I love using random things for different uses. I keep spare gift tags in mason jars as they look pretty and are easy to find and when I spotted this turquoise sea shell wall ornament I knew it would be perfect as a felt tip pen holder!

It may sound silly, but I have to cost large architect plans for my real job and need a steady supply of felt tips to mark off different areas. The shell holds 12 pens and is much more pleasing on the eye than a plastic pot! £1.25 and the gold etching is 22kt!

I also found a recording by Stanley Holloway for £1. The Lion and Albert story was my Grandpa's favourite and his Christmas party piece with a ventriloquists puppet. I can't wait to play it to the boys.

I also bought this Needlework Box a while ago and I suddenly realised it would make the perfect earring box! Perfect because you can see through the transparent lid and the compartments are just the right size for a couple of pairs.

Record success for the magpie in me this week! I found a vintage Wizard of Oz record for £1 in a charity shop which the boys will love when they are older. Plus the cover makes a fab play room piece of art for the wall in the meantime.

My heart was racing as the seconds counted down on this vintage record holder, which I won for £1.45! It arrived very promptly and is now a beautiful letter rack on my new desk! I use the numbers along the bottom as days of the month and have slotted jobs to do and birthday cards in each so I can keep track!

magpiesergent

I took the boys to the local car boot sale on Sunday morning, to give my husband and extra lie in (he did the same the day before) and only bought one thing! I did fall in love with an art deco clock, but at £20 I carried on walking. Fortunately, one of my twitter pals had a sweet Westclox for sale (save that for next week!) so there will be something ticking on my desk. I bought an old Action Man trunk that is ideal for storing the hundreds of plastic soldiers we have collected (from charity shops at 99p a bag).