CRAFTY WAYS TO UPCYCLE YOUR LIFE

“When a person is tired of glitter, hot glue guns and stickyback plastic, they are tired of life,” a famous English poet didn’t say. Now a new campaign called Handmade with Heinz with that handy man off the telly, Max Mcmurdo, is inspiring people to upcycle.

Not only is it good to reuse items and reduce waste levels, crafting is great for mental health. However, not everybody is as handy with a hammer, so I asked Max about teaching yourself DIY skills.

He says, “I learned a lot from my Dad. He was a tax consultant, but after a long day in the office, he’d come home and do some handiwork. It’s a shame there aren’t more DIY courses, even online ones, but there are some great Youtube videos to learn from.

“My advice to anyone starting out is try upcycling a classic wood dining chair from a charity shop. Just remove the upholstery, strip back and sand the wood and then repaint it. Then teach yourself to reupholster using a hand-held staple gun and fire retardant fabric. You’ll be amazed at what you can achieve!”

Max first got noticed on Dragon’s Den with his first upcycling project – the shopping trolley chair. He says, “The original’s in my mum’s garden!”

Then there’s his very trendy floating home. He says, “It’s made from an upcycled shipping container and has everything from jelly mould lights to reclaimed wood walls.”

Maz also made this carnival light (or can-i-val light) as part of the #handmadewithheinz campaign and features 14 Heinz cans as lights. You can find out how to make this and more on Instagram from 12 August at

@heinz_uk and @maxreestore.

Stencils are back and brighten can be used to up dull walls.

Bottles come in all shapes and colours, be used as ornaments. an Scaffold boards are cheap from DIY store and make great garden decking.

Chalkboard paint can be painted on different surfaces for kids.

Yesterday was my first time back in the gym since March, and apart from needing a defibrillator, I was relieved to make a start on the lockdown lard. I was also secretly pleased to find I wasn’t the only one who’s been self-soothing with the chocolate tin. Although it was difficult to see if people were really sweating or just covered in hand sanitiser. I also got my hair cut this week, so I’m almost ready to be seen in public again, although the queue for lady treatments means my hooves will have to wait. Today we hear about a great upcycling campaign – a bit like “make do and mend” but with a trendy hipster beard – and a lady who met her idol and he was everything she’d ever imagined. All this and your usual jokes, letters, gardens and gorgeous pets. Email me at siobhan.mcnally@mirror.co.uk or write to Community Corner, PO Box 791, Winchester SO23 3RP.

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BEANZ MEANZ DECOR Upcycler Max