My Creative Workbook

Christine de Beer - effortless floral craftsman

A Very Merry eucalyptus-collar-candle Christmas!

“It’s

pra…

c...

ti…

cal…

ly

here”

... from How the Grinch Stole Christmas! a children's story written by Theodor "Dr. Seuss" Geise

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Tutorials
Eucalyptus collar for a snow-covered Christmas candle
4 December 2019
Eucalyptus collar for a snow-covered Christmas candle

Not only will your home smell wonderful while crafting this design you will also have a ethereal and long lasting design to enjoy.
Adding snow to twigs
28 December 2016
Adding snow to twigs

Glue artificial snow to twigs
Wire curls
5 May 2011
Wire curls

curl wire to add to designs
Blow away hot glue strands
24 July 2012
Blow away hot glue strands

When you glue a structure with hot glue there are always a few stray strands of glue stuck all over the design. Blow it away with a hairdryer.
Ripped Flax Mittens
7 November 2018
Ripped Flax Mittens

Knot delicate floral mittens from flax.
Barely there twig tabletop Christmas tree
6 December 2017
Barely there twig tabletop Christmas tree

Glue curved twig snippets to craft a delicate winter white Christmas tree
Large wax snowflakes
4 December 2013
Large wax snowflakes

Artificial snow can be very "chemical" and flowers deteriorate quickly when exposed to it. It also dissolves in water. I use candle wax as "snow"
Spiral wire support pressed into a candle
15 December 2011
Spiral wire support pressed into a candle

The wire spirals are supported on wire sections pressed into the wax
Eucalyptus Snow Flakes
12 December 2012
Eucalyptus Snow Flakes

Glue seeded eucalyptus snow flakes
Eucalyptus tinsel garland
2 January 2019
Eucalyptus tinsel garland

Wire seeded Eucalyptus into a long tinsel garland.
Pine NeedleTube
27 December 2017
Pine NeedleTube

Glue pine needles to a up-cycled disk to create a winter scene
Long lasting bark and Kalanchoe sleigh
13 December 2017
Long lasting bark and Kalanchoe sleigh

Kalanchoe flowers last weeks without a water source and is the perfect way to dress up a bark and silver bell sleigh
Jingle bell stem hook
18 December 2013
Jingle bell stem hook

Cut a delicate stem to hook jingle bells on
Fill hollow bark with test tubes
18 December 2012
Fill hollow bark with test tubes

Glue tiny sections of pipe to the bark to fill as a water source for the fresh flower material
Tendril vine Wreath Pumpkin
27 September 2017
Tendril vine Wreath Pumpkin

Reshape a vine wreath into smaller wreaths to combine as a pumpkin
Ivy vine Christmas tree mobile
16 December 2015
Ivy vine Christmas tree mobile

Twist ivy vines around a cardboard shape to create a lace fine Christmas tree mobile.
Kalanchoe Christmas Bauble
16 December 2015
Kalanchoe Christmas Bauble

The delicate Kalanchoe flowers last surprisingly well without a water source and is ideal for glue techniques
Silver bell Christmas Greenery kissing ball
2 December 2015
Silver bell Christmas Greenery kissing ball

Use delicate sprigs of cypress or juniper, fir, pine, eucalyptus, ivy or a combination of them all to create a winter themed kissing bough
Flower Girl Red Net Basket
4 December 2013
Flower Girl Red Net Basket

Weave a twig wreath for an easy net basket
Candle in a window pane Christmas glow
25 December 2024
Candle in a window pane Christmas glow

Stack glass containers as your mechanic and frame for a Christmas glow design.
Edge of a platter Christmas quarter wreath garland
27 November 2024
Edge of a platter Christmas quarter wreath garland

How to make a floral display design that will leave space for even more decorations.
Long lasting floral finial decoration for Christmas
20 November 2024
Long lasting floral finial decoration for Christmas

Make ahead (oversized) bark and kalanchoe Christmas decoration... and best of all it last for weeks!
Light as air puffy grass and elegantly curved gladiolus summer display that hints at all things pumpkin
21 August 2024
Light as air puffy grass and elegantly curved gladiolus summer display that hints at all things pumpkin

Create two separate containers to minimize clutter in a light and airy floral display.
Curve fountain grass... a bit... or a lot... and how to choose grass that is straight for more height
21 August 2024
Curve fountain grass... a bit... or a lot... and how to choose grass that is straight for more height

Curving long and elegantly sweeping purple fountain grass
Figure eight willow spacer for a water tube in a double vase display
20 August 2024
Figure eight willow spacer for a water tube in a double vase display

Create a bit of a buffer to keep a water tube upright in a light and airy suspended display.
Velvet Magnolia Leaf Christmas Tree
20 December 2023
Velvet Magnolia Leaf Christmas Tree

Cozy textured tall and luxurious table top tree design.
Starlight Garland
20 December 2023
Starlight Garland

Fold a continues strand of stars on a wire fairy light strand.
Water dip Wax to match the flame petals of a Cyclamen flower for a layered Twig and Leaf armature
15 November 2023
Water dip Wax to match the flame petals of a Cyclamen flower for a layered Twig and Leaf armature

Dipping wax in a deep bath of water makes the most beautiful streams of wax that looks just like the petals of a cyclamen flower.
Turn some gladiolus leaves into a pumpkin vase collar
27 September 2023
Turn some gladiolus leaves into a pumpkin vase collar

A collar for a vase that you can use throughout the season... simply replace the water and the flowers inside the vase.
Winter Solstice Kalanchoe and Berry twig Lantern
21 December 2022
Winter Solstice Kalanchoe and Berry twig Lantern

Soft and minimal glow lantern that you can make ahead of time to last all Festive Season.
Sparkle Spool and Velvet Magnolia Table Top Christmas Tree
14 December 2022
Sparkle Spool and Velvet Magnolia Table Top Christmas Tree

A pretty way to warm up your living space with the luxurious velvet texture you find on the underside of Magnolia leaves.
A berry and kalanchoe sleigh… to carry your twig tree home, of course
7 December 2022
A berry and kalanchoe sleigh… to carry your twig tree home, of course

A snowy Christmas scene crafted from a handful of twigs... and a few kalanchoe flowers.
Fork In the Twig Tree
7 December 2022
Fork In the Twig Tree

Minimal and so easy to do... craft an upside down twig tree.
The coziest Wool, Holly and Kalanchoe Table Top Candy Cane Snowflake
30 November 2022
The coziest Wool, Holly and Kalanchoe Table Top Candy Cane Snowflake

A fuzzy wool and twig snowflake that starts out as a handful of candy canes.
Snowy Pinecone with green tomato berries and Kalanchoe flowers
23 November 2022
Snowy Pinecone with green tomato berries and Kalanchoe flowers

A snowflake covered design that will hang on to well past Christmas.
Magnolia Rose Bowl with the brightest Holly berries and Kalanchoe flowers
16 November 2022
Magnolia Rose Bowl with the brightest Holly berries and Kalanchoe flowers

Long lasting berries, magnolia leaves and succulent (kalanchoe) flowers that can remain without any water or maintenance for... well... all the way to Christmas!
Budding winter twigs with a fluffy fairy light garland
12 January 2022
Budding winter twigs with a fluffy fairy light garland

Snowfall twigs with a light glow garland for a minimal winter display
Half and Half Copper and Twig Christmas tree
15 December 2021
Half and Half Copper and Twig Christmas tree

Cut a tree from copper and twigs for a long lasting tabletop Christmas decoration.
Feather and Twig Wreath to frame a Handcrafted Copper Lantern
24 November 2021
Feather and Twig Wreath to frame a Handcrafted Copper Lantern

Cover a basic wreath with a layer of feathers for a soft and comforting winter wreath
Flameless Patina Copper Lantern
24 November 2021
Flameless Patina Copper Lantern

This is the easiest battery operated votive candle lantern to hand craft from a copper sheet... ever! As always with my Tutorials you will not need any special tools or workshop space. Just a bit of extra ventilation for the step where we chemically patina the copper.
A Twig and personal inner Gyp flurry melted snowman
9 December 2020
A Twig and personal inner Gyp flurry melted snowman

Remember how Olaf from Frozen remained cool? With a personal flurry, of course! Two fishbowls, stacked and you are very nearly done.
Ice skating pond inspired grid for a winter floral design
2 December 2020
Ice skating pond inspired grid for a winter floral design

Turn the tried and trusted tape over the vase grid idea sticky side out... and adding artificial snow for a Christmas in Winter design solution.
Lost and found snow mittens
2 December 2020
Lost and found snow mittens

Artificial snow covered cardboard mittens to add to a winter themed design.
Craft a single legged wire nest to place a flameless candle into your design
18 November 2020
Craft a single legged wire nest to place a flameless candle into your design

Super easy to add into your design and even easier to switch the candle on... and off, without disturbing the design details.
Reusable Table Top Lei Armature
17 June 2020
Reusable Table Top Lei Armature

An easy to do, budget friendly, craft ahead- use many times floral armature.
Twig and twinkle Christmas Tree
11 December 2019
Twig and twinkle Christmas Tree

A light as snow twig and Christmas light armature
Swirly Twirly Silver Dollar Eucalyptus baubles
11 December 2019
Swirly Twirly Silver Dollar Eucalyptus baubles

Inspired by seedpods... Glue Silver Dollar Eucalyptus leaves into 3 dimensional Christmas decorations.
Related Designs
Grab your party mittens, flower buds… it’s Book Launch Day!
7 November 2018
Grab your party mittens, flower buds… it’s Book Launch Day!

Celebrating my book launch by knotting floral mittens using the design Tutorial from my book and the template from the free gift template booklet.
While I sing of beauty's treasure
6 December 2017
While I sing of beauty's treasure

Glue the most delicate twig table top Christmas tree
Rocking around Three Candle Trees
15 December 2011
Rocking around Three Candle Trees

Wire spirals twisted around candles to make small Christmas trees for the Christmas Eve dinner table
Can it be?
27 December 2017
Can it be?

Craft a pine tube to display a soft and snow filled winter scene
Just hear those sleigh bells jingling
13 December 2017
Just hear those sleigh bells jingling

Craft a bark sleigh that will last for weeks.
So this is Christmas, I hope you had fun…
18 December 2012
So this is Christmas, I hope you had fun…

Capilano Flower Arranging Club Designing for Christmas Workshop: Yule log
As tendrils tend to do
27 September 2017
As tendrils tend to do

Curl a wreath with tendrils to create a twig-pumpkin
Christmas Waves
16 December 2015
Christmas Waves

Twist a Kalanchoe and Ivy vine Christmas tree mobile
Stacking the odds in your favour
2 December 2015
Stacking the odds in your favour

Cover a wire frame for a winter kissing bough.
Red, Redder, Reddest!
4 December 2013
Red, Redder, Reddest!

My article and flower girl net basket design featured in the Red! issue of DIY Weddings Magazine
A Very Merry… all elf pass into Santa’s workshop… ‘tis Christmas Day!
25 December 2024
A Very Merry… all elf pass into Santa’s workshop… ‘tis Christmas Day!

A sweet through-the-window candle glowing kind of design to celebrate Christmas.
A Very Merry… all elf pass into Santa’s workshop, special department of tinkering together those Soooo Good, for Goodness Sake moments
27 November 2024
A Very Merry… all elf pass into Santa’s workshop, special department of tinkering together those Soooo Good, for Goodness Sake moments

Long lasting and easy to pick up and place garland to decorate a Festive Platter of… anything, really!
A Very Merry… all elf pass into Santa’s workshop!
20 November 2024
A Very Merry… all elf pass into Santa’s workshop!

A light... and slight start to designing for Christmas... an oversized Finial
And what are you supposed to be?
21 August 2024
And what are you supposed to be?

... a hint of a pumpkin late summer floral display to show off the elegant curve of a gladiolus flower stem.
A Very Merry Dark chocolate Velvet Texture of Yore, Tall and Trendy Christmas Cheer
20 December 2023
A Very Merry Dark chocolate Velvet Texture of Yore, Tall and Trendy Christmas Cheer

Tall and velvety Christmas tree... with a starlight garland
Freeze… just for a moment!
15 November 2023
Freeze… just for a moment!

Not quite winter but also a bit late for autumn design that is somewhere between sparkle and flying leaves.
this NEEDS to be at the top of my (our?) to-do list
27 September 2023
this NEEDS to be at the top of my (our?) to-do list

Autumn bud vase collar made from gladiolus foliage.
Let it
21 December 2022
Let it

A happy December Solstice or the Winter Solstice lantern.
Joyf'ly
14 December 2022
Joyf'ly

Table top Christmas tree with a fairy light twig trunk.
Making spirits bright
7 December 2022
Making spirits bright

A twig sleigh... to collect your twig Christmas tree, of course!
Take a bough… it’s Christmas time!
30 November 2022
Take a bough… it’s Christmas time!

A wool and twig snowflake design (made from candy canes!) that will last the entire Festive Season.
Ways to Merry a Christmas
23 November 2022
Ways to Merry a Christmas

A little bit of effort... that will last for weeks design to hang about the whole Festive Season.
All your Christmases…
16 November 2022
All your Christmases…

A little bit of effort... that will last for weeks design to roll us in to the Festive Season.
All That Potential
12 January 2022
All That Potential

Softly glowing winter twigs for a minimal display
It’s the most… it’s the most… wonderful Patina Copper Christmas Tree of all!
15 December 2021
It’s the most… it’s the most… wonderful Patina Copper Christmas Tree of all!

This is the fourth of my Christmas 2021 series of designs. This year in the form of a mini workshop… my Christmas present to you. Paint copper to add a beautiful patina to a half and half Christmas tree.
It’s the most… it’s the most... Glowing-est Patina Christmas of all!
24 November 2021
It’s the most… it’s the most... Glowing-est Patina Christmas of all!

This is the first of my Christmas 2021 series of designs. This year in the form of a mini workshop… my Christmas present to you. We will explore how to patina Copper and use it to craft beautiful Festive floral accessories.
Have yourself a Merry Cellulose Fibre Christmas: Gyp flurry Snowman
9 December 2020
Have yourself a Merry Cellulose Fibre Christmas: Gyp flurry Snowman

...ok not really that fancy- it’s paper pulp. Cardboard boxes, really. In the spirit of 2020- I am inspired by the endless stream of cardboard boxes being delivered. My list of inspiration would not be complete without showing a but-we-have-been-doing-this-forever “just wrap an empty box and place it in a design”, design.
Have yourself a Merry Cellulose Fibre Christmas: Lost and Found Snow Mittens
2 December 2020
Have yourself a Merry Cellulose Fibre Christmas: Lost and Found Snow Mittens

...ok not really that fancy- it’s made from paper pulp. A cardboard box snow mittens… really. In the spirit of 2020- I am inspired by the endless stream of cardboard boxes being delivered.
Lei-way
17 June 2020
Lei-way

Allow for a bit of variation by crafting a sturdy armature.
A Very Merry eucalyptus bauble Christmas!
11 December 2019
A Very Merry eucalyptus bauble Christmas!

For this year's Christmas tree I wired and glued a wild and wintry twig armature... but... these little eucalyptus baubles are just the cutest!
Favourite Flowers
Kalanchoe
Kalanchoe

Kalanchoe 'Calandiva Pink' flowers arranged in my tiny fridge magnet for my In a nutshell design