Brainwaves weekly: home crafts

I had an old corner shelving unit that didn't serve a purpose in my home, but I didn't want to throw it away. After painting it white, I screwed it into the wall in my garden, then added some potted plants. It's brightened up an otherwise dull corner.Rachel Brown, Haslington, Cheshire

I wanted to give my cats, Max Killmouseki and Lady Myrtle, a cat box. First, I cut a hole in the front of a large cardboard box, then, I rummaged through my drawers and found an old T-shirt. I cut off the sleeves, then pulled the T-shirt over the box, lining up the neckline with the hole I'd made. Now, my cats love curling up inside their new den!Victoria Jones, Scaynes Hill, W Sussex

After a lot of my parcels were left out in the rain on my doorstep, I decided to turn an old beer barrel into a postbox. I made a slot for letters and a door for small packages. Then I welded hinges on to the door, so it would open and close easily. Finally, I painted the box bright red and added some decorations, before attaching it to my wall. Now my parcels never get soggy when it rains.Achilles Costa, Paignton, Devon

When my daughter Dani finished secondary school, she needed a crafty project. So she bought a duvet with her pocket money and then, with her brother Michael, they used alcohol-based markers to decorate it for Pride Month. It's certainly added a splash of colour to her room.Sarah Bellhouse, Dewsbury, W Yorks

I had an old white blouse that had become a bit too tight. Instead of throwing away a piece of good fabric, I decided to reuse the collar. First, I laid the shirt out flat. Then I cut around the collar and hemmed the raw edges. Now, I can wear my collar underneath jumpers, dresses, tops, cardigans and shirts.Lien Keistere, Hull, E Yorks

My fiancé Chris had an old, dilapidated chest of drawers that needed sprucing up. I removed the old knobs from the drawer fronts, then cleaned the whole thing down and sanded it. Finally, I painted it a lovely dark-grey colour and added some smart and shiny new knobs. This was my first upcycling project and I'm really happy with the results. Chantal Whitworth-Carr, Blennerhasset, Cumbria