To make
1. Wrap the fabric around the glass and add a 1cm seam allowance on the side edges. Fold the fabric in half to produce a guideline for the centre front.

Trace the heart template on and transfer it onto the centre front twice, one immediately above the other.

2. Embroider the heart motifs using hand or machine embroidery stitches. With the right sides of the fabric facing, fold a 1cm seam allowance, then sew the centre back seam before pressing open.

Decorate the fabric with beads, then fit the cover over the glass.

You can find a template of a heart on page 130 in the May edition of the Ideas magazine.

To make
1. Remove the metal inner section of the lid to use as the base of the pincushion. Draw around the base and add 3cm for seam allowances. Cut out the fabric.

2. Place the polyester stuffing on the lid and cover it with fabric, keeping the stuffing in the shape of a pincushion. Glue the fabric to the underside of the base.

Leave a small opening through which you can position the stuffing with a pointed instrument. Glue the opening closed. Embroider the heart motif on top to complete.

Knitting abbreviations
c/on(off) – cast on(off)
k – knit
N(s) – needle(s)
p – purl
st(s) – stitches

To knit
Make two pieces
Using 4mm Ns and white yarn, c/on 35 sts. Work 3 rows k. Starting with a k row, work 37 rows in st st. Work 3 rows k. C/off.

To make up
Following the chart below, work a cross-stitch heart in pink yarn in the centre of one knitted piece, making sure all the stitches are worked in the same way.

Sew up the sides. Leaving a small opening in one of the side seams, fill with scented petals. Close the opening. Make a second pillow reversing the colourway.

To make
1. Cut a piece of bull denim to fit the cover of the journal, remembering to add seam allowances, hem allowances and an allowance for the inside flaps.

2. Trace the melon slice template and transfer it onto the front cover section of the fabric. Paint the motif using fabric paint and working in a freehand style, then leave to dry. Following the painted colours, work rows of top-stitching across the melon slice.

3. Use a computer to print out the word 'Recipes' in a size and font of your choice. Transfer the letters onto the cover, then carefully fill in with fabric paint and an artist's paintbrush.

Once the paint is dry, press the fabric on the wrong side to heat-set the paint. Sew sequins and beads onto the pink section of the melon motif to resemble pips.

4. Sew borders of ribbon along the top and lower edges of the fabric cover, working the stitching on both sides of the ribbon. Machine-stitch a narrow hem along all four sides of the fabric.

Fold the flap sections over and press. Sew the flaps together at the top and bottom edges.

To make
1. Apply two or three coats of white PVA paint to the pot, allowing each to dry completely before applying the next.

2. Cut the wire in half, then bend each length in half to determine where the middle is.

3. Using the middle point of the wire as the indentation at the top of the heart, bend the two pieces of wire downwards to form a heart shape.

4. Thread the pearl beads onto the wire and twist the ends around each other to form a 'stem' for the heart.

5. Make another heart in the same way, using different-sized beads and varying the colours for interest.

6. Place a jar of water inside the pot (wedge it in position with some crumpled newspaper) and arrange the roses in the jar.

7. Tie the ribbon around the pot and place the pearly hearts among the flowers.

To make
1. Trace the heart-shaped box template onto a sheet of cardboard and cut out.

2. Use another sheet of cardboard, a craft knife, cutting mat and metal ruler to cut out two 3 x 20cm strips of cardboard for the sides of the box. Fit them onto the outline of the heart, and carefully cut off any excess card, if necessary.

3. Apply glue around the edges of the heart, then place the strips of cardboard on the glue to form the sides of the box. Start at the top of the heart and finish at the tip. Leave to dry.

4. Repeat steps 1 to 3 to make the lid, but this time cut out the heart 0,5cm larger right round. Cut out two 5 x 20cm strips of cardboard for the sides and attach as before.

5. Decorate the lid with lace. You can also attach a few fresh garden roses and a colourful ribbon to the lid.

To make
1. Stencilled rose
Fold the A4 sheets of paper in half and cut into A5 sheets using a craft knife and a cutting mat to cut small and delicately sized sheets of writing paper.

2. Photocopy the rose template and enlarge or reduce it, depending on your preferred design, or draw one freehand.

3. Place a sheet of acetate on top of the rose motif and cut out with a craft knife.

4. Place the rose stencil on the paper or envelope that you are decorating. Transfer the motif by gently applying dark pink paint over the stencil using a sponge roller.

Continue until you are satisfied with the intensity of the colour, then carefully remove the stencil and allow the paint to dry.

5. Stamped rose
Make stamps by cutting a few roses out of the length of lace.

6. Lay the roses on newspaper, textured side up. Pour some dark pink paint into the paint container. Roll the sponge roller in the paint and make sure that it is well covered before running the roller over the lace roses to apply a generous layer of paint.
Note: The paint must be applied thickly, but must not run.

7. Carefully place a rose, painted side down, on the paper that you are decorating.

8. Cover with a sheet of paper towel and lightly run your fingers over the design to transfer the rose motif to the writing paper. Carefully lift off the paper towel and remove the lace in a single rolling movement. Set the paper aside to dry.

To make
1. Measure and cut the gift wrap to fit the boxes.

2. Cut lengths of lace to fit across the length and width of each sheet of gift wrap, plus 1cm.

3. Lay the lengths of lace on the newspaper, textured side up. Pour some white paint into the paint container.

Roll the sponge roller in the paint and make sure that it is well covered before running the roller over the lace to apply a generous layer of paint.
Note: The paint must be applied thickly, but must not run.

4. Carefully place the lace, painted side down, on the paper that you are decorating.

5. Cover with a sheet of paper towel and lightly run your fingers over the design to transfer the lace pattern to the gift wrap.

Carefully lift off the paper towel and remove the lace in a single rolling movement. Set the paper aside to dry.

6. Cover the parcels once the paint has dried completely. Use double-sided tape instead of sticky tape for a neater finish and decorate with more strips of lace, if you prefer.

To make
1. Trace the outline of the bag on the pale pink cardboard using the template on page 130, and cut out.

2. Fold along the dotted lines and neatly attach the sides using double-sided tape.

3. Using the template on page 130, cut the flap for the bag out of dark pink cardboard. Attach it to the back of the bag using a glue stick (it folds over to the front).

4. Cut two lengths of satin ribbon for the handles and attach the ends to the inside of the bag using double-sided tape.

5. Decorate the bag with polka dots by sticking round white stickers onto the flap. Using craft glue, attach the plastic flower to the bag to serve as a clasp.

6. Make a card out of leftover pieces of dark pink cardboard and write a message inside. Cut a simple flower out of pale pink cardboard and decorate with white polka dots.

Punch a hole in the card and flower, then attach them to the handles of the bag with a length of cord

Article by: Marlize Lots from Ideas magazine
Photography: Donna Lewis