Brainwaves weekly: Easy crafting ideas

I wanted a dry robe to take to the beach, but the ones I found were too pricey. So I decided to make my own. First I folded a hand towel in half and stitched one side to make a hood. Then I sewed together two bath towels, leaving holes for my head and arms. Finally I stitched on the hood. Now I'm considering using another hand towel to create a pocket at the front.Anne Kyle, Clogherhead, Co Louth

As my neighbour was throwing out an old wheelbarrow I decided to recycle it. After sanding off the rust, I gave the frame an undercoat, then painted it white. Then I added decorative detail to the sides using up some spare paint. Finally I planted some lovely, bright flowers to create a funky plant pot for my garden. Ann Cooper, Rugby, Warwicks

My budgie Bobby is always peckish and loves nothing more than having a nibble at a stem of millet. But when I treated him to a new packet, I decided to give one to him and hang another one from the tree in my garden. Now the wild birds that visit us can enjoy a tasty snack too!Carole Gasan, Belfast

When my daughter Enya, 13, wanted toys for her gerbils Cookie and Crumble I painted some lolly sticks then glued them on to a small plank of wood to form a ramp. Then I used more lollipop sticks and three pieces of wood to make a little shelter to add to their home. Cookie and Crumble love their new toys. Katrina Fitzsimons, Tunbridge Wells, Kent

Fed up with my tired-looking furniture, I decided to give it a fresh, vivid makeover. I sanded down the chest of drawers, then added a splash of colour with some red paint. Then I painted the knobs with a primer, followed by a topcoat of white paint. It took me a while to complete the project, but I'm really pleased with the results.Jackie Wilson, Basingstoke, Hants

I got rid of most of my kids' baby clothes when they grew out of them. But I kept a few favourites back and decided to do something with them. I took the material and cut out some different shapes, which I used to create three embroidered pictures — one for each of my children to hang in their bedrooms. Jack, 12, Joshua, seven, and Poppy, five, all love their unique keepsakes.Laura Wilcox, Glastonbury, Somerset