Cheeky breezes can play havoc with eating al fresco, blowing away the paper plates and lifting the tablecloth.

To keep the cloth down, tie a pebble at each end of a long ribbon - coordinated with your table colour scheme if you like - and lay the weighted ribbon across each end, or crossways over the corners.

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Find knobbly flint stones with holes, and jam in ordinary household candles for natural candle holders with a casually rustic feel.

These candle holders will drip wax. Place them on a flameproof surface, and never leave lighted candles unattended.

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A pretty glass full of little stones makes a great foil for a twinkling tealight.

Click here for full instructions

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Rounded stones look stunning when painted in toning or contrasting colours. You can pile them in a bowl, in a fireplace, or group a trio on the mantelpiece or sideboard.

And it's a great way to use up leftover paint to coordinate with your decor. Or you could use tester pots.

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Make a pebble mosaic for the garden

The natural tones and texture of a pebble make for a classy fridge magnet.

Click here for full instructions

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If you don't like plastic or wooden stakes to label your plants, how about picking up some of those stones you're sure to have lurking in your flowerbeds? Give them a wash, then write on the name of a plant with waterproof pen.

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For outdoor (or indoor) fun, draw four lines on a slate, tile or paving slab, to make nine boxes. Then mark 10 pebbles, five with crosses and five with noughts, using paint or waterproof pen, and you're all set for your first game.

With a few more stones and black and white paint, you could create a draughts or chess board. Or even backgammon...

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Paint a funny face flowerpot

A bright coat of paint plus stick-on eyes makes cute monsters.

Click here for full instructions

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These make pretty paperweights, or you could pop them into a flowerpot as a garden decoration.

Paint the pebble black, then add two white dots for eyes, paint the red wings and add black spots.

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Write letters on small, flat pebbles with waterproof pen... and how you use them is up to you! You could leave messages on your garden table, inspirational words on a windowsill... They're great fun to have to hand.

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