Brainwaves week 25: fun crafts to try at home

Strap Happy
My backpack straps were always slipping off my shoulders whenever I went out. But I found a really simple solution. Now, whenever I head out with my rucksack on, I tie an old shoelace through the straps, fastening it in the middle so it’s easy to release. I’m hands-free now, as I don’t have to keep hoisting my straps up.
Ann Cooper, Rugby, Warwicks

Crunch Time
I was teaching my partner how to make Australian crunch the other day and one of the steps is to crush some cornflakes. It’s a job that can get a bit messy as the cornflakes go everywhere. But my partner came up with the perfect solution — he used a potato masher for the job. There was no mess for him to clear up and it only took a couple of minutes to get them crushed up. I think I may have to use his technique again!
Claire Cox, Ilminster, Somerset

Paw-fect disguise
I was organising a dog-themed party for my pooch-obsessed daughter and wanted some dog bowls for snacks. But they were so expensive, I decided to create my own. I bought these unicorn pots from a shop and got some black card too. I wrapped strips of card around the pots then decorated them with some pawprint stickers I already had. It was a lot cheaper and I think they look great!
Amy Atkinson, Bolton, Gtr Manchester

In the pink
My mum loves flamingos and wanted some doorstops decorated with them. But she couldn’t find any. Instead, she bought two £1 reusable shopping bags, which she filled with large stones, so they were heavy enough not to blow away. They make perfect doorstops and she gets lots of compliments about them too.
Vanessa Majer, Northampton

Sunlounger saviour
When you go on holiday, remember to take a neck pillow with you. They’re not just good for having a snooze on the flight over, they’re handy for sunbathing too. Plastic sunloungers can be quite uncomfortable, but if you take your neck pillow along to the pool with your towel, you can lie back in the sunshine in comfort!
Sophie Shackleton, via email

Slug away
I was fed up with the slugs eating their way through my young bedding plants. So, I cut the bottoms off some plastic pint tumblers, put them over the plants I wanted to protect, then smeared petroleum jelly around the tops. It’s worked a treat and kept those pesky slugs at bay.
Martin Ashdown, Canterbury, Kent