Upcycling ideas in under a day

Flex those creative muscles with six simple projects that will add interest to any scheme

Makes and styling Suzie Sheppard Photos Olly Gordon

Our resident crafting goddess Suzie has outdone herself this month and has conjured up a series of six imaginative makes that any HomeStyler can try. For those who are short on time (or attention span), her statement découpage tray is a sure-fire winner; once whipped up, you can pop it on your coffee table, add a book and a few trinkets (perhaps the DIY pompom flowers on the following page?) and it will totally transform your living room. We love Suzie’s lollypop stick memo board too – and it only costs £1 to make! Plus, there’s a crochet footstool, which sneakily involves no crocheting, a how-to for infinitely useful denim baskets and a handy furniture hack that uses wallpaper in a brand new way.

Print perfection

Save money and time by downloading a printable wrapping paper. There are countless design online and – huge bonus! – lots of them are completely free to use!

Découpaged tray

Update a plain wooden tray with this easy idea using floral wrapping paper.

Takes 4 hours You will need

✱ Round bamboo tray, £9.99, Homebase

✱ DecoArt Crafter’s acrylic paint in black, £1.50 per 59ml, Hobbycraft Q Paintbrush

✱ Poppy Meadow wrapping paper, £6.95 for five sheets, Dotcomgiftshop

✱ Scissors

✱ Mod Podge Gloss, £4 per 236ml,

Hobbycraft

Total £22.45

1 Paint the tray with two coats of black acrylic paint and leave to dry.