Check
My Creative Workbook

Christine de Beer - effortless floral craftsman

Counting Raindrops

  • 4 August 2021
  • and more

Happy,

but happy

like

when

the first rain drops fall

after

a heatwave…

that

kind of happy

Sign up for my weekly newsletter

Every week I add a new design with related tutorials. Be sure to subscribe to receive an email notification with design inspiration.

Sign Up Now
Gather what you'll need

This section contains affiliate links. If you choose to explore any of these tools, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.

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
Scattered dried grass with raindrop crystals
4 August 2021
Scattered dried grass with raindrop crystals

Craft a light and airy grass halo to suspend tiny drop crystals around gorgeous roses.
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.
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.
All dried Autumn hemisphere design that will outlast even the falling leaves outside
23 September 2020
All dried Autumn hemisphere design that will outlast even the falling leaves outside

Preserve some floral material to design with when it is but not quite Autumn outside.
Twig snippet vase armature
11 May 2016
Twig snippet vase armature

Glue twig snippets to closely follow the shape of a glass vase
Stacked Twig Roundabout
24 July 2012
Stacked Twig Roundabout

This is a great way to use all those bits of twigs and sticks in your design room to make a floral armature
Twig sparkler
12 July 2017
Twig sparkler

Glue twigs to radiate out from a central point
Disk Twig Armature
29 July 2015
Disk Twig Armature

Glue a few wigs to follow the shape of a glass bowl to create a disk armature
A Sprouting Spring Twig Heart
8 February 2017
A Sprouting Spring Twig Heart

Carefully glue a twig armature to display the mini-miniature Darling orchids
Delicate Twig Hammock Armature to keep tulips upright in a shallow container
16 January 2019
Delicate Twig Hammock Armature to keep tulips upright in a shallow container

Craft a suspended armature to create a clear winter design.
Winter White Twig Screen
6 February 2019
Winter White Twig Screen

Glue twigs to screen delicate flowers for a wintry design.
Snap (don’t break) then support the snap with a snap (squeezed open) to craft a straight grass shimmer line
10 June 2026
Snap (don’t break) then support the snap with a snap (squeezed open) to craft a straight grass shimmer line

Turn your dragon into a floral design mechanic by gently squeezing the sides of the floret, to open the hinged, lip-like petals and pinch the grass before releasing it to snap shut again.
Puzzle out a pollinator beacon for a clear and bright summer display
3 June 2026
Puzzle out a pollinator beacon for a clear and bright summer display

Create a middle layer of twigs for a stacked display.
Stack miniature roses on to stacked grass snippets
28 January 2026
Stack miniature roses on to stacked grass snippets

Tea cup roses have the tiniest of stems and can easily be supported by grass snippets stacked into a armature.
Adjustable nested grass Wood Wide Web shelter for tiny snow drops
14 January 2026
Adjustable nested grass Wood Wide Web shelter for tiny snow drops

Craft a grass shelter with hollow grass that can be retracted and extended to adjust the length in height where needed.
Barely there twig layer support to allow all the autumn colours to shine and glow
5 November 2025
Barely there twig layer support to allow all the autumn colours to shine and glow

Snip Autumn bits from your garden to arrange in and around a glass container for a modern loose, layered display.
A wreath bridge to hint at the transition between the wildness of late summer and the autumn haze to come
3 September 2025
A wreath bridge to hint at the transition between the wildness of late summer and the autumn haze to come

Arrange a selection of freshly cut cosmos flowers to hint at the autumn to come.
Straight up and down icicle, clematis vine and huckleberry twig double vase winter display
29 January 2025
Straight up and down icicle, clematis vine and huckleberry twig double vase winter display

Give an old mechanic a contemporary twist for creating light and airy flower displays.
See through Jasmine Vine tangle support
10 April 2024
See through Jasmine Vine tangle support

This is a great way to explore using vines dried, soon to dry and fresh and hydrated to craft the thinnest possible transparent design.
No Mow May Scattered Grass and Erigeron Meadow design
31 May 2023
No Mow May Scattered Grass and Erigeron Meadow design

Tape a grid to create a barely there scattered grass display for a cooling summer display.
Snowy twig band armature for a ever changing winter display
18 January 2023
Snowy twig band armature for a ever changing winter display

A well made snow covered twig band armature will last all winter so that you can display even the most delicate winter treasures.
Dendrobium orchid and grass snippet cone around a glass container
27 July 2022
Dendrobium orchid and grass snippet cone around a glass container

Craft a grass armature to suspend the orchids in deep water from around the outside of your container.
A wild "found it this way" thorn and overgrown tulip design with a ribbon tangle instead of a bow.
1 June 2022
A wild "found it this way" thorn and overgrown tulip design with a ribbon tangle instead of a bow.

Glue an overgrown thorn armature to a container to display fully opened tulips
Hovering golden wheat Ghost Ship armature
27 October 2021
Hovering golden wheat Ghost Ship armature

Using dry and fresh floral material in one design without the dry becoming soggy and the fresh drying out.
Related Designs
Getting a head start on all that Fall-ing
23 September 2020
Getting a head start on all that Fall-ing

Floral styling using mostly dried material that will last the entire Autumn.
Pour
11 May 2016
Pour

Glue a twig vase and melt some plastic to create a tumbling design
A little bit of Art and Soul
24 July 2012
A little bit of Art and Soul

A twig structure with roses
Sparkler
12 July 2017
Sparkler

A radiating twig design
Beautiful Things
29 July 2015
Beautiful Things

Glue a few twigs into a disk armature
It could hold
8 February 2017
It could hold

A fragile looking heart made from twigs that can hold a lot of orchids
Every. Single. Week.
16 January 2019
Every. Single. Week.

Stand tulips upright in a shallow container with a suspended twig armature.
Tread softly on winter
6 February 2019
Tread softly on winter

A delicate winter twig armature to show off the delicate beauty of these early spring coloured tulips.
It’s a snap (and a fun snap) so snap to it
10 June 2026
It’s a snap (and a fun snap) so snap to it

Snap grass stem and lean them to support in the snap of a snapdragon.
This Just In
3 June 2026
This Just In

Double vase with a twig bowl layer to craft a light as air fairy light holder.
On to something here
28 January 2026
On to something here

Stack snippets of grass to keep your miniature roses upright in a minimal display.
Subject: A Formal Complaint Regarding the Distinct Lack of Snowflakiness
14 January 2026
Subject: A Formal Complaint Regarding the Distinct Lack of Snowflakiness

Fold and combine two hollow grasses for an adjustable shelter to frame the daintiest of flowers.
Autumn's Brightest Wanted:
5 November 2025
Autumn's Brightest Wanted:

Last call for those Autumn colours that are about to fall...
Like a hazy serotinal sunset
3 September 2025
Like a hazy serotinal sunset

Capture a hazy late-late summer moment in an abundant floral display.
How to stack a heap of little by little
18 June 2025
How to stack a heap of little by little

Stack the most delicate blades of grass to dance in the slightest summer breeze.
Alrighty then
29 January 2025
Alrighty then

A fragrant spring display... but make it still look like winter
(if only) I can see you
10 April 2024
(if only) I can see you

Tangle jasmine vines outside a vase for a transparent screen to display floral details on and around a sea horse vase to display floral details in.
Notice That?/!
31 May 2023
Notice That?/!

Light and airy... like a wonderful breeze on a hot summer day grass and erigeron display.
Getting the Band Back Together Again
18 January 2023
Getting the Band Back Together Again

Glue a band of snow dusted twigs to create a delicate armature for winter treasures.
Wrong on the right, for a right
27 July 2022
Wrong on the right, for a right

A glued snipped to create a cooling cone for dangling orchids
Found it!
1 June 2022
Found it!

A very secure thorn branch armature to hold overgrown Tulips in place
Ship Shape
27 October 2021
Ship Shape

The dry wheat stems are suspended from the outside of the container so that they remain dry and the flower stems can gently rest inside to remain hydrated.
Favourite Flowers
Rosa
Rosa

My all in the same boat floral art arrangement with roses in an Agave sisalana (sisal) leaf.