My Creative Workbook

Christine de Beer - effortless floral craftsman

Just hear those sleigh bells jingling

The sounds of Christmas 2017:

Ring

-a-

Ling

-a-

Ling

-a-

Ding

-dong-

ding

as made famous by The Ronettes "Sleigh Ride" is a popular light orchestral Christmas music standard composed by Leroy Anderson

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Tutorials
Long lasting bark and Kalanchoe sleigh
13 December 2017
Long lasting bark and Kalanchoe sleigh

Kalanchoe flowers last weeks without a water source and is the perfect way to dress up a bark and silver bell sleigh
Manipulating stems: Snapping at an angle, Bending, Spiraling, Curling and Straightening
19 February 2013
Manipulating stems: Snapping at an angle, Bending, Spiraling, Curling and Straightening

Most stems, twigs and even sturdier branches can be bend into shapes. It takes practice and more than a bit of patience. The main idea is to slowly manipulate the branch without breaking it.
Tiny Twig Christmas Treasure Trunk
24 December 2012
Tiny Twig Christmas Treasure Trunk

Wire a small twig gift-box for Christmas presents
Sharp Edged Arc Armature
22 January 2013
Sharp Edged Arc Armature

A bark chip veneer is a great way to create a precise shape that looks natural but can't be found in nature.
Potted bark pod for a flowering plant
11 January 2017
Potted bark pod for a flowering plant

Cover a Styrofoam shape with bark to create a bowl for a potted design
Bark Christmas Stocking
21 December 2016
Bark Christmas Stocking

Cover a wire frame to create a Christmas stocking armature
Bark and Cotton Candy Cane
14 December 2016
Bark and Cotton Candy Cane

Cover a cardboard shape in cotton and bark to create a floral armature
Bark Bowl
17 September 2014
Bark Bowl

Glue bark onto a bowl to create a dome shape
Add a Cotton pod Cuff to the Bark Christmas Stocking Armature
21 December 2016
Add a Cotton pod Cuff to the Bark Christmas Stocking Armature

A fluffy cuff lines the top edge of the bark Christmas Stocking
Bark covered Wreath
31 March 2011
Bark covered Wreath

Keep in mind that in order to make a realistic looking fantasy design element, such as the wreath, you must focus on how this item would grow in nature.
Jingle bell stem hook
18 December 2013
Jingle bell stem hook

Cut a delicate stem to hook jingle bells on
Removing Oasis Floral Adhesive glue spills
30 August 2011
Removing Oasis Floral Adhesive glue spills

The finish of every design should be flawless. Make sure there are no bits of glue visible in your design by carefully removing all traces of spills.
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.
Bite and snap a sturdy twig
22 May 2012
Bite and snap a sturdy twig

Break the sturdy twig on the scribe line.
Bark Gift Bag
5 February 2014
Bark Gift Bag

Cut and glue bark into a gift bag
Butterfly hairclip claws to hold twigs in place while glue dries
18 January 2012
Butterfly hairclip claws to hold twigs in place while glue dries

Butterfly hair clips are the perfect little claws to help you hold tiny items in place while you wait for glue to dry
Barely There Skeleton Leaf Gift Box
23 December 2015
Barely There Skeleton Leaf Gift Box

Skeleton leaves create a light and ethereal gift box
Candle in a window pane Christmas glow
25 December 2024
Candle in a window pane Christmas glow

Stack glass containers as your mechanic and frame for a Christmas glow design.
Birch bark ice skates on a glistening kalanchoe and cypress snow pond ice skating rink
18 December 2024
Birch bark ice skates on a glistening kalanchoe and cypress snow pond ice skating rink

A winter wonderland ice pond table top design... with sparkling bark ice skates
Glistening kalanchoe and cypress snow pond ice skating rink
18 December 2024
Glistening kalanchoe and cypress snow pond ice skating rink

Fill an upturned container with a string of fairy lights to look like a glistening snow rink for ice skating.
A not yet all done… bark floral frog to catch that feeling of setting out together to collect the Christmas Tree to decorate
10 December 2024
A not yet all done… bark floral frog to catch that feeling of setting out together to collect the Christmas Tree to decorate

Create a design with a hint of incompleteness… something to still look forward to.
Long lasting floral finial decoration for Christmas
20 November 2024
Long lasting floral finial decoration for Christmas

Make ahead (oversized) bark and kalanchoe Christmas decoration... and best of all it last for weeks!
Spaced birch bark strip basket
13 March 2024
Spaced birch bark strip basket

Sturdy and easy to make... a small harvest basket ready for all the Spring flowers still to come.
A birch bark spiral wrap to cradle floral details in a wine glass
17 January 2024
A birch bark spiral wrap to cradle floral details in a wine glass

Spiral birch bark strips into two mirror images to create a wintery wrap for a bud vase.
Velvet Magnolia Leaf Christmas Tree
20 December 2023
Velvet Magnolia Leaf Christmas Tree

Cozy textured tall and luxurious table top tree design.
Starlight Garland
20 December 2023
Starlight Garland

Fold a continues strand of stars on a wire fairy light strand.
Twig and Tinsel Candy Canes
6 December 2023
Twig and Tinsel Candy Canes

Easy... but it takes a bit of resting time. Perfect for having your hot chocolate while waiting...
Sparkle Spool and Velvet Magnolia Table Top Christmas Tree
14 December 2022
Sparkle Spool and Velvet Magnolia Table Top Christmas Tree

A pretty way to warm up your living space with the luxurious velvet texture you find on the underside of Magnolia leaves.
A berry and kalanchoe sleigh… to carry your twig tree home, of course
7 December 2022
A berry and kalanchoe sleigh… to carry your twig tree home, of course

A snowy Christmas scene crafted from a handful of twigs... and a few kalanchoe flowers.
Fork In the Twig Tree
7 December 2022
Fork In the Twig Tree

Minimal and so easy to do... craft an upside down twig tree.
Snowy Pinecone with green tomato berries and Kalanchoe flowers
23 November 2022
Snowy Pinecone with green tomato berries and Kalanchoe flowers

A snowflake covered design that will hang on to well past Christmas.
Budding winter twigs with a fluffy fairy light garland
12 January 2022
Budding winter twigs with a fluffy fairy light garland

Snowfall twigs with a light glow garland for a minimal winter display
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.
Twig Christmas Star
8 December 2021
Twig Christmas Star

Make your own twig Christmas stars- the easy way.
Green Patina Copper Bells
8 December 2021
Green Patina Copper Bells

Easiest bell DIY. Add a bit more character by chemically treating the bell to have a lovely green patina.
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.
Foam free and flameless cardboard and bark yule log
18 November 2020
Foam free and flameless cardboard and bark yule log

Using all those cardboard boxes to craft a bark covered "log" design for getting a head start on Christmas decorating.
Craft a single legged wire nest to place a flameless candle into your design
18 November 2020
Craft a single legged wire nest to place a flameless candle into your design

Super easy to add into your design and even easier to switch the candle on... and off, without disturbing the design details.
Here it is: the quickest, easiest Christmas wreath… ever!
18 December 2019
Here it is: the quickest, easiest Christmas wreath… ever!

My work is usually so labour intensive... this one came as a wonderful surprise... it really is both quick and easy to craft this wreath!
Eucalyptus collar for a snow-covered Christmas candle
4 December 2019
Eucalyptus collar for a snow-covered Christmas candle

Not only will your home smell wonderful while crafting this design you will also have a ethereal and long lasting design to enjoy.
Twinkle and Pine Christmas Star
20 December 2017
Twinkle and Pine Christmas Star

Use a cardboard shape to craft a simple wire Christmas star
Secret Battery holder
20 December 2017
Secret Battery holder

Sometimes the best way to hide something in your design is right in the open
Related Designs
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
So this is Christmas, I hope you had fun…
18 December 2012
So this is Christmas, I hope you had fun…

Capilano Flower Arranging Club Designing for Christmas Workshop: Yule log
Please have snow… and presents under the tree
24 December 2012
Please have snow… and presents under the tree

Wire a Tiny Twig Treasure Trunk for small Christmas gifts
It's High Time for Tea: from craft to art, taking a delicious floral journey with veneer techniques
22 January 2013
It's High Time for Tea: from craft to art, taking a delicious floral journey with veneer techniques

This was my second two designs for my It's High Time for Tea Floral Craft and Art Demonstration at The Capilano Flower Arranging Club meeting.
As special as an almost never find
11 January 2017
As special as an almost never find

Sometimes you find such a beautiful plant that you just can't bring yourself to cut it. This design explores using the entire plant, pot and all, in a design
A Gleaming Cotton Christmas
21 December 2016
A Gleaming Cotton Christmas

Glue bark to a wire frame to create a Christmas stocking armature
A Candy(cane) Cotton Christmas
14 December 2016
A Candy(cane) Cotton Christmas

A floral cotton candy cane
All it needed
26 June 2013
All it needed

Clean, simple and restrained elegance: a single jasmine stem in a wine glass. All it needed was just a few extra blades of grass to tie it all together. And wings, of course!
Jingle Belling
18 December 2013
Jingle Belling

Glue a stacked twig round-about to use as a Christmas table top wreath
Treasured Time
5 February 2014
Treasured Time

This is my article that I wrote for the Mother's Day Design Issue of Canadian Florist Magazine
Dear Santa,
23 December 2015
Dear Santa,

Gift boxes from skeleton leaves
A Very Merry… all elf pass into Santa’s workshop… ‘tis Christmas Day!
25 December 2024
A Very Merry… all elf pass into Santa’s workshop… ‘tis Christmas Day!

A sweet through-the-window candle glowing kind of design to celebrate Christmas.
A Very Merry… All Elf gliding along pass all the way from Santa’s workshop!
18 December 2024
A Very Merry… All Elf gliding along pass all the way from Santa’s workshop!

Bark ice skates on a snow covered pond... perfect for capturing Christmas memories!
A Very Merry… all elf pass into Santa’s Workshop for a dash of Having Something To Look Forward To
11 December 2024
A Very Merry… all elf pass into Santa’s Workshop for a dash of Having Something To Look Forward To

An on-purpose-not-yet-quite-done design to remind us to enjoy the Christmas moments as they unfold.
A Very Merry… all elf pass into Santa’s workshop!
20 November 2024
A Very Merry… all elf pass into Santa’s workshop!

A light... and slight start to designing for Christmas... an oversized Finial
In All Ways
13 March 2024
In All Ways

A birch bark basket... perfect for some new Spring floral details.
Wave Wrap
17 January 2024
Wave Wrap

Roll birch bark into a double spiral to cradle some perfect flowers to admire all winter.
A Very Merry Dark chocolate Velvet Texture of Yore, Tall and Trendy Christmas Cheer
20 December 2023
A Very Merry Dark chocolate Velvet Texture of Yore, Tall and Trendy Christmas Cheer

Tall and velvety Christmas tree... with a starlight garland
A Very Merry Dark and Moody and bring it in from the Woods Trendy Christmas Cheer
6 December 2023
A Very Merry Dark and Moody and bring it in from the Woods Trendy Christmas Cheer

From now to a bit after New Year's Eve I will show you my take on the trends for Christmas 2023. This week I start with natural styling with a handcrafted twig candy cane.
Let it
21 December 2022
Let it

A happy December Solstice or the Winter Solstice lantern.
Joyf'ly
14 December 2022
Joyf'ly

Table top Christmas tree with a fairy light twig trunk.
Making spirits bright
7 December 2022
Making spirits bright

A twig sleigh... to collect your twig Christmas tree, of course!
Ways to Merry a Christmas
23 November 2022
Ways to Merry a Christmas

A little bit of effort... that will last for weeks design to hang about the whole Festive Season.
All That Potential
12 January 2022
All That Potential

Softly glowing winter twigs for a minimal display
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.
It’s the most… it’s the most... Jingle Patina Christmas of all!
8 December 2021
It’s the most… it’s the most... Jingle Patina Christmas of all!

This is the third of my Christmas 2021 series of designs. This year in the form of a mini workshop… my Christmas present to you. Craft the easiest copper bells to hang in a Christmas star wreath.
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: Yule log
18 November 2020
Have yourself a Merry Cellulose Fibre Christmas: Yule log

...ok not really that fancy- it’s made from paper pulp. A cardboard box Yule log… really. In the spirit of 2020- I am inspired by the endless stream of cardboard boxes being delivered.
A Happy, Merry, Jolly (easy as that!) Eucalyptus Christmas wreath
18 December 2019
A Happy, Merry, Jolly (easy as that!) Eucalyptus Christmas wreath

Now this is quite a discovery! And it honestly is the easiest and quickest way to go from "I still want to decorate for Christmas" to "... aaand I am done, I made our wreath"
A Very Merry eucalyptus-collar-candle Christmas!
4 December 2019
A Very Merry eucalyptus-collar-candle Christmas!

An easy and naturally fragrant winter white candle decoration to bring nature into your house this Christmas.
A Very Merry Christmas Star
20 December 2017
A Very Merry Christmas Star

A wire Christmas star with a secret plan to hide the twinkle
Favourite Flowers
Kalanchoe
Kalanchoe

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