Yarn and Fabric related

Hi ladies I found this in a magazine and It will be my first crochet cushion. I think the heart outline around the writing is called surface crochet?? I just wanted to check as I will need to look up a tutorial for it as I've never done this before. The other thing is I've never followed a chart before or carried the yarn at the back of the work. i did look that up and it said you hold it at the back and then with the new colour crochet a few stitches over then drop that color, does that sound right? then pick it up again when it's time to start with that colour again

(sorry for all the questions) I've been looking for ages for a cushion project I want to actually crochet and be excited about it.