Brainwaves weekly: from furniture to food

I'd finished a box of chocolates and wasn't sure if the plastic could be recycled, so I decided to reuse the box instead. After my dog Skye died, I created a scraper foil picture in his memory. When I finished the picture, I placed it inside the plastic chocolate box as a frame. Now, my picture is safe, and I've helped the environment too! Angela Creasey, Haxby, N Yorks

Whenever I cook with oil, I'm mindful not to tip it down the sink because it blocks up the pipes. Instead, once the oil has cooled slightly, I tip mixed porridge oats, small pieces of stale bread, cake crumbs or bits of pizza crust into my pan and mix these with the oil. When the oats and the oil have combined, I shape them into balls and put them out for the birds. Patsy Davies, Lee-on-the-Solent, Hants

I suffer from Raynaud's disease, a condition that restricts blood flow. It means my hands and wrists often get very cold. When a favourite pair of knitted gloves became worn out and too tatty to be used, I decided to cut the cuffs off them and hem the edges. I slipped the cuffs on to my wrist and popped my jumper over the top. My comfy and stylish new wrist warmers work a treat.Margaret Price, Penzance, Cornwall

I bought a metal lampshade, but it was far too big for my home. I didn't want it to go to waste. So, I turned it upside-down and painted it silver. Then I put a silver plate on top and added some fairy lights. Now, it makes the perfect table for my living room.Beth Williams, Blaenplwyf, Ceredigion

My daughter, Ella, didn't have a place for her pens, and they'd end up scattered all over the place. To keep them tidy, I gathered up a box and some plastic cups. I tipped the box on its side and used a glue gun to firmly stick the cups inside the box. When they were secure, we sorted her pens into the pots. Now Ella has the perfect pen tidy and I have a tidy house!Annette Pruden, Wellington, Somerset

After we gave our garden a new look by adding a water feature, we had some leftover stones, so I decided to do something with them. I painted them bright red using two coats of acrylic paint. Then I added some spots using white nail varnish. Finally, I arranged the stones around the border of one of the beds in the garden. I think they look really striking.Dorothy Thornton, Stoke-on-Trent, Staffs