My Creative Workbook

Christine de Beer - effortless floral craftsman

Not just a pretty face!

Special note: this design smells amazing. A-ma-zing!

When the pretty you add does double duty

It adds the sparkle and adds the structure

Holds in place and holds the interest

It jingles and it jungles

It’s all bendy so that the twigs can be held in place

It’s frosted on the outside so that it can remain frosted when inside

Pretty and functional

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Tutorials
Use wired faux elements to secure your design
20 November 2019
Use wired faux elements to secure your design

When you use wired branches they double as... well... wires to secure your other design details. This is such a quick and easy design solution!
Cracked ice, freshly fallen snow and fire... in a bud vase
20 November 2019
Cracked ice, freshly fallen snow and fire... in a bud vase

It looks like these candles are thoroughly snowed and iced in place but they actually rest just below the edge of a bud vase so that they can be taken out to switch the battery on and off when needed.
Eucalyptus rose
30 December 2015
Eucalyptus rose

Release the soothing effect of the aroma and vapors from the Eucalyptus leaves my slightly crushing it while making roses
Adding snow to twigs
28 December 2016
Adding snow to twigs

Glue artificial snow to twigs
Cellophane wrap cracked ice
3 January 2012
Cellophane wrap cracked ice

Cellophane and plastic wrap in a clear vase, filled with water, creates a cracked ice effect
Paper flowers
28 February 2011
Paper flowers

You can use any type of paper to make flowers. I use tissue paper, Crêpe paper, cardboard, newsprint and coffee filters (new and used) to make sweet peas, carnations, paper roses, blossoms, lilies, poppies and orchids.
Zig-Zag fold plastic for a flower stem support
23 January 2019
Zig-Zag fold plastic for a flower stem support

Zig Zag fold clear plastic for a flower stem support that looks like ice
Autumn leaf Roses
6 September 2011
Autumn leaf Roses

I used to make baskets full of these when I was a little girl. We had a big Acasia thorn tree and I used to spear my “roses” onto the tree pretending I was the fairy responsible for bringing blossoms.
Large wax snowflakes
4 December 2013
Large wax snowflakes

Artificial snow can be very "chemical" and flowers deteriorate quickly when exposed to it. It also dissolves in water. I use candle wax as "snow"
Suspend design elements around a poinsettia forest floor display
30 December 2020
Suspend design elements around a poinsettia forest floor display

A low design that is still light and airy using a lot of convenient prepare ahead of time design elements.
How to make a just-picked-it-a-moment-ago snow covered icicle and mistletoe hanging branch bunch
27 November 2019
How to make a just-picked-it-a-moment-ago snow covered icicle and mistletoe hanging branch bunch

Gather a few branches to hang as a magical winter wonderland Christmas decoration.
Fake real stems-ends for real fake branches
27 November 2019
Fake real stems-ends for real fake branches

Add a real stem to shorter artificial branches to incorporate them into a design.
Perk up faux plant material and flowers that are not wired
27 November 2019
Perk up faux plant material and flowers that are not wired

A sprig of wired faux plant material is easy to bend back into a more natural position. Plastic plant material without a wire in their stems need a bit of help to get back into shape.
Related Designs
It’s unreal!
13 November 2019
It’s unreal!

Design 1 of my three week pre-Christmas designing series looking at How to style with artificial plants and branches using quality faux plants and stems. This week: a wreath
Going Cold Twinkle Turkey
3 January 2012
Going Cold Twinkle Turkey

Is it better to go Cold Twinkle Turkey and embrace the minimalist living room or rather ease into it?
Do they have cold feet?
23 January 2019
Do they have cold feet?

Keep flower stems upright with a folded cellophane plastic support that looks like cracked ice.
Achoo! Season
30 December 2015
Achoo! Season

Fold and roll a rose from Eucalyptus leaves
Gumusservi
1 March 2017
Gumusservi

To celebrate the 6th year anniversary of My Creative Workbook I am looking at the most popular Tutorial I have done to date:
It's stick season!
8 January 2014
It's stick season!

Snap and stack an glue a few twigs to create a lace like armature
Scary stuff!
31 October 2018
Scary stuff!

My Halloween design... with some scary stuff hidden if you can read between the leaves!
All is Calm, All is Bright
30 December 2020
All is Calm, All is Bright

An easy to do ahead of time winter wonderland themed design for the calm days just after Christmas but before New Years Eve.
The struggle is real!
27 November 2019
The struggle is real!

Design 3 looking at How to style with artificial plants and branches using quality faux plants and stems. This week: mistletoe! And also .. give your faux a reason for being there.