Brainwaves weekly issue 1: fun crafts to try at home

When my shredder stopped working, I thought I could put the bottom of it to good use. I covered it with some leftover curtain material, then put it on my side table and filled it with magazines. Now, it keeps all my mags neat and tidy and fits in perfectly with my décor. Alma Owen, Llandudno Junction, Conwy

I'm always looking for creative ways to keep my sons Oscar, seven, and Harry, five, entertained using things we have at home. I took some dried lasagne sheets from the cupboard, which we painted different colours. Once the paint had dried, we broke the pasta sheets into pieces. Then we used those to create our own mosaics, gluing them to some white paper. The boys had so much fun, and our afternoon of crafting didn't cost the earth. Laura Ashford, Loughor, Swansea

My two dogs Poppy and Archie needed a new dog toy. I saved an old cardboard box from the recycling and cut some holes it. Then, I popped some dog treats inside the empty container. My dogs had hours of fun trying to get the treats out of the box. Fiona Kinloch, Blackburn, Lancs

I wanted somewhere to keep my shoes neat and tidy, but I didn't have much space. There was a small gap behind the door of my coat cupboard. My husband Graham screwed some facing boards on to the cupboard shelves. Then he screwed some oddments of wood on to the boards, so we could hang our shoes off them. Now, our shoes are organised, and we did it for free too! Sally Winstone, Stamford, Lincs

I had a small gap at the side of my shed, and I worried that my dog Cody would be able to get through it into my neighbour's garden. To close the gap, I found an old bit of trellis, which I painted green to match my shed. Then I tacked a cheap weed-control mat on to the back of it before securing the trellis between the shed and the garden fence. Now my garden is fully Cody-proof and the solution barely cost me a penny. Tina Saunders, Crowborough, E Sussex

I had a denim skirt I wasn't wearing because it was too short. But instead of throwing it away, I gave it a new lease of life. I measured and cut a hole in the middle of a scarf, so that it would fit around my waist. Then I turned the skirt inside out, put the scarf over it, and stitched it to the inside, just under the waistband. When I turned it right side out, the scarf came out from the bottom to create a floaty extension. I love the latest addition to my wardrobe! Liena Keistere, Hull, E Yorks