My Creative Workbook

Christine de Beer - effortless floral craftsman

It’s the most… it’s the most... Hap-Hapiest Patina Christmas of all!

1 December 2021
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This is the second 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. Follow along each week leading up to Christmas to complete the entire mini workshop just before the start of 2022.

Have a Merry Festive Season, flower buddies. This week I will show you my "tweak" to the “basic” technique that will create the brightest possible turquoise patina on copper. Enjoy!

It's the hap-happiest season of all

With those holiday greetings

and gay happy (even if it’s still online) meetings

When friends schedule a call

It's the hap-happiest…

Season of all!

Inspired by the carol It’s The Most Wonderful Time of The Year by Songwriters Eddie Pola and George Wyle

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

Tutorials

1 December 2021

Happy twig glow-man proudly showing off it's copper star garland

Craft a twig and foam snowman with an inner glow.

24 November 2021

Patina Copper

The colour and the effect will vary due to application, temperature and humidity.

1 December 2021

Hellebores, Foxtail and copper star garland for a happy glow-man

This is the second part of my twig glow-man Tutorial... and probably the easiest garland you can possibly make.

1 December 2021

Copper stars to hang as Design Accessories

Cut stars from a copper plate for a lovely turquoise patina Christmas decoration.

4 January 2011

Drinking straw "test tubes"

When you need to keep a tiny stem hydrated this is just what you need.

3 January 2011

Syringe with tube

Easy way to fill test tubes and easiest way to remove water from a vase

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.

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.

28 December 2016

Adding snow to twigs

Glue artificial snow to twigs

5 May 2011

Wire curls

curl wire to add to designs

5 May 2011

Unravel wire from a copper pot scrubber

Up-cycle a pot scrubber to get a huge roll of very pretty copper wire

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.

18 March 2011

Reed Hourglass

Glue small sections of Mikado Reeds into a hour glass shape

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

25 January 2012

Weaving Willow spheres

I build up the spheres by weaving willow wreaths and then use those to shape the ball

20 November 2013

Wired Foliage Circles

Manipulate leaves into a wired circle

10 December 2014

Pine Bauble

Pine needles create tiny balls

6 August 2014

Palm Bauble Lanterns

All natural decoration with a secret water source to keep the fresh flowers hydrated

25 November 2020

Contactless gift exchange wreath perfect to double as Santa’s Gift Bag for your front door

Craft a small pouch into a half-and-half wreath so that you can leave... and receive tiny gifts and cards in true Christmas 2020 style .

4 December 2013

Flower Girl Red Net Basket

Weave a twig wreath for an easy net basket

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.

6 December 2017

Fluffy pillow filler tree skirt

The fluffy stuffing found in pillows create beautiful, water repellent tree skirts.

29 December 2021

Party popper inspired Copper curls for a New Year’s Eve double vase orchid heart centerpiece

A design that is aged to ring in the new. Perfect for the a New Year's celebration.

22 December 2021

Patina Copper Spiral Bauble and Pinecone Cascade

A beautiful pinecone dressed up for Christmas.

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.

1 December 2021

Hellebores, Foxtail and copper star garland for a happy glow-man

This is the second part of my twig glow-man Tutorial... and probably the easiest garland you can possibly make.

Related Designs

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.

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.

2 December 2015

Stacking the odds in your favour

Cover a wire frame for a winter kissing bough.

25 January 2012

Three Drops of Floral Chocolate

The design drips down in three tiers each celebrating life, love and connection.

30 July 2014

See you around

Weave a few spheres to create a simple design

20 November 2013

Excogitate

Ornamental cucumbers and air plants, with just a touch of green.

6 August 2014

A sprinkling of magic fairy dust

Hard to believe but designers are already busy preparing for the Christmas Season. This is my article and design featured in the Inspired Florist, Christmas Edition

8 April 2011

Large Open Weave Twig Basket

Easter Basket used in the Durbanville Flower Club Easter Parade Demonstration

25 November 2020

Have yourself a Merry Cellulose Fibre Christmas: Santa’s gift bag wreath

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

4 December 2013

Red, Redder, Reddest!

My article and flower girl net basket design featured in the Red! issue of DIY Weddings Magazine

29 December 2021

It’s the most… it’s the most... Toast-iest Patina Christmas of all!

This is the sixth of my Christmas 2021 series of designs. This year in the form of a mini workshop… my Christmas present to you. This week I will show you how to go overboard on almost everything... and still get a pretty patina on your copper design details.

22 December 2021

It’s the most… it’s the most… wonderful Patina Copper Spiral Bauble Christmas of all!

This is the fifth of my Christmas 2021 series of designs. This year in the form of a mini workshop… my Christmas present to you. This week I will show you how to add a mostly blue patina to pinecone shaped spiral baubles.

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.