My Creative Workbook

Christine de Beer - effortless floral craftsman

Just about enough space

12 June 2024
and more

Life is

so much

better when you make

just about enough

space

for

what you

love

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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.

Gather what you'll need

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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

12 June 2024

Narrow twin leaf spacer for keeping a tiny stem bouquet upright

A pretty way of taming wonderfully wild thin stemmed floral details... without loosing the light and airy feel.

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.

15 May 2024

Threaded rosette foliage frog… with a kick

Threaded Heuchera (Coral Bells) rosette with curved stems to kick against the sides of your container to keep it suspended above water.

27 June 2018

Foliage tube armature for long stemmed freesia buds

Curl and pin a few leaves into a tube to create an armature for those "left over" freesiabuds.

6 January 2021

Rolled leaf shelter for a lean-in-closer tiny bud vase design

Create a tiny visual tunnel to focus attention.

24 April 2024

Slot together Monstera Twin Leaves to create a design gap

A small bundle of Spring floral treasures framed with lush monstera foliage.

10 May 2023

Craft a padded wooden Dowel to position a leaf cone into the sharp teeth of a Kenzan

Prevent a leaf from ripping or bruising when positioning it in your design.

11 January 2023

Unfurl winter’s potential in a snow filled monstera leaf shelter

Capture a bit of winter magic by placing delicate flower buds in the middle of two large leaves.

24 August 2022

Balloon out grass to craft a framed armature

Carefully bubble out a tied bunch of grass to make a cavity to display gorgeous flowers.

6 July 2022

Weave a grass sphere to keep the long flower stems neatly in place on a bud vase

Both pretty and pretty effective. Keep the flowers exactly where you want them by weaving a stopper for your bud vase.

30 March 2022

Double water source to keep Carnations hydrated in foliage cones

Quick and easy design... perfect for something tiny to celebrate spring.... everywhere!

2 June 2021

Two leaf lining your container to shelter your orchids

Create a shallow puddle in a larger container to keep your flowers in place.

17 February 2021

Controlled breaking a thin reed to create a grass spiral armature

Carefully break... but don't snap a reed to create a curved base for a fanned out grass armature.

26 February 2020

Weave a grass Platform for an opening Tulip bud

Tulips continue to grow as they open. This means you not only have to be mindful of their proportions as they are now... but also as they will be once open.

13 January 2016

Stacked Grass Pyramid Armature

Stack snippets of grass on a wire frame to make a floating pyramid armature

7 January 2026

Just sparkly enough (for January) frosted twig frog to balance your anthurium stems just so

A winter twig that looks like it is barely hanging on in the blizzard to recreate the sparkle of winter.

Related Designs

15 May 2024

Well, well, well, if it isn’t the design solution I have been procrasti-crafting on

Beautiful Bletilla striata (Chinese Ground Orchid) deserves it's own elaborate frilly skirt display.

27 June 2018

Look deep

Curl foliage to use as a natural armature for delicate buds.

6 January 2021

I tip my (flower) cap!

An enclosed design that invites the onlooker to lean in closer to explore the pretty orchid.

24 April 2024

You Just Like You

Support a small bundle of spring florals to stand upright in water with two Monstera leaves.

10 May 2023

By the cone full

A small design to display those last Spring snippets from your garden...

11 January 2023

Maybe Still Maybe

... a something to look forward to design that makes you lean in closer to see what might still be.

22 August 2018

FreestyleFreesia

Dutch floral designer Pim van den Akker, from Flower Factor invited me to participate in a FloraHolland initiative promoting the versatility of Freesias entitled #FreestyleFreesia Here is the extended version of my video.

24 August 2022

Hot air balloon

A grass bubble to frame two of the most beautiful calla lilies.

6 July 2022

Let’s play ball

Weave a spherical support to place long stemmed flowers into a bud vase.

30 March 2022

Cone of Gratitude

Sweet spring design to hold some buds

2 June 2021

Like an open book

Position foliage to create a smaller, shallow pond for your floral details to shelter in.

17 February 2021

From here in out

An all natural, zero waste design using only plant material.

26 February 2020

To top it all off

This is a great "space-keeper" design. The tulip will continue to grow into the vase height as they open... but until then the grass platform part of the design diverts your attention to fix any issues you might experience with the proportions right now.

13 January 2016

Once Upon A Time

Stack and glue a Grass Pyramid Armature

7 January 2026

And so

Add some quick winter sparkle to enjoy after all the Christmas sparkle is packed away.