on the edges for the burned look.
Recommended Skill Level
Advanced

Comments

Playhouse

Olivia's Playhouse, built by mommy and daddy, though she did "help." Super-thankful to Ana for her awesome plans and making all this possible for our Little One. Modified the door to make it "barn style" which opens top/bottom. In the spring, plan on adding a small front porch/deck and railing.

Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

Seasonal And Holiday

Camp Loft Bed

Submitted by dadto3kids on Thu, 12/18/2014 - 20:51

I had a friend who needed a bed for two energetic boys for a small bedroom.  I saw these plans and thought this would be perfect for them.  They absolutely loved it and now have plenty of room for their toys in their bedroom. 

Estimated Cost
about $50 for screws stain and polyurethane. I already had all the wood otherwise I would presume it would cost another $50-$75.
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
Minwax Early American
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

milyron

Tue, 05/19/2015 - 11:00

Hi, This bed is awesome. I have few question and would appreciate if you could help me.
Did you use any connector bolts to be able to take it apart easily?
How did you connect the slats of the platform to the frame? with PH screws?
would appreciate any details you can give me.
Thanks
Mily:-)

Thanks for providing the plans!

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Mon, 03/20/2017 - 17:45

Used the plans with minor modifications, many thanks for a great design!

Estimated Cost
$55.00
Estimated Time Investment
Day Project (6-9 Hours)
Finish Used
Dark Walnut topped with classic Gray.
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate