Community Brag Posts

Not going to lie, as this was mine and my husband's first time building we did run across a few challenges BUT, nothing that we weren't able to figure out and correct. It came together beautifully and I can't wait til we purchase our first home in January so that I can figure out what color to stain it!

FYI- the angles were difficult to get perfect especially since we were using a makeshift work bench (ie: a pallet and the sidewalk) and a circular saw - we were also rather unfamiliar with some of the terminology used in the directions

About 2 years ago when we were redoing our kitchen, I made these ledge shelves inspired by Ana White's $10 Ledges.  I originally wanted to use them as storage for spices and our olive oil, but once our vent hood was installed, there just wasn't room for them, at least not as I had originally intended.  Since mine are made of yellow pine (harder wood) and I used a 1 x 6 for my platform instead of a 1 x 4, my ledges cost more than $10.

The standard play kitchen. The pine planks used were not a consistent 12 inches. I would recommend using plywood. Finished with hardware from IKEA ( blue handles) and lowes (flowers and hinges).

We've built a headboard, two nightstands a farmhouse table and bench all off of knockoff wood and this workbench console table and hutch was the Easiest build yet !

We didn't use pocket holes so instead of doing the middle center shelf of the hutch we chose to keep it open. I actually love the way this looks better than the original plan!

Waiting on our black bear mount bottle opener that will be attached later this week and then we can't wait to stock up our new bar. It looks great next to our farmhouse table and bench!!! Thanks for the deer antler inspiration - this gave the perfect finishing touch!

4'x4' Coffee Table 

Ana, I borrowed the structure of your hexagon picnic table and created a coffee table to compliment my collection of Adirondack chairs on our patio. The rib structure using 30 degree angles is surperb, and with pocket screws on the joints plus Gorilla Glue, it is far stronger than I anticipated.

The table is first shown unpainted, then again on the patio in poor light (sorry for that.) I primed and then painted it brick red and am in the process of updating the paint on all of the chairs to match.

The 30 degree angles are probably the trickiest part. If your saw is off by even a tiny bit, the tolerance buildup will come back to bite you. For example, if each cut is off by 1/2 a degree, you have six cuts, which equals 3 degrees of error. My mistake was not calibrating the cuts made on my table saw or mitre saw. A professional woodworker buddy of mine suggested buying a cross-cut sled for my table saw. That's my next purchase.

Overall I am very happy with the final outcome despite the slight imperfections in the spacing between the slats. A little wood filler covers a multitude of sins!

This was my second ever project. I think this will become a long time hobby. 

2 years ago I mad a TV stand that was nice. I decided to make a new one now that I know more about wood work. First one was made from Lowes top choice oak plywood and took a lot of work. I have discovered real hardwood stores and for plywood I like Baltic Birch.

I didn't  make any hard plans for this one, made it by ear. 2 sheets of 5x5 18mm (3/4) 1/2 sheet of 12mm (1/2) and a 1/2 sheet of 6mm (1/4) Baltic. For edging I left the baltic alone and just rounded it over.

60'wx20"dx 28h

I modified the plans from the storage bed to create two benches according to the sizes I needed. The benches were arranged in an L formation and secured to the walls and to a base that I built from 2x4s. I made overlay (correct terminology?) drawers using accuride drawer slides that were super easy to install. Floor molding around the base and some 1x2s for the trim. Drawer handles from the depot. Custom cushions ordered online (I can't sew and yes this was the most expensive part of the project). Pillows from Kohl's with free ship and a 30% off coupon - whoo hoo!

We used Behr cloud burst for the colour and Minwax special walnut for the stained platform.  I hand drew and painted the owl (the wings are scrapbook paper) and coated with three coats of polyurethane.

It was very easy to follow the directions and the costs were minimal. Our granddaughter is in heaven with this bed. 

This table and bench combo was a fun project to complete and was not very difficult (hardest part was picking out straight boards at the lumber yard). The table was stained with weathered oak stain and finished with satin polycrylic. The chairs were purchased, I am not skilled enough to build those!

Thanks again to Ana for the instructions. It turned out great!

This is my scaled down version of the preschool picnic table, made for an 18 inch doll. I used scrapwood that someone was throwing away and supplies left over from other projects, so it didn't cost anything but time. My girls have really enjoyed it. Here are the measurements: 

Cut List: 

4 – 1×3 @ 17-3/4″ (Tabletop pieces) 

1- 1×4 @ 9-3/4″, then cut in half using a table saw to equal 2 pieces (Supports directly beneath tabletop pieces) The longest measurement is 9 ¾”, with the ends cut at a 30 degree angle back to 7 3/4″.

2-1×4 @ 12-7/8”, then cut in half using a table saw to equal 4 pieces (Legs) (angle each end to 30 degrees as shown in preschool table plans) 

1 – 1×4 @ 19″, then cut in half using a table saw to equal 2 pieces (Supports directly beneath seat boards)  (angle ends to 30 degrees as shown in preschool table plans)

4 – 1×3 @ 17 3/4″ (Seat boards) I ran these 1 x 3’s through my table saw to make them 2” wide.

*When attaching the legs, secure them to the supports below the tabletop pieces so that the bottom of the legs will measure 19 5/8” from lateral edge to lateral edge when resting on the ground. In the preschool picnic table plans, this measurement is shown as 33”.

I wanted to make a China Cabinet and I couldn't find a plan for one on Ana's so I used the Ayla Cabinet plan and I just made it bigger. This cabinet is 46 inches wide x 17 1/2 inches deep x 64 inches tall. I also added 4 glass doors and one large drawer in the middle. I added the bottom shelf and baskets because I felt the cabinet legs would be more secure with this option. The reason there are 4 cabinet drawers is because I added a middle shelf and a center support. I did not take into consideration the doors being inset when I added the middle support so I had to make 4 doors so that they would be inset. I also added crown molding to the top of the project. I'm not sure you can see but I also carved a Fleur de lis and scrolls onto the drawer.
This took me about 2 weeks to complete....and a lot of tears but it is complete and I am very pleased.

made this farmhouse table 30in tall 4ft long and 26in wide,