Be inspired by your own creative projects and decoupage items in your sewing room. Here are a few ideas to get you started.

You will need

• wooden bowl (or use a plastic bowl – see step 4)
• colour photo-copies of crochet squares
• modge podge
• sponge brush
• scissors
• clear varnish (We used Pratley Kraftex’s mineral- based varnish.)

1 Choose photos of crocheted granny motifs in colours that complement each other and your décor and make colour photocopies of them.

2 Cut the photocopies into small, irregular-sized blocks. They need not follow the outlines of the motifs. Our blocks are colourful, but you can keep the same colours together if you prefer.

3 Seal the wooden bowl on the inside with a coat of modge podge. Use your sponge brush and paint up to and over the rim. Leave to dry.

4 Turn the bowl over and seal the outside with modge podge. Leave to dry. TIP You can also decoupage a plastic bowl. Leave out steps 3 and 4, as you will not need to seal the plastic with modge podge.

5 Start sticking your blocks from the rim of the bowl down towards the inside. First paint a thin coat of modge podge onto the area then stick a block in position and paint more modge podge over the top.

6 Repeat until the whole of the inside of the bowl is covered and then leave it to dry completely. Make sure that the blocks on the rim of the bowl are completely dry before you continue.

7 Turn the bowl over and decoupage the outside and base. Seal the whole bowl with four to six crisscross coats of modge podge. Leave each coat to dry before applying the next. Complete with a coat of clear varnish.

Pattern table
Use old patterns to turn your sewing table into a source of inspiration.

You will need

• paper patterns
• modge podge
• white or off-white water-based paint
• paintbrush, sponge rollers, paint tray and drop sheet
• sponge paintbrush
• craft knife
• clear varnish (optional)

Before you start
• If you have a table top of untreated wood, lightly sand it to get rid of splinters and ridges. Wipe it down with a damp cloth and leave to dry. Seal with two to three coats of modge podge, leaving each coat to dry before painting the next.
• If your table is already painted or is varnished, then you can paint it with a universal undercoat. Leave to dry before painting with a water- based paint.

To make

1 Paint the table top with two coats of white or off-white water-based paint so that the grain of the wood won’t be visible through the paper. Leave each coat to dry before painting the next. NOTE You can skip this step if you would like the grain to show through the paper – it’s up to you.

2 Sort the patterns and iron out all creases with a dry iron. For our first layer we used uncut patterns. Arrange the patterns on the table top to decide how you’d like to place them, then set them aside.

3 Working from one side of the table top, use your sponge paintbrush to paint a section with modge podge; this is where you’ll be placing the first patterns.

4 Place the patterns on the modge podge and start smoothing them out. Remember to let the paper protrude so it covers the edges. There will be fine creases all over, but keep rubbing them lightly until the paper is completely smooth for a neat finish.

5 Paint another coat of modge podge over the first section before painting the second section. Place and smooth out the patterns as before. Repeat to complete the entire table top.

6 We added more interest to our table with a layer of pattern pieces placed over the first layer of uncut pattern paper. Apply the modge podge and place the pattern pieces as before.

7 Repeat the process for the edges and leave to dry before neatly cutting away the excess with a very sharp craft knife.

8 Paint the entire table top, including the edges, with three coats of modge podge. Apply the different coats in a crisscross fashion to ensure the best coverage. Leave each coat to dry before painting the next.

9 If you would like to give your table an attractive gloss finish and protect it at the same time, paint it with a coat of clear varnish. We used Pratley Kraftex mineral- based varnish.

Decorated knitting needles
We used colour photocopies of knitting to decorate a pair of large knitting needles. We cut strips of paper from the photocopies for the pattern repeat, then followed the same steps as for the wooden bowl to decoupage the knitting needles. Seal the knitting needles with a gloss varnish afterwards, if you prefer. You’ll even be able to knit with these needles!