TAKE IT WITH A PINCH OF SALT AND PEPPER

Turn empty cooldrink bottles into salt and pepper dispensers. Remove the labels from the bottles, then wash them in warm, soapy water. Remove any stubborn sticky residue with a little benzine. Wash the bottles again, then leave to dry. Spray with a few even layers of red gloss spraypaint, and leave to dry. While you're waiting for the paint to dry, remove the branding from the bottle tops by rubbing lightly with a kitchen scourer. Use a hammer and a nail to punch a hole in each bottle top, Print out the words 'Salt' and 'Pepper', then cut out stencils from a sheet of acetate using a craft knife and cutting mat. Once the spraypaint has dried, use stencil glue to position the stencils on the bottles and apply white enamel paint over the stencils using a sponge. When you're happy with the coverage, remove the stencils and fill the bottles with salt and pepper. When you need to clean the bottles, you can wash them with a soft cloth or a sponge

(these look great teamed with a blue/ white and red beach themed table)

Ideas, March 2007