Brainwaves weekly: simple crafting projects

My dogs Toby and Tosca needed some cool treats during the summer months. First, I chopped and fried small pieces of chicken. Once the chicken had cooled down, I popped the pieces in an ice cube tray and added some low-salt stock. Then I placed the tray in the freezer and waited for the cubes to freeze. My dogs loved their tasty summer snacks. Christopher Prothero, Telford, Shrops

My husband Alan and I wanted to decorate the plain brick wall in our garden. First we put up a garden trellis. Then we filled different pots and containers with flowers and plants before hanging them to the trellis using hooks. They've made a very boring wall look really bright and cheerful.Julie Rosen, Cwmbran, Torfaen

After cutting down an old bush in my mum Carmen's garden, I decided to turn the branches into a centrepiece. I screwed them on to an old wooden chopping board before varnishing them. Finally, I added some fake leaves and little bird decorations. I'm so pleased with how it turned out. It looks tree-mendous!Sharon Busby, Gillingham, Kent

When the shops sold out of garden parasols, I decided to have a go at making my own. I grabbed an empty toilet roll tube and taped it securely to the side of my sunlounger. Then, I grabbed a large umbrella from the cupboard and put the handle through the tube to keep it in place. Now, I'm protected against the sun and the rain, which is handy for a typical British summer! Becky Jacobs, Erdington, Birmingham

I wanted somewhere safe for my seven-month-old son William to play in our garden. I blew up a portable paddling pool. Then once it was inflated, I filled it with William's favourite toys and popped him into it. Now, he can play safely in the garden this summer. Helen Goodall, Nuneaton, Warwicks

I was always losing my TV remote and it would drive me crackers trying to find it. Then, after finishing my last nectarine, I noticed the shape of the container they'd come in. With the help of my niece, I wrapped kitchen foil around it, added some colourful sequins for decoration — and ended up with the perfect holder for my remote. It was great fun to make and will save hours hunting for it!Serena Lomas, Milton Keynes, Bucks