Hearts and Flowers centre panel

As I don't have any plastic large enough to make a template to go over the top of this panel I've decided to use back basting and I am just tracing the design onto the back of the fabric. I was wondering how others have approached the wiggly heart shape. Did you cut all of the wiggles out before you started or did you trim as you went along? I'm feeling that the second option is what I will do but just wanted to see if anybody had words of wisdom about it please?