Brainwaves weekly: upcycling furniture and recycling packaging

My bookcase was in need of a freshen up. I bought three tins of chalk paint and used the lightest colour for the main bits of the bookcase. Then I alternated all three on the back panels. I cut up some cereal boxes to create stencils, then used them to paint patterns on the panels. Now, I have a unique piece of furniture that's a true centrepiece. Louisa Hunter, Almunecar, Spain

During the winter, my daughter Alice, 13, and I wanted to give our guinea pigs Chestnut and Lola somewhere to play indoors. We blew up a small paddling pool and lined it with wood shavings, hay and grass. Then we added boxes, with a doorway cut out, and hid treats inside for them. They loved their indoor piggy pen and it was easy to assemble or pack away.Fay Spencer, Arnold, Notts

After rescuing a pair of garden chairs from a skip, I decided to give them new lease of life. I washed them with sugar soap to get rid of all the dirt and grime. Then I sanded them, before putting on a lick of paint, mixing dark-blue, white and yellow to make a teal colour. Finally, I added some funky cushions. I loved transforming old junk into something new. Lynda Guiney, Drimnagh, Dublin

Throughout the coronavirus lockdown, we had lots of online deliveries, which meant a large amount of packaging. So I used some of it to make a sign for my son Finn's bedroom door. I made a cardboard monster truck, which I painted and stuck to a thick piece of card. Finally, I added his name, which I'd taken from his old door sign. Finn loves it and it was a great way to recycle some of the packaging.Sarah Bamforth, Stanley, Perth & Kinross

I had some old vases that I no longer liked. Instead of throwing them away, I decided to revamp them. I covered them in air-dry clay. When it was dry, I mixed bicarbonate of soda with some white paint, then painted over the clay. Finally, I used coloured paint to splatter a pattern on the vases. Using a few simple craft supplies, I've transformed them into something I love.Naomi Horan, Doncaster, S Yorks

I'd bought a picture frame, but I didn't want to put photos in it. Instead, I got a sheet of map wrapping paper and cut it into three pieces and put them inside. I think it looks great. Soraya Sophia Moghadass, Cotham, Bristol