Brainwaves weekly issue 2: crafts to try at home

Clearing out my late father-in-law David's garage, I found an old mirror. I cleaned it and painted the frame pale green. Then I cut small strips of wood and painted them the same colour. I stuck them to the mirror and added a handle so that it looked like a window. It looks lovely in my garden and also reminds me of David. David Newstead, Norwich, Norfolk

When the festive season ends, don't throw away your old Christmas cards. Use the blank spaces left on the back and inside to write down your weekly shopping list, small reminders, and other useful little notes. It's a great way to recycle — it saves having to hunt around for paper too. Anita Saunders, Merthyr Tydfil

Last year, I bought my husband a 3D printer and I was determined to produce something useful. So I printed out a small dog bone shape, with a groove on either side to create a hook. Now I take it out on dog walks to hang the poop bags on until I pass a bin. Emily Worswick, Southport, Merseyside

I bought a grandfather chair for my room, but the seat was too high and I wanted to lower it. I was wary of cutting the legs in case the chair ended up uneven, so I wrapped masking tape around the bottom of each leg. I then cut just above the tape, taking exactly the same amount off each leg. Now my chair is the perfect height — it doesn't wobble either! Jean Jeffs, Thame, Oxfordshire

As my collection of earrings was growing I needed somewhere to store them. I found a cheap wire bin and covered it in pink wrapping paper. Then I pierced my earrings through the paper. Finally, I popped flowers into the basket. Now all my earrings are perfectly organised and it looks so stylish. Polly Mannall, Great Yarmouth, Norfolk

When I had my great-niece Martha round to play, she wanted to paint. But I didn't have a water pot to clean her brush. From the recycling, I fished out an old yogurt pot. I gave it a clean and filled it with fresh water. After that, Martha was able to paint to her heart's content. Shirley Moore, Warrington, Cheshire