Create a beautiful garden set using simple stencilling and watercolour techniques

What you need...

• Trug
  Garden fork, small
  Paint, acrylic: sapphire blue, white
  Varnish
  Outliners: glitter, blue, pale, dark
  Brushes: no 1, no 0
  Acrylic gems, small, blue
  Ribbon, blue
  Card blank, light blue
  Card, white, mottled beige
  Embossing tool

instructions

1. Trug - 1 Mix together blue and white to create a paler shade. Paint the inside of the trug with a wide brush, taking care not to go over the centre part or top rim. Enlarge the template provided so that it fits the inner panel of the trug.
   
   2 Referring to the picture for guidance, transfer the pattern onto the surface using tracing paper. Mix blue with a little water, then paint over the motif with a size 0 brush. Work quickly, completing one section at a time.
   
   3 Once applied, scrunch up some tissue and dab off the paint using a swift hand movement. Work from the centre outwards to prevent smudging. Repeat this technique all over the design, adding lines for stems as you go.
   
   4 After the painting is complete, water down the blue and add washed areas in between the design. Referring to the picture, paint simple flower motifs above and either side of the heart. Coat with varnish to make the design durable.

2. Card - 1 Transfer one section of the scroll motif from the template onto plain paper. Apply paint, creating light and dark areas on the design by adding water when appropriate. Mount onto the front of a light blue blank, 14cm square.
   
   2 Using a computer, print out the word 'with Love' in Baskerville font. Fix to the card using foam pads. Embellish the design with blue glitter outliner and gems.

3. Fork Handle - 1 Cover the metal part of the handle with masking tape. Mix blue into white, and apply. Leave to dry, then transfer the template onto the handle.
   
   2 Apply the paint, then use the same dabbing technique as described for the trug. Embellish the handle with blue outliner and gems.

4. Birthday Tag - 1 Fold a card, 6cm x 27.5cm. Referring to the picture, trace a section of the template from the template onto the right-hand side. Apply blue paint using a size 0 brush, then add washed areas around the border and in between the design.
   
   2 Print out or write the word 'birthday' on white card. Draw over the back of the lettering. Transfer onto the tag by drawing over it with an embossing tool.
   Paint over with blue, making the colour darker at the bottom.

5. Trug Tag - 1 Fold mottled beige card, 9.5cm x 14cm, in half lengthways. Referring to the picture, transfer the template to the right-hand side. Colour in the
   motif with a watery blue mix and reinforce with painted keylines around the outside.
   
   2 Hole punch the left-hand folded side of the tag. Thread string through and use it to attach the label to the trug. Embellish with glitter outliner and gems.