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Christine de Beer - effortless floral craftsman

All is Calm, All is Bright

  • 30 December 2020
  • and more

In the spirit of 2020- I am still inspired by the endless stream of cardboard boxes being delivered. Probably the one thing we all have in abundance right now! This week I am using cardboard as well... cardboard. Painted cardboard reindeer.

The slow glow

of

those days

between

Christmas

and

New Year

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Dew-Drop Crystals
Dew-Drop Crystals

I created the Tutorial for how I add these crystals to my floral designs 11 years ago! Since then I have tried, tested and searched for the perfect crystals that would go from studio‑table picture perfect to show‑day‑dependable and I always come back to these. They remain the absolute best. They’re inexpensive yet have a refined, high‑quality crystal brilliance; they don’t tarnish and their adhesive backing stays reliably tacky even after they were exposed to water.
Tutorials
Suspend design elements around a poinsettia forest floor display
30 December 2020
Suspend design elements around a poinsettia forest floor display

A low design that is still light and airy using a lot of convenient prepare ahead of time design elements.
Using a pin to place tiny dew drop crystals
8 July 2015
Using a pin to place tiny dew drop crystals

It's sometimes difficult to place a tiny crystal or bead exactly where you want it.
Drinking straw "test tubes"
4 January 2011
Drinking straw "test tubes"

When you need to keep a tiny stem hydrated this is just what you need.
Fluff cotton wool for snow
27 November 2012
Fluff cotton wool for snow

Cotton balls can be unrolled and fluffed to create long garlands of "snow"
Chilly Father Christmas making snow angels!
24 December 2020
Chilly Father Christmas making snow angels!

Because even Santa takes out a moment to have some fun on Christmas eve.
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.
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.
Fluffy pillow filler tree skirt
6 December 2017
Fluffy pillow filler tree skirt

The fluffy stuffing found in pillows create beautiful, water repellent tree skirts.
Adding snow to twigs
28 December 2016
Adding snow to twigs

Glue artificial snow to twigs
A bark strip and fluffed cotton disk wreath
28 December 2016
A bark strip and fluffed cotton disk wreath

Cover a wreath frame with bark strips and fluffed out cotton
Bark and Cotton Candy Cane
14 December 2016
Bark and Cotton Candy Cane

Cover a cardboard shape in cotton and bark to create a floral armature
Bark Christmas Stocking
21 December 2016
Bark Christmas Stocking

Cover a wire frame to create a Christmas stocking armature
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"
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
Foam free and flameless cardboard and bark yule log
18 November 2020
Foam free and flameless cardboard and bark yule log

Using all those cardboard boxes to craft a bark covered "log" design for getting a head start on Christmas decorating.
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.
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.
Related Designs
The glories of Christmases long, long ago…
27 November 2012
The glories of Christmases long, long ago…

Weave a wire and twig Christmas chandelier
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!
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.
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
A Jingle Cotton Christmas
28 December 2016
A Jingle Cotton Christmas

Cover a wreath frame with bark and cotton for a textured Christmas wreath design
A Candy(cane) Cotton Christmas
14 December 2016
A Candy(cane) Cotton Christmas

A floral cotton candy cane
A Gleaming Cotton Christmas
21 December 2016
A Gleaming Cotton Christmas

Glue bark to a wire frame to create a Christmas stocking armature
The struggle is real!
27 November 2019
The struggle is real!

Design 3 looking at How to style with artificial plants and branches using quality faux plants and stems. This week: mistletoe! And also .. give your faux a reason for being there.
Not just a pretty face!
20 November 2019
Not just a pretty face!

Design 2 of my three week pre-Christmas designing series looking at How to style with artificial plants and branches using quality faux plants and stems. This week: wired branches
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
Have yourself a Merry Cellulose Fibre Christmas: Yule log
18 November 2020
Have yourself a Merry Cellulose Fibre Christmas: Yule log

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