Brainwaves weekly: creative crafts

All you need is GLOVE
I bought these soft gloves in our local charity shop. But instead of using them to keep my hands warm, I wear them when I’m dusting and polishing around the house. With these on my mitts, it’s so much easier to apply some pressure to the job in hand and reach those awkward corners.
Patricia Roberts, Shoeburyness, Essex

Prints CHARMING
I’ve been redecorating the nursery for our second child, and I wanted to reuse and upcycle some photo frames I already had. So I bought some leopard-print packing tape and carefully covered the frames with it. It was much easier and cheaper than buying new ones. Now the frames match my safari-themed nursery perfectly!
Jenna Greenwood,Middlesbrough, N Yorks

Perfect for PASTA
I wanted a tin to store my dried spaghetti in, but rather than spending money on buying one, I had an idea. Instead of throwing out an empty Pringles tube, I gave it a clean-out and then popped my spaghetti inside. It was the perfect height for my pasta — and it keeps it fresh too.
Jane Whitaker, Birchington, Kent

Soap and GLORY
Getting my kids Lewis, nine, and Lola, five, to let me clean their nails is
impossible. So, I came up with a great plan. I got them a tub of soapy
water each and a sponge, then gave them the task of washing their dolls
and action figures. It kept them busy for ages and afterwards, their nails
were spotlessly clean! That’s what I call a win, win!
Amy Atkinson, Bolton, Gtr Manchester

Brush with success
I’d treated myself to a new thistle plant, but when I came to put it outside, I noticed some of the stems had blackfly on them. I couldn’t remove them, because the plant was so prickly. But then I had an idea. I found a small paint brush and used that to clear them off. It worked a treat, and meant I didn’t get prickled in the process!
Dawn Malone, Hinkley, Leics

Varnishing ACT
For years, we’ve dedicated a corner of our garden to our lost pets. Although there was a water feature and a bird statue, we had no name plates to remember them. So I decided to use up some old nail varnish and paint their names on large pebbles. Now, it’s a fitting tribute to our much-loved pet pals.
Trisha Forsyth, Flint