Creative cupcake toppers

This easy, stylish decoration is quick to achieve, and you can adapt the sugarpaste colour and sprinkles to your taste. Once iced, the decorating takes just minutes.

YOU WILL NEED ■ Any DK cotton in: Yarn A white Yarn B pink Yarn C teal Yarn D red Yarn E yellow Yarn F green Yarn G purple ■ A 4mm (US G/6) hook ■ Stitch markers ■ Toy stuffing ■ Pencil TENSION 21 sts

Take the stress out of the proceedings and let your kitchen appliances do all the hard work

YOU WILL NEED ■ King Cole Cosmos (100% acrylic, 25g/393m) 1 ball of Starburst (1100) ■ Paintbox Yarns Cotton DK (100% cotton, 50g/125m), 1 ball of each: Pure Black (402) Buttercup Yellow (423) Kingfis

Spare yourself the shopping trip. Who doesn’t love a gift made with love?

Winter suppers with family and friends are made even more special with Clodagh McKenna’s delicious, easy and feel-good recipes