We've got some fun crafts for you to try at home
Brainwaves issue 22
1 of 6Snacker’s delight
I was travelling with my three kids and knew we’d be on the road around tea time. We didn’t want the expense of buying takeaways, but then I had an idea. I found these boxes for £2 each, usually used to store nails and screws. Before our journey, I filled each section with a tasty snack, so the kids could have nibbles along the way. They absolutely loved them!
Kay Dare, Crosshands, Carms
2 of 6High stakes
When my orchid began to grow, I needed to attach it to a stake, but gardening wire can be fiddly and look a bit untidy. So, I found some little hair clips that I wasn’t using and clipped the stem of my plant to the stake with those instead. It looks much more stylish and works on any plants — indoors or outdoors — that you need to stake.
Natalie Ahmed, Nottingham
3 of 6Good as gold
Some of my gold and silver jewellery was looking a bit drab and tarnished. But I found a really cheap and effective way to clean it up. I poured some hot water into a glass, added a small amount of washing-up liquid and popped my jewellery into the glass. I left it for a couple of hours — stirring occasionally — and when I took it out, I had lovely, clean, sparkly jewellery to wear!
Debra Stapley, Dover, Kent
4 of 6A pizza cake!
Lots of people have fancy herb choppers, but I’ve discovered an alternative that most people already have in their utensil drawer. When I need to chop any fresh herbs finely, I just use my pizza cutter. It’s much faster than using a knife — and cheaper than a fancy chopper. Win-win!
Hannah Barber, Wakefield, W Yorks
5 of 6Trolley trick!
The supermarket can be a great place to pick up some bargain bedding plants, but they leave little room for the groceries. To avoid squashing any of your lovely plants, just hook the tray on to the edge of your trolley. It’s the perfect way to save space and transport your plants so you get them home in one piece.
Lynette Leask, Lerwick, Shetland
6 of 6Plate up
I wanted somewhere to keep my receipts and tickets safe, and I had some paper plates that gave me an idea. To create a pocket, I cut one in half and stapled it to another. Then I used a hole punch to make a hole in the top and threaded ribbon through to make a hanger. I asked my six-year-old son to decorate it for me, and now it hangs proudly on my wall.
Amy Juniper, Ruislip, Gtr London