25 Ideas to make life easier...

25 clever ideas to make life easier. Why didn’t I think of that?! We guarantee you’ll be uttering those words more than once at these ingenious little tips, tricks and ideas that solve everyday problems … some you never knew you had! (Above: hull strawberries easily using a straw). . . Rubbing a walnut over scratches in your furniture will disguise dings and scrapes. . . Remove crayon masterpieces from your TV or computer screen with WD40 (also works on walls). . . Stop cut apples browning in your child’s lunch box by securing with a rubber band. . . Overhaul your linen cupboard – store bedlinen sets inside one of their own pillowcases and there will be no more hunting through piles for a match. . . Pump up the volume by placing your iPhone / iPod in a bowl – the concave shape amplifies the music. . . Re-use a wet-wipes container to store plastic bags. . . Add this item to your beach bag. Baby powder gets sand off your skin easily – who knew?! . . Attach a Velcro strip to the wall to store soft toys. . . Look up! Use wire to make a space to store gift wrap rolls against the ceiling, rather than cluttering up the floor. (Mel's Note: I don't know about this one... I'd probably open my closet to a rolling avalanche!) . . Gotcha! Find tiny lost items like earrings by putting a stocking over the vacuum hose.  . . Make an instant cupcake carrier by cutting crosses into a box lid. (Mel's Note: This could work for drinks too, if the box lid is deep enough!) . . For those who can’t stand the scrunching and bunching: how to perfectly fold a fitted sheet. (Mel's Note: I am so glad that I know this now. But that doesn't change a thing.) . . Forever losing your bathroom essentials? Use magnetic strips to store bobby pins (and tweezers and clippers) behind a vanity door . . A tip for holiday packing. Store shoes inside shower caps to stop dirty soles rubbing on your clothes. And you can find them in just about every hotel! . . A muffin pan becomes a craft caddy. Magnets hold the plastic cups down to make them tip-resistant. (Mel's Note: Definitely might try this...) . . Bread tags make the perfect-sized cord labels. (Mel's Note: Perfect size, maybe. But they look awful. Pass!) . . Bake cupcakes directly in ice-cream cones – so much more fun and easier for kids to eat. Definitely doing this! (Mel's Note: Adorable! I'm not much of a cake person, but I will try this with brownies!) . . Microwave your own popcorn in a plain brown paper bag. Much healthier and cheaper than the packet stuff. . . Brilliant space-saver: install a tension rod to hang your spray bottles. Genius! . . Win friends at breakfast with this heart-shaped egg tutorial. Aww shucks! . . Turn your muffin pan upside down, bake cookie-dough over the top and voila – you have cookie bowls for fruit or ice-cream. Click here for recipe. . . Freeze Aloe Vera in ice-cube trays for soothing sunburn relief. . . Gutter garden: Create a window-box veggie patch using guttering. . . Use egg cartons to separate and store your Christmas decorations.