My Creative Workbook

Christine de Beer - effortless floral craftsman

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

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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Tutorials
Happy twig glow-man proudly showing off it's copper star garland
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.
Patina Copper
24 November 2021
Patina Copper

The colour and the effect will vary due to application, temperature and humidity.
Hellebores, Foxtail and copper star garland for a happy glow-man
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.
Copper stars to hang as Design Accessories
1 December 2021
Copper stars to hang as Design Accessories

Cut stars from a copper plate for a lovely turquoise patina Christmas decoration.
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.
Syringe with tube
3 January 2011
Syringe with tube

Easy way to fill test tubes and easiest way to remove water from a vase
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.
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.
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
Unravel wire from a copper pot scrubber
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
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.
Reed Hourglass
18 March 2011
Reed Hourglass

Glue small sections of Mikado Reeds into a hour glass shape
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
Weaving Willow spheres
25 January 2012
Weaving Willow spheres

I build up the spheres by weaving willow wreaths and then use those to shape the ball
Wired Foliage Circles
20 November 2013
Wired Foliage Circles

Manipulate leaves into a wired circle
Pine Bauble
10 December 2014
Pine Bauble

Pine needles create tiny balls
Palm Bauble Lanterns
6 August 2014
Palm Bauble Lanterns

All natural decoration with a secret water source to keep the fresh flowers hydrated
Contactless gift exchange wreath perfect to double as Santa’s Gift Bag for your front door
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 .
Flower Girl Red Net Basket
4 December 2013
Flower Girl Red Net Basket

Weave a twig wreath for an easy net basket
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.
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.
Party popper inspired Copper curls for a New Year’s Eve double vase orchid heart centerpiece
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.
Patina Copper Spiral Bauble and Pinecone Cascade
22 December 2021
Patina Copper Spiral Bauble and Pinecone Cascade

A beautiful pinecone dressed up for Christmas.
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.
Related Designs
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.
Stacking the odds in your favour
2 December 2015
Stacking the odds in your favour

Cover a wire frame for a winter kissing bough.
Three Drops of Floral Chocolate
25 January 2012
Three Drops of Floral Chocolate

The design drips down in three tiers each celebrating life, love and connection.
See you around
30 July 2014
See you around

Weave a few spheres to create a simple design
Excogitate
20 November 2013
Excogitate

Ornamental cucumbers and air plants, with just a touch of green.
A sprinkling of magic fairy dust
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
Large Open Weave Twig Basket
8 April 2011
Large Open Weave Twig Basket

Easter Basket used in the Durbanville Flower Club Easter Parade Demonstration
Have yourself a Merry Cellulose Fibre Christmas: Santa’s gift bag wreath
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.
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
It’s the most… it’s the most... Toast-iest Patina Christmas of all!
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.
It’s the most… it’s the most… wonderful Patina Copper Spiral Bauble Christmas of all!
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.
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.