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The Crafted Maker

Crafting a Maker one project at a time

FAQ

Here are the answers to frequently asked questions here at The Crafted Maker. If you don’t see the question you want to ask, you can send me a message through the contact page or at email me at crissie@thecraftedmaker.com.

WHAT ARE THE TOOLS YOU WOULD RECOMMEND FOR BEGINNERS?
That is an easy one! The tools I use for every build are a miter saw, a drill/driver, and a sander. These tools will get you started and you can build up your tools as you need them.
WHAT PROGRAM DO YOU USE TO MAKE FURNITURE PLANS?
I use a program called Sketchup. It is a great free program to use when designing plans. It requires some learning, but it is aΒ user-friendly program you can learn as you use it.
WHERE DO YOU WORK ON YOUR PROJECTS?
Currently I am working in my garage. It is a one car garage, so there is not a lot of room, but you have to work with what you have. I plan on enclosing a carport on my property and converting that into a workshop in the future. That will be an exciting project!
WHAT ARE SOME PROJECTS FOR A BEGINNER TO START WITH?
One of my most popular and simple projects for beginners is the $25 Console Table. This is built out of dimensional lumber with few cuts and simple pocket hole joinery. Another project would be any of the Scrappy Saturday projects. I keep those projects simple and use only a few tools on each.
HAVE YOU HAD ANY FORMAL TRAINING IN WOODWORKING OR HOME IMPROVEMENT?
The answer to both is no. I like to learn as I go and figure out what I don’t know. Sometimes that’s fun and other times it can be frustrating, but as long as it works out in the end, it’s fine. As weird as this may seem to some, when it comes to home improvement, I really enjoy the physical and dirty side of things, especially demolition. Many of the renovation jobs I have done were figured out as I went. Once you do something like install tile, for instance, a couple of times, you get the hang of it.Β 
WHY WRITE A BLOG AND GIVE AWAY MOST OF THE PLANS FOR FREE?
I started writing a blog (Sawdust to Sequins at first) as a way to inspire people and show my readers that DIY and home improvement doesn’t have to be a scary thing. I purchased my first home when I was 21 years old and didn’t have extra money to furnish the house or even call an electrician to change out lights. It is many, manyπŸ˜‰Β  years later now and I want to pass on what I have learned so someone else can benefit from it. You don’t need a lot of money or a degree in home improvement to love the home you live in, just a few basics skills and the will to complete the project.

Here are some FREE plans to get you started!

This Scrappy Saturday project is sliding bookends for open shelving. These sliding bookends are a great addition to any room with open shelving. This is a fun and quick project to complete!

Sliding Bookends for Open Shelving

Posted: September 15, 2018

Welcome to another Scrappy Saturday. Today’s project is sliding bookends for open shelving. These are a quick and fun project that can be completed in a couple of hours.Β  Β Who doesn’t love a beautiful space to display books, am I…

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Give your living room some new life with this DIY Modern Farmhouse Coffee Table. Free PDF plans included along with step by step instructions and pictures!

DIY Modern Farmhouse Coffee Table

Posted: September 6, 2018

Coffee tables are something you find in most living rooms and even some bedrooms. They can totally make a living room and add some extra storage. And, who doesn’t need more storage, right? This DIY modern farmhouse coffee table adds…

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FIVE DOLLAR WINDOW BOX

Posted: August 16, 2018

Hello friends! Today I’m sharing my five dollar window boxes (just the cost of lumber). This is a super easy, fast, and obviously inexpensive project. I love the way these window boxes added so much to the front of my…

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Give the exterior of your home an upgrade with these simple DIY shutters. They take very little time to make and will add curb appeal to your home.

SIMPLE DIY SHUTTERS

Posted: May 11, 2018

Since the house had been painted white, I wanted to add some details to really make the color pop. I love the way black looks against white on a home, so I decided the windows needed shutters. Most of the…

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New to woodworking or home improvement? Check out my e-bookΒ 

DIY:101 Make Your House a Home one Project at a Time - Starting any DIY project can sometimes seem like a lot to take on, but with the proper tools and know how, you can accomplish any project!

Hi, I’m Crissie!

Hello and welcome! I’m Crissie, the girl behind The Crafted Maker. This is my journey of DIY living where new skills are being learned, developed, and crafted one project at a time.

Join me as I tackle the renovation of my Washington house and build some stuff along the way.

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Trending Now

  • 25 Dollar Console Table - The Crafted Maker $25 Console Table with Free Plans!
  • FIVE DOLLAR WINDOW BOX
  • Give the exterior of your home an upgrade with these simple DIY shutters. They take very little time to make and will add curb appeal to your home. SIMPLE DIY SHUTTERS
  • Make this DIY Napkin Holder with scrap wood and a few tools. Add some convenience to your dining table setting in about an hour. DIY Napkin Holder
Next project in the works!! πŸ‘πŸ™ŒπŸ›  #diy #cof Next project in the works!! πŸ‘πŸ™ŒπŸ›  #diy #coffeetable #makercommunity #hairpinlegs
If you are in the need of a bigger work space but If you are in the need of a bigger work space but don’t have the room for a 4’ x 4’ workbench, I have you covered!! Introducing the convertible 4’x4’ workbench. You can leave it attached together for larger projects, or pull it apart for storage against a wall. πŸ™ŒπŸ’ͺπŸ› πŸ˜€
Plans available on @sprucd today!!
Need a little office organization in your life? Yo Need a little office organization in your life? You can whip up this little project in about an hour with scrap wood you have laying around! πŸ™Œ
Happy Tuesday! Today I'm talking all about privacy Happy Tuesday! Today I'm talking all about privacy fence repair on the blog. Fixing a fence is easier than it looks and if you do it yourself, you can save thousands of dollars! πŸ‘πŸ’ͺπŸ› πŸ™Œ
Swipe to see what the fence looked like before!
Nothing like a little (or a lot) of yard work on a Nothing like a little (or a lot) of yard work on a Sunday. If you have seen my stories over the past couple of days, you know how much mulch we had to use up. It is a lot!! We are nowhere near done yet, but we got a pretty good dent put into the landscaping projects for the front yard. 
I know it may seem like I move from one project to another on here randomly. One minute I’m fixing a bathroom, then a fence, then landscaping, all while my bathroom is still not done. This is for a reason I promise. πŸ˜›

When you live in an area in Washington like I do, you do outdoor projects when the sky tells you that you can. The weather changes around here on the daily and this time of the year, rain is always there just waiting! LOL Trust me, I wish I could get one done before moving on, easier to plan that way! 
What did you guys and gals work on this weekend. Someone give me some good build stories. I always want to be in the shop when working on other projects. Let me live woodworking projects through you all. πŸ˜‚
Fall is here and now is the time for crisp air and Fall is here and now is the time for crisp air and squirrels scavenging for their winter treats. I wanted a way to let some of that air in the house, so I figured why not make a DIY squirrel doorstop. 🐿πŸšͺπŸ›‘
If you need a quick and easy Fall 🍁 project, go to the blog and check it out. It will be the latest Scrappy Saturday project! πŸ› 
If there is a certain project you want me to build for a Scrappy Saturday, just let me know in the comments below. I love to hear what you all want to build!! Isn't he just so darn cute!! 🐿

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