Brainwaves weekly: creative crafts

I needed to take some cupcakes to a friend. I'd made a fresh batch, but I had nothing to carry them in. I dashed out to the supermarket and asked if I could take a cardboard tray from one of the shelves. I chose one that had holes to hold the products in place. Back home, I popped the cupcakes into the holes. It was the perfect way to transport my cakes, and it was completely free. Nancy Sutcliffe, Hull, E Yorks

My daughter Arwen, eight, needed some storage for her growing collection of headbands, so I bought a mirrored jewellery cabinet from a cheap furniture store and set to work. I removed the door, painted the back of it and added some rows of hooks, before hanging all the headbands off them. Arwen loves it and it keeps her accessories nice and tidy. Lisa Howells, Carmarthen

I needed a new towel rail in my bathroom. But instead of buying one, I decided an old curtain pole I already had would do the job. It was the perfect length, so all I had to do was screw it to the wall. It works a treat and hasn't cost me a penny! Tracy Clutterbuck, Hartcliffe, Bristol

I had some time to spare, so I decided to repurpose an old wooden step ladder I had in the shed. After sanding it down and giving it a couple of coats of garden paint, I put it out in my garden and added some potted plants. It makes a lovely feature. Julia Smith, Folkestone, Kent

I had an old, fringed, scarf that I didn't want to wear any more. Instead of throwing it away, I decided to turn it into a shoulder bag. I folded the scarf in half, but kept one end longer than the other so I could create a flap and close the bag. Then I stitched up the sides and added a hessian strap. It's such a handy bag and everyone admires it when I take it out. Jenny Robson, Southport, Merseyside

My dog Berry had never been all that keen on having a wash. Then I had an idea about how to do it without my pup making too much of a fuss. I took a spoonful of Berry's favourite treat, peanut butter, and spread it across the bathroom tiles. It kept Berry distracted and it's made bath time far easier. Megan Shanks Rea, Comber, Co Down