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Christine de Beer - effortless floral craftsman

Giving a nod

  • 28 December 2022
  • and more

With kind thoughts and all good wishes for a Merry Berry Kalanchoe Christmas

And giving a nod,

up the chimney he rose;

He sprang to his sleigh,

to his team gave a whistle,

And away they all flew like the down of a thistle.

But I heard him exclaim,

ere he drove out of sight—

“Happy Christmas to all,

and to all a good night!”

From the poem A Visit from St. Nicholas by Clement Clarke Moore

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Gather what you'll need

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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
Bundled up Rosehip Scatter twigs… for anywhere you need a small frosted winter decorating touch
28 December 2022
Bundled up Rosehip Scatter twigs… for anywhere you need a small frosted winter decorating touch

A delicate winter decoration to add sparkle to those in between Christmas and New Years Eve days.
Adding snow to twigs
28 December 2016
Adding snow to twigs

Glue artificial snow to twigs
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.
Scalable twig and Phalaenopsis orchid winterscape panel
9 December 2015
Scalable twig and Phalaenopsis orchid winterscape panel

This design can easily scale up or down by using larger or smaller pieces of wood to create a larger wall panel or make a few of these panels to stack as tiles to create a more easily manageable composite
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
Marching winter frosted twig and freesia stack
28 February 2018
Marching winter frosted twig and freesia stack

Frost a few twigs to craft a delicate armature for fragrant freesias
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.
Twig Snowflake
25 December 2018
Twig Snowflake

Glue twigs into a snowflake twig armature for Christmas trimmings.
Winter White Twig Screen
6 February 2019
Winter White Twig Screen

Glue twigs to screen delicate flowers for a wintry design.
Snow puddle armature
6 March 2019
Snow puddle armature

Connect twigs with puddles of artificial snow to craft a winter armature for your flowers.
Pour glue over a stick Bundle to craft a Poke Out Spring stick Armature
5 February 2020
Pour glue over a stick Bundle to craft a Poke Out Spring stick Armature

Fake an early Spring by crafting a long lasting stick bundle that has a blossoming branch of succulent flowers.
Twig snippet pillar armature
19 February 2020
Twig snippet pillar armature

A great do-in-advance and reusable design solution for a winter, early spring floral display.
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.
Cardboard base for a roasting-by-an-open-fire fishbowl vase snow globe
16 December 2020
Cardboard base for a roasting-by-an-open-fire fishbowl vase snow globe

… ideal for fresh floral displays because it has a hidden water source that can be refilled and the candle can be switched on and off without disturbing the design.
Tilt container with a spilling twigs armature
9 February 2022
Tilt container with a spilling twigs armature

Perfect design for a warmer than usual winter design that hints at thawing.
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.
Clumps of chocolate kisses on a crafted silver bush Christmas Tree
10 December 2025
Clumps of chocolate kisses on a crafted silver bush Christmas Tree

Table top Christmas tree crafted from Sempervivum 'Chick Charms Chocolate Kiss', Swarovski crystals and Calocephalus brownii stems
Snow Dipped Twig Christmas Twinkle Wreath
26 November 2025
Snow Dipped Twig Christmas Twinkle Wreath

An impossibly delicate dried twig and snow wreath to celebrate.
Related Designs
On a Grand Scale
9 December 2015
On a Grand Scale

My article and a floral panel design featured in DIY Weddings Magazine
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
March Days
28 February 2018
March Days

Line up a few frosted twigs to march across a shallow container
Every. Single. Week.
16 January 2019
Every. Single. Week.

Stand tulips upright in a shallow container with a suspended twig armature.
A Very Merry Season’s Greetings Holly Jolly Happy Most Wonderful Christmas Time to you!
25 December 2018
A Very Merry Season’s Greetings Holly Jolly Happy Most Wonderful Christmas Time to you!

A Merry Christmas Twig Snowflake
So white
25 November 2015
So white

A dried Baby's breath and fresh orchid wreath
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 almost happened today!
6 March 2019
It almost happened today!

Craft snow puddles to keep your flowers upright
What it’s all about
5 February 2020
What it’s all about

A bundle of twigs armature to create a pretend Spring design for a snowy morning.
The Upside of being Inside
19 February 2020
The Upside of being Inside

A creative design that has some height to it without blocking the view. This can easily be scaled up or down to match the environment you want to display it in.
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: Snow Globe
16 December 2020
Have yourself a Merry Cellulose Fibre Christmas: Snow Globe

...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. This week it's a snow globe platform that is quick to make and hold a hidden water source and an easy to get to the on off switch battery candle button.
Oh! So clever
7 December 2016
Oh! So clever

My article and Bridal basket design featured in DIY Weddings Magazine
Pouring
9 February 2022
Pouring

Place a small fishbowl vase at an angle to look like it is pouring out flowers and twigs.
Let it
21 December 2022
Let it

A happy December Solstice or the Winter Solstice lantern.
‘Twas and is designing a feeling that really Crafts a special Christmas
10 December 2025
‘Twas and is designing a feeling that really Crafts a special Christmas

A robust table top Christmas tree that will last all the way through the Christmas Season.
‘Twas, and still is adding a bit of our own nature to our wreath details that really Crafts a special Christmas
26 November 2025
‘Twas, and still is adding a bit of our own nature to our wreath details that really Crafts a special Christmas

Christmas 2025 wreath a twinkling symbol of continued cycle of life, of achievement and warm welcomes.
Favourite Flowers
Kalanchoe
Kalanchoe

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