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Scottish Sun
11-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Scottish Sun
I wanted to get my tot a mud kitchen but it cost £100 so I decided to make it myself for just £31
Plus, the five tools you need to make DIY easy DI-WOW I wanted to get my tot a mud kitchen but it cost £100 so I decided to make it myself for just £31 Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) A SAVVY mum-of-two has shared how she made a mud kitchen rather than spending £100 on one in the shops. Meg, from the UK, revealed her daughter's third birthday was coming up so decided to treat her to a mud kitchen for the summer. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 2 Meg shared how she made her own mud kitchen for just £31 Credit: Tiktok/@meggsfordays 2 She ws stunned to see them selling for £100 so made it herself Credit: Tiktok/@meggsfordays However, she was stunned to see just how expensive they had become and decided to make it herself and document the process on social media. In the video, Meg said: "Since when did a mud kitchen become a luxury item? You can't get a decent bu**er for less than a hundred quid these days." The DIY whizz said she was able to make her own for half the cost. Meg first used some timber that she bought for £5.60 from Wickes and cut it to length, with four pieces being the same size to create the legs of the table. She then made four more pieces of wood for the width of the table and to create stabilisers to join the legs together. Next, she used the same wood to make the length of the table and secured it all together with Wickes wood screws for £2.99 a pack. Once the frame of the table was complete, Meg got to work on the tabletop by using wooden fence boards, a pack of ten cost £22.50. She added a support beam in the middle to make sure the tabletop doesn't cave in and she also used the wood to cover the timber frame and then sanded them down. With the leftover fence wood she also created a backsplash for the kitchen. With the structure of the mud kitchen now complete, Meg bought two metal bowls from the pound shop and drew around the bowl to cut out its shape into the tabletop. 'I was quoted £10,000 for a garden renovation but did it MYSELF for £1,000 using ChatGPT to show my kids what single mums can do' Once sanded down, she added the bowls into the holes so her daughter had a mixing station. Last but not least, she drew four circles onto the right side of the table to create a 'hob' and added some hooks and cooking accessories and the project was complete "And there you have it, babes. We've just built a mud kitchen together," she said. The clip soon went viral on her TikTok account @meggsfordays with over 54k views and 3,500 likes. People were seriously impressed with the mum's DIY skills and took to the comments to praise her. 5 Must-have gardening tools Nick Grey, Gtech Inventor and CEO revealed the best pieces of kit you need to get jobs done around the house and garden. Pruning Shears - The perfect tool for trimming plants, cutting dead branches, and shaping your shrubs and bushes. Watering Hose – Ideal for larger gardens, watering hoses provide a wide coverage of hydration for your plants, especially when using with a spray nozzle. Gardening Fork – This is an essential for loosening soil, removing weeds, and evenly spreading mulch. Dibber – A dibber is a great tool to help in creating uniform planting holes for your seeds and seedlings. Garden Twine & Scissors – A handy must-have for tying up plants, training vines, and providing structural support to your greenery. One person wrote: "You make it look so easy! This is my next project, but it's daunting." Another commented: "The DIY Queen delivers again." "I need you to build us one," penned a third. Meanwhile a fourth said: "Smashed it." "She's going to love it,' claimed a fifth Someone else added: "Love the mud kitchen."
The Irish Sun
11-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The Irish Sun
I wanted to get my tot a mud kitchen but it cost £100 so I decided to make it myself for just £31
A SAVVY mum-of-two has shared how she made a mud kitchen rather than spending £100 on one in the shops. Meg, from the UK, revealed her daughter's third birthday was coming up so decided to treat her to a mud kitchen for the summer. 2 Meg shared how she made her own mud kitchen for just £31 Credit: Tiktok/@meggsfordays 2 She ws stunned to see them selling for £100 so made it herself Credit: Tiktok/@meggsfordays However, she was stunned to see just how expensive they had become and decided to make it herself and document the process on social media. In the video, Meg said: "Since when did a mud kitchen become a luxury item? You can't get a decent bu**er for less than a hundred quid these days." The DIY whizz said she was able to make her own for half the cost. Meg first used some timber that she bought for £5.60 from Wickes and cut it to length, with four pieces being the same size to create the legs of the table. READ MORE ON HOMES She then made four more pieces of wood for the width of the table and to create stabilisers to join the legs together. Next , she used the same wood to make the length of the table and secured it all together with Wickes wood screws for £2.99 a pack. Once the frame of the table was complete, Meg got to work on the tabletop by using wooden fence boards, a pack of ten cost £22.50. She added a support beam in the middle to make sure the tabletop doesn't cave in and she also used the wood to cover the timber frame and then sanded them down. Most read in Fabulous With the leftover fence wood she also created a backsplash for the kitchen. With the structure of the mud kitchen now complete, Meg bought two metal bowls from the pound shop and drew around the bowl to cut out its shape into the tabletop. 'I was quoted £10,000 for a garden renovation but did it MYSELF for £1,000 using ChatGPT to show my kids what single mums can do' Once sanded down, she added the bowls into the holes so her daughter had a mixing station. Last but not least, she drew four circles onto the right side of the table to create a 'hob' and added some hooks and cooking accessories and the project was complete "And there you have it, babes. We've just built a mud kitchen together," she said. The clip soon went viral on her TikTok account @ People were seriously impressed with the mum's DIY skills and took to the comments to praise her. 5 Must-have gardening tools Nick Grey, Pruning Shears - The perfect tool for trimming plants, cutting dead branches, and shaping your shrubs and bushes. Watering Hose – Ideal for larger gardens, watering hoses provide a wide coverage of hydration for your plants, especially when using with a spray nozzle. Gardening Fork – This is an essential for loosening soil, removing weeds, and evenly spreading mulch. Dibber – A dibber is a great tool to help in creating uniform planting holes for your seeds and seedlings. Garden Twine & Scissors – A handy must-have for tying up plants, training vines, and providing structural support to your greenery. One person wrote: "You make it look so easy! This is my next project, but it's daunting." Another commented: "The DIY Queen delivers again." "I need you to build us one," penned a third. Meanwhile a fourth said: "Smashed it." "She's going to love it,' claimed a fifth Someone else added: "Love the mud kitchen."
The Irish Sun
10-07-2025
- Lifestyle
- The Irish Sun
We bought our kitchen on Facebook Marketplace for £50 – now it's a marble dream for a fraction of what it should've cost
RENOVATING any room in your home can break the bank, but kitchens can be especially pricey. But this couple hit the jackpot when they came across their dream kitchen on Facebook Marketplace. Advertisement 2 The kitchen was in need of some TLC before the renovation Credit: tiktok/@thestylepad_uk/ 2 The finished space looked so posh and expensive Credit: tiktok/@thestylepad_uk/ The entire thing only set the DIY fans back £50 - but they had to put in the hard work to make it fit their trendy vision. Sharing the entire process on TikTok on the account @thestylepad_uk, the couple explained how the renovation began. After finding the entire kitchen listed on Facebook Marketplace, they knew they had their work cut out, since they'd have to remove the entire kitchen from the previous owner's home before moving it to their house 40 minutes away. Everything had to be unscrewed and removed bit by bit, including heavy appliances. Advertisement READ MORE ON DIY Three trips with a trailer later and the entire kitchen had been moved into their extension, ready to be re-assembled. "This was the part I started to regret my life choices," the DIY whizz explained in the viral video. Of course, everything had to be totally reconfigured to fit the new space too, which took a lot of time and effort. The couple got lucky again when they discovered their neighbours were throwing away a posh butler sink, which they nabbed for free. Advertisement Most read in Fabulous The next step was to paint every single piece of cabinetry in a primer then in a trendy sage green colour. They also added laminate countertops and splashbacks with a posh marble design, and even made a floating shelf and their own oven hood. I saved £2k by creating my own bespoke fitted wardrobe with flatpack Argos buys But the couple also wanted an island for their new kitchen, so found an rustic wooden table on Facebook Marketplace and gave it a much needed makeover. The first problem was the table was far too short to be used as an island, so they added new legs to make it the right height. Advertisement The new kitchen island also got a new wood stain, a brass handle to hold tea towels and a matching marble top. After everything was finished you'd never be able to tell the kitchen wasn't professionally installed - and the DIY extras looked so posh too. But the main win for the couple was the fact they saved so much cash by doing it all themselves. After showing off the finished kitchen on TikTok people couldn't believe how perfectly it all came together. Advertisement One said: "Good lord! I mean, that's just incredible, you should go into business doing this." A second agreed: "Amazing and fantastic to see a perfectly solid kitchen given a new lease of life." "Stunning, looks incredible, like a £35k bespoke kitchen," another chimed in. 5 Must-have gardening tools Nick Grey, Pruning Shears - The perfect tool for trimming plants, cutting dead branches, and shaping your shrubs and bushes. Watering Hose – Ideal for larger gardens, watering hoses provide a wide coverage of hydration for your plants, especially when using with a spray nozzle. Gardening Fork – This is an essential for loosening soil, removing weeds, and evenly spreading mulch. Dibber – A dibber is a great tool to help in creating uniform planting holes for your seeds and seedlings. Garden Twine & Scissors – A handy must-have for tying up plants, training vines, and providing structural support to your greenery.
Scottish Sun
06-06-2025
- Lifestyle
- Scottish Sun
Houseplants will ‘bloom for years' thanks to common item in your food bin – and peace lilies find it ‘so tasty'
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) IF you often struggle to keep your houseplants alive (don't worry, we do too), then you've come to the right place. There's nothing worse than someone giving you a houseplant and just days later, it's looking worse for wear. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 3 If every houseplant you own ends up dying within days, you'll need to listen up Credit: Getty 3 Here's a handy hack to keep peace lilies alive 'for years' - and the secret is in your food bin Credit: Getty 3 It turns out that houseplants find banana peels "so tasty" Credit: Getty But now, luckily for you, we've found a handy hack that will ensure your plants bloom for years. And fear not, you won't have to nip out and splash the cash on pricey fertiliser - in fact, the secret may even be in your food bin. Peace lilies in particular are said to find this trick 'so tasty', so if you want to ensure repeat blooming, this homemade feed is one you won't want to miss. When it comes to caring for peace lilies, it is important to only feed them once a month during the growing season, which is spring and summer. It turns out that overfeeding can be harmful, so it's important to avoid excess fertiliser. And now, gardening enthusiasts have shared a super simple homemade fertiliser - and the key ingredient is banana peels. Taking to the Gardening Hints and Tips Facebook page, an anonymous user explained: 'In the summer, I feed my houseplants with a homemade banana soak. 'My peace lily loves it, just thought I'd share it in case anyone is struggling. 'I've always struggled to get my peace lilies looking good, but bananas make them bloom for years.' The gardening guru then added: 'Once I've eaten a banana or given it to my dog, I'll chop the peel and soak it in some warm water. Gardening hacks to grow fruit from your weekly shop 'After a few days, pour sparingly on your plants, so tasty for them.' The social media post attracted numerous comments from other houseplant enthusiasts, who also praised the effective banana peel trick. Top 5 Spring Gardening Jobs *If you click a link in this boxout, we may earn affiliate revenue Nick Grey, Gtech Inventor and CEO shared the tasks to crack on with as Spring arrives. 1. Clean your garden Make sure to clear away all leaves, soil and plant debris from your patios and flower beds; this creates a healthier environment for new growth, especially as we get into the summer months. Gtech's Garden Safety Kit includes durable gardening gloves and safety glasses; perfect for comfortability whilst tackling those outdoor tasks. 2. Weeding Early Spring is the best time to tackle weeds; if you can introduce some regular weeding into your routine, you can guarantee a tidy garden all year round. 3. Hedge maintenance Spring is the ideal time to tidy up overgrown hedges and shrubs, as regular trimming ensures healthy growth and reduces pest issues. Using a tool like the Gtech Lightweight Hedge Trimmer can help to keep your greenery looking sharp and neat. 4. Composting Starting a compost heap this spring is a pro-active, cost-effective way to harness nutritious soil for your plants and recycle organic waste that will benefit the overall health of your greenery and foliage. 5. Look after your lawn Lawn care is hugely important in assuring your garden stays looking beautiful. Make sure to rake away any excess leaves and trim your grass routinely. One user beamed: 'Heard lots about this, so I gave it a go. I only use it now and again and then a proper feed in between, but it's fantastic.' Whilst a second chimed in: 'All houseplants love this, not just peace lilies, but be careful not to over water.' I've always struggled to get my peace lilies looking good, but bananas make them bloom for years Facebook user According to houseplant enthusiasts, soaking banana peels in water releases nutrients such as potassium, phosphorus and magnesium, which are beneficial for many houseplants, but peace lilies in particular. It is crucial to dilute the banana water with water to make it last longer and ensure it doesn't overwhelm the plant. 8 must-have plants to brighten up your garden Nick Hamilton owner of Barnsdale Gardens has shared his favourite plants and flowers you should consider adding to your garden, borders and pots. Tricyrtis A spectacular plant that gives a real exotic feel to any garden with its orchid-like, spotted flowers giving the impression that this plant should be tender but it is 'as tough as old boots!'. Penstemon I love this plants genus of because most will flower all summer and autumn. They'll grow in sun or semi-shade in a well drained soil and produce a non-stop display of tubular flowers in an array of colours and colour combination to suit all tastes. Luzula sylvatica 'Marginata' With the evergreen leaves edged with yellow it's great asset is that it will grow in sun or shade in any type of soil and is great as groundcover in the hardest spot to fill - dry shade. Eryngium x zabelii 'Big Blue' A stunning, nectar-rich plant that will feed the beneficial insects in your garden. Leave the flowerheads once they have turned brown because they look stunning with winter frost and snow, extending the plant's interest period. Sarcococca hookeriana 'Winter Gem' If you need winter scent then look no further than this compact, evergreen shrub. The scent is stunning and the evergreen leaves create an excellent backdrop for the summer flowers. Cornus sanguinea 'Anny's Winter Orange' A dwarf version of 'Midwinter Fire' the very colourful stems create a stunning winter display, particularly on sunny days. Rosa 'Noisette Carnee' A very well-behaved climbing rose that is perfect for training over an arch, pergola or gazebo. The small, 'noisette' flowers are blush-pink and produce the most amazing clove scent constantly from June to November. Sanguisorba hakusanensis 'Lilac Squirrel' I've never seen a squirrel with a drooping, shaggy lilac tail, but this variety will give your garden an unusual and different look throughout summer. It does need a moisture retentive soil but will grow in sun or semi-shade. Not only this, but banana peels can also be used to fertilise outdoor plants, including tomatoes, bell peppers, roses and hydrangeas. If planting a new plant, you should simply scatter some banana peels beneath the compost, or place them around the top of the soil. Not only will this be beneficial to your plants, but it can also help to deter pests such as slugs, who hate rough surfaces. Unlock even more award-winning articles as The Sun launches brand new membership programme - Sun Club
The Irish Sun
06-06-2025
- Lifestyle
- The Irish Sun
Houseplants will ‘bloom for years' thanks to common item in your food bin – and peace lilies find it ‘so tasty'
IF you often struggle to keep your houseplants alive (don't worry, we do too), then you've come to the right place. There's nothing worse than someone giving you a Advertisement 3 If every houseplant you own ends up dying within days, you'll need to listen up Credit: Getty 3 Here's a handy hack to keep peace lilies alive 'for years' - and the secret is in your food bin Credit: Getty 3 It turns out that houseplants find banana peels "so tasty" Credit: Getty But now, luckily for you, we've found a handy hack that will ensure your plants bloom for years. And fear not, you won't have to nip out and splash the cash on pricey Peace lilies in particular are said to find this trick 'so tasty', so if you want to ensure repeat blooming, this homemade feed is one you won't want to miss. When it comes to caring for Advertisement Read more Fabulous stories It turns out that overfeeding can be harmful, so it's important to avoid excess fertiliser. And now, gardening enthusiasts have shared a super simple homemade fertiliser - and the key ingredient is banana peels. Taking to the Gardening Hints and Tips Facebook page, an anonymous user explained: 'In the summer, I feed my houseplants with a homemade banana soak. 'My peace lily loves it, just thought I'd share it in case anyone is struggling. Advertisement Most read in Fabulous 'I've always struggled to get my peace lilies looking good, but bananas make them bloom for years.' The gardening guru then added: 'Once I've eaten a banana or given it to my dog, I'll chop the peel and soak it in some warm water. Gardening hacks to grow fruit from your weekly shop 'After a few days, pour sparingly on your plants, so tasty for them.' The social media post attracted numerous comments from other houseplant enthusiasts, who also praised the effective banana peel trick. Advertisement Top 5 Spring Gardening Jobs *If you click a link in this boxout, we may earn affiliate revenue Nick Grey, 1. Clean your garden Make sure to clear away all leaves, soil and plant debris from your patios and flower beds; this creates a healthier environment for new growth, especially as we get into the summer months. 2. Weeding Early Spring is the best time to tackle weeds; if you can introduce some regular weeding into your routine, you can guarantee a tidy garden all year round. 3. Hedge maintenance Spring is the ideal time to tidy up overgrown hedges and shrubs, as regular trimming ensures healthy growth and reduces pest issues. Using a tool like the 4. Composting Starting a compost heap this spring is a pro-active, cost-effective way to harness nutritious soil for your plants and recycle organic waste that will benefit the overall health of your greenery and foliage. 5. Look after your lawn Lawn care is hugely important in assuring your garden stays looking beautiful. Make sure to rake away any excess leaves and trim your grass routinely. One user beamed: 'Heard lots about this, so I gave it a go. I only use it now and again and then a proper feed in between, but it's fantastic.' Whilst a second chimed in: 'All houseplants love this, not just peace lilies, but be careful not to over water.' I've always struggled to get my peace lilies looking good, but bananas make them bloom for years Facebook user According to houseplant enthusiasts, soaking banana peels in water releases nutrients such as potassium, phosphorus and magnesium, which are beneficial for many houseplants, but peace lilies in particular. It is crucial to dilute the banana water with water to make it last longer and ensure it doesn't overwhelm the plant. Advertisement 8 must-have plants to brighten up your garden Nick Hamilton owner of Tricyrtis A spectacular plant that gives a real exotic feel to any garden with its orchid-like, spotted flowers giving the impression that this plant should be tender but it is 'as tough as old boots!'. Penstemon I love this plants genus of because most will flower all summer and autumn. They'll grow in sun or semi-shade in a well drained soil and produce a non-stop display of tubular flowers in an array of colours and colour combination to suit all tastes. Luzula sylvatica 'Marginata' With the evergreen leaves edged with yellow it's great asset is that it will grow in sun or shade in any type of soil and is great as groundcover in the hardest spot to fill - dry shade. Eryngium x zabelii 'Big Blue' A stunning, nectar-rich plant that will feed the beneficial insects in your garden. Leave the flowerheads once they have turned brown because they look stunning with winter frost and snow, extending the plant's interest period. Sarcococca hookeriana 'Winter Gem' If you need winter scent then look no further than this compact, evergreen shrub. The scent is stunning and the evergreen leaves create an excellent backdrop for the summer flowers. Cornus sanguinea 'Anny's Winter Orange' A dwarf version of 'Midwinter Fire' the very colourful stems create a stunning winter display, particularly on sunny days. Rosa 'Noisette Carnee' A very well-behaved climbing rose that is perfect for training over an arch, pergola or gazebo. The small, 'noisette' flowers are blush-pink and produce the most amazing clove scent constantly from June to November. Sanguisorba hakusanensis 'Lilac Squirrel' I've never seen a squirrel with a drooping, shaggy lilac tail, but this variety will give your garden an unusual and different look throughout summer. It does need a moisture retentive soil but will grow in sun or semi-shade. Not only this, but banana peels can also be used to fertilise outdoor plants, including tomatoes, bell peppers, roses and hydrangeas. If planting a new plant, you should simply scatter some banana peels beneath the compost, or place them around the top of the soil. Not only will this be beneficial to your plants, but it can also help to deter Unlock even more award-winning articles as The Sun launches brand new membership programme - Sun Club Advertisement
