Community Brag Posts

Montessori bed

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Mon, 10/04/2021 - 12:24

Was a little challenging at first but I was able to pull it off and it came out to be perfect

Comments

Flip Top Storage Bench

Submitted by DMax2010 on Tue, 05/07/2013 - 05:56

I made the entryway cubby from the book and finally couldn't stand the pile of shoes (3 year old) in the front entryway any longer! So I made the bench and my son is thrilled that he can open and close it and put things in it. I have a few touch-ups to do yet from the pocketholes and countersink holes, but I love it! It was really easy to do. I did modify the plans to fit my entryway, so it's about 36 inches long.

I love it!

Estimated Cost
40.00
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Minwax Pre-Stain Wood Conditioner (1 coat)
Rustoleum Dark Walnut Stain (3 coats)
Rustoleum Soft-touch matte polyurethane (2 coats)

I sanded in between coats of finish and in between polyurethane coats
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Charging station/nightstand/bookshelf

I made this a little bit taller and left off the doors since what we really needed was more bookshelf space. I'm very happy with the way it turned out!

Estimated Cost
$50
Estimated Time Investment
An Hour or Two (0-2 Hours)
Finish Used
Dark walnut and two coats of semi-gloss polyurethane
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Adjusted Pew Bench

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Tue, 06/27/2017 - 21:13

I liked the other brag post with shorter arms

Really helps add storage to my office.  Thanks Ana and Shanty 2 Chic

Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Latest Project

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Mon, 10/04/2021 - 12:45

Built this for my mother in law. Was so excited how it turned out.

Built from Plan(s)

Comments

Cedar Planter - Mother's Day Gift

Submitted by MMTruncale on Thu, 05/09/2013 - 08:09

We made this for my husband's Granny who has a bright green thumb, campared to my slightly black one. It turned out great.

This is also the project I learned how to use a Kreg Jig. Amazing. My husband is hooked.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$25
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
We used what was left of our SPRAY stain. I think it turned out well. Still has a bit of that cedar to it. We really did it so the Pine wouldn't stick out tremendously.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Benchmark Storage or Media Tower

I built this Benchmark Storage or Media Tower as I was looking for some thing to put beside our fire place.  I wanted to build some thing that would be about the same height as our fire place so it stands 40 1/4" tall.  Also, this month was a the contest to build things from scrap lumber so I took 2 x's that I had laying aorund and cut them down to 1 1/4", then glued together and planed down to make butcher block for the door and top.  The sides were actually built from 1 x 6.  I also ended up purchasing a Kreg shelving jig so that I could change the shelving.  A tool that I highly recommend if you are going to build alot of these projects with shelving.  One down and one to go! 

Estimated Cost
$30
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
Old Masters Stain with Minwax Helmsmans Spar Erethane
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Comments

Counter height table/ island

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Mon, 10/04/2021 - 12:56

This table was built using wooden counter height legs purchased from Home Depot. The top was 3x6 natural pine cut from Stinking Creek Tennessee. The boards were rough cut lumber from a saw mill. I ran the boards thru a plainer. We left the saw marks on the edge, but sanded the rough part off. The apron is 2x4 wall studs purchased from Lowe’s. I screwed it all together with pocket hole screws and wood glue. The corner decorative metal pieces are from Hobby Lobby. The metal bar stools were ordered from amazon.

Comments

Outdoor Canopy Daybed

This is made from cedar, but I painted it anyway. Used a standard single mattress. I highly recommend painting everything first before you put the project together. Full plans are here.

Estimated Cost
$225 for lumber
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
Primed the entire piece with Kilz and then used Rustoleum Spray Paint (Espresso).

The canopy is made from Ikea curtains (19.95/2). I purchased 2 packages, each containing 2 panels. I then sewed the 2 panels together from each package, now having 2 extra long panels. To secure to the bed, I hand-stitched velcro fasteners to the curtains and wrapped around the top part of the canopy.
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate
Seasonal And Holiday

Farm House Dining Room Table (Modified with Breadboard Extensions)

Submitted by jvanhorn on Fri, 05/10/2013 - 07:56

This is a modified plan for Ana White's Farm House Table.

I shortened the table to about 72 inches with breadboards on the ends and added removable breadboard extensions for a total of about 100 inches of table for a 12x11 room. I also built the Farm House bench but shortened it to 48 inches.

The wood is white pine and Douglas Fir 4x4 legs. The total cost was $198 for the wood/screws and about $30 for the stain and sand paper. I bought an additional set of countersink bits for holes.

I used the following tools:

  • Hand Saw
  • Table Saw
  • Compound Miter Saw
  • Hand Drill with various bits and countersinks
  • Square, pencil and straight edges
  • Tape measure
  • Clamps
  • Wood Chisel Set
  • Sharpening Stone
  • Level
  • It took about 35 hours of work.

    The stain is English Chestnut and we pretreated the wood to accept the stain by using wood conditioner. This made a dramatic difference in leveling out the stain between the white pine and Douglas Fir. I used 3 coats of clear polyurethane and 2 coats of satin on the top with gentle sanding in between coats.

Estimated Cost
$230
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
Prepped the wood with wood conditioner before applying stain. English Chestnut stain with 3-clear polyurethane coats followed by 2-satin coats. Light sanding in between coats.
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Cabin Bunk System

Submitted by tracylee on Tue, 03/31/2015 - 12:23

I made this bed for my son. I was a beginner with little to no experience before I started this project. I learned a LOT along the way and now I'm addicted to building things. It wouldn't have taken me so long if  I had a little more experience. Staining was difficult, especially when you have two kids wanting to help. My drawers slides were absolutely impossible! Next time I will use a different method for the drawers. I still need to make the ladder. I haven't come across any plans for that so I'm going to wing it. The bed is not perfect by any means but my son doesn't care. 

Estimated Cost
$300-400
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
I used one coat of Safecoat DuroStain, water based, Walnut color, low odor. For the poly, I used two coats of Vermont Natural Coatings, PolyWhey, water-based, clear satin. I should have used three coats of the poly but I ran out of energy. It took me 8 hours to sand the entire bunk system and apply the second coat. I like these products because they are not toxic and green.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

4x4 Truss beam table and bench

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Mon, 10/04/2021 - 13:42

The plans were very easy to follow for non avid woodworkers. We decided to upholster the seat on the bench.

Built from Plan(s)

Comments

Magnetic White Board Organizer Wall

Submitted by Christian on Mon, 05/13/2013 - 10:24

Easy project that has helped us stay more organized. We use Cozi to maintain the calendar, but this allows us to highlight things that the kiddos need to know during the week. We keep the chore schedule, laundry schedule, meal plan, and out of routine activities on the week calendar so the kids can tell what is going on at a glance. The allowance is also hanging up at the top as an incentive to get their respective jobs done for the week. I used galvanized sheet metal glued onto a 1/4 inch plywood base and coated it with whiteboard paint. This allows it to be magnetic and easily written on. Love the letter holder for homework and important paperwork.

Things we have used it for so far:
Activity schedule (swimming lessons, soccer practice, etc.)
Meal plan
Unusual activities (parties, movie night, etc.)
School stuff (project due, spirit week, etc.)
Chore schedule
Laundry Schedule
Room of the week: what part of the house gets a deep clean this week.
Servant of the week: which kid is the designated helper for non-chore activities when an extra hand is needed.

We are still figuring out all the ways to use this to good effect, but the kids really like being able to see what is coming up in the schedule for the week.

Estimated Cost
$100
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Whiteboard paint
Minwax Walnut Stain
Spray Acrylic to whiteboard marker proof the wooden parts.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

farmhouse table

Submitted by cnlynch on Thu, 04/02/2015 - 19:25

I made this table in a weekend, the plans made it so easy to do, thanks Ana for giving me the courage to take this on! I love building stuff!

Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

Adirondack chairs and bench

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Mon, 10/04/2021 - 13:57

A year and a half long Covid at home and eating and entertaining outdoors encouraged us to transform our back yard into an outdoors living and dining room.
It was also the perfect excuse to finally use all the scrap wood we had lying around and turn it into these super comfy chairs. Add pillows and blankets and we have a cozy back yard that we love to spend time in.
We used this occasion to finish ends of paint cans to paint the chairs in different colors and scraped the paint down for a weathered look, then finished it all with a couple of coats of varnish. Each chair’s back is slightly different depending on scraps we had on hand. We love Anna’s simple and practical plans and instructions!!!

Comments

No Train Needed

We needed a table to compliment our Apothecary cabinet we built prior to this project. We needed a big table b/c our furniture is so bulky. We have a 6 month old, and an 8 year old, so toy storage is a must. We built the table in one evening. We swapped the top trim 1x3s w/ 1×2. The bottom shelf only sits 1 inch from the floor, so I can fill it with itso bins for additional baby storage! The top board is not cut in half, rather we drilled 1 inch holes on both ends. You can’t see them in the pics, b/c I hid them, with the cutest thing ever, bear coasters. The coasters are too protect the table b/c we cant use poly here in the winter.
I wanted a David Bromstad cow rug & hubs said no. Bear Skin Rug style coasters for $20 from Urban Outfitters are our compromise. I love this table. It’s super heavy & I hope it lasts forever.

Estimated Cost
$80
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
Miniwax Autumn Harvest from Lowe's
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Corner Shelf for Nursery

Submitted by wojo1 on Thu, 05/16/2013 - 07:21

Super Easy.. I like it better without the doors. Recommend getting a KREG Jig. I have the Jr and it was perfect for this project.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$130
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments