Builds by Ashley

10/11/2026

Nothing like waiting until the last minute to turn a simple birthday surprise into an entire woodworking project 😂🫣

My oldest turned 12 and I wanted to make him something special. Did I need to build an entire basketball hoop? Absolutely not. Did I convince myself I could pull it off in 24 hours? Obviously. 🏀

The best part is that he loved it! And now I need to add some more supports because he has already tried to dunk on it 🙃

10/10/2026

So… how much did it ACTUALLY cost to build our backyard sports field?! 💸

More than I expected 😂

For the longest time, I kept telling my boys NO when they asked me to build this. I wasn’t sure how it would turn out or if they’d even use it.

And after SEVEN days of digging and one of the most labor-intensive DIY projects I’ve ever tackled, I definitely questioned my decisions 🫠

But now? They use it almost every single day, and seeing them out there playing together makes it all worth it. ❤️

Plus, the new landscaping really pulled everything together!

👉 Swipe for the full cost breakdown!

10/04/2026

Amazon finds

See all of Ashley Brandfass' product recommendations from the list - Amazon Finds - October

10/01/2026

I really thought I was onto something here 😂🎃

Should I leave it as it is? Or what should I change it to?

Comment CAULDRON and I’ll send you the links to everything I used! 🫧👻

09/18/2026

Seriously such a cool product and perfect for renters because it peels off walls too 🤯🙌

Comment PAINT and I’ll send you the link to what I used.

09/14/2026

I honestly never questioned whether this would be too small for my kids. They were part of the design process from day 1, and we built it around what they wanted and how they actually play.

BUT then I posted it… and after hearing over and over that it was too small, I started questioning everything 😩 “Did I really just spend all that time and money building something they wouldn’t even use?!”

And then my kids reminded me why I built it in the first place. They play out here all the time, and they’ve shown me that it’s the perfect size for them ❤️

Now I just need to figure out how to keep the balls from flying over that hill 😂

09/06/2026

I turned a picture frame into a SECRET storage cabinet and my kids LOVE hiding all their stuff in there! 👀

Here’s how I built it:
✔️Built a 1x3 pine frame with 2 shelves (screwed + glued corners)
✔️Added small wood blocks inside the picture frame so the hinges had a solid spot to mount.
✔️Screwed a scrap wood block (2x2) into wall studs, then hung the cabinet right on top…no drywall anchors needed but makes it so sturdy to hold everything.

Comment LINK for links to everything I used!

09/05/2026

Final part | DIY Sports Field

09/02/2026

DIY Sports Field | Part 2

08/28/2026

Earlier mornings are officially here now that my oldest is in middle school, so I built this hidden picture frame cabinet to save our bedtime routine! 🤫

How I made it 👇
Built a shallow box to fit behind our frame using a 1x3, screws, hinges, and a catch magnet.
Filled the holes, sanded, and painted it to match.
Mounted it securely into the studs!

We keep our OLLY Kids Sleep gummies in here for whenever the kids are feeling too giddy at bedtime to be back in school 😴

Would your kids love a secret storage spot like this? 👇