My Creative Workbook

Christine de Beer - effortless floral craftsman

Ringing in A Very Merry Traditional Christmas… Tradition

Ringing in A Very Merry Traditional Christmas… Tradition floral design by Christine de Beer

“It’s time

A hint of a sparkling wreath for a Christmas bud vase

to

Sparkling crystals in a diy Christmas floral design

celebrate

Swarovski crystal bell in a flower arrangement

As we ring in

How to add a Swarovski crystal bell into a Christmas flower arrangement

the Season

Tutorial for designing with Swarovski crystals in a Christmas flower arrangement

… at last”

Lyrics from Olaf’s search for the very best Christmas traditions in “Olaf’s Frozen Adventure” (2017)

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

Tutorials

17 November 2021 Wreath-Rim a Vase with sparkling foxtail and twigs

Add a collar around a vase to hint at a wreath for an early Christmas floral design.

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.

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...

29 July 2020 Foxtail in a bud vase forest floor

Create a sturdy platform from bark to design an entire forest floor on a single foxtail fern frond

16 December 2020 Cardboard base for a roasting-by-an-open-fire fishbowl vase snow globe

… ideal for fresh floral displays because it has a hidden water source that can be refilled and the candle can be switched on and off without disturbing the design.

2 January 2019 Eucalyptus tinsel garland

Wire seeded Eucalyptus into a long tinsel garland.

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

6 March 2019 Snow puddle armature

Connect twigs with puddles of artificial snow to craft a winter armature for your flowers.

2 December 2020 Lost and found snow mittens

Artificial snow covered cardboard mittens to add to a winter themed design.

9 May 2018 Incise waxy Gardenia foliage to decorate the edge of a container

Cut a small wedge out of a stack of waxy leaves to keep the flower and twig in place.

26 August 2020 Create a tighter fit with pebbles so that you can wedge a twig securely into a vase

It all started with my twig being just too small to wedge into the glass vase tight enough to keep my orchid stem in place...

25 August 2011 Placing orchids in test tubes

Cut the Phalaenopsis orchid with a bit of green stem attached. This will make them last longer.

24 April 2019 Balance a cake stand lid on it’s side to create a leaning design

Suspend a flower for an unusual but minimalist design over a leaning container lid.

30 August 2017 Standing a water tube at an angle in lumber

Create a minimal design by placing a single flower on a platform

Favourite Flowers

Cymbidium

Cymbidium, Boat Orchid

Related Designs

9 December 2015 On a Grand Scale

My article and a floral panel design featured in DIY Weddings Magazine

23 May 2018 In Summer!

A contemporary cascade of rosary vine and dried petals.

29 July 2020 Tail end of the story

Craft a bark platform to design on in a foxtail fern frond.

16 December 2020 Have yourself a Merry Cellulose Fibre Christmas: Snow Globe

...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. This week...

2 January 2019 One New Year’s Wish

Wire a sparkling tinsel garland to dress up a single, elegant Arum lily.

2 December 2015 Stacking the odds in your favour

Cover a wire frame for a winter kissing bough.

6 March 2019 It almost happened today!

Craft snow puddles to keep your flowers upright

2 December 2020 Have yourself a Merry Cellulose Fibre Christmas: Lost and Found Snow Mittens

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

3 January 2018 Happy Coincidence!

Some designs really do just make themselves. I received this tiny vase for Christmas from Marius (thank you, Marius!) and while cleaning out my design room I found this little...

9 May 2018 What is the meaning of this?

Create a minimal design with a few leaves to keep is all upright.

16 September 2020 The circle of making new things:

A wreath armature design for early Autumn... this takes the split armature Tutorial I showed you last month a little bit further.

26 August 2020 It starts with WHY

Add design elements that serves a purpose for a minimal summer inspired floral design.

24 April 2019 Put aside

Urgh… my glass cake stand broke leaving me with a still beautiful, but now mismatched and extremely inspirational lid...

30 August 2017 If

Place a water tube at an angle in lumber so that the Zantedeschia float just above the base to show off the delicate grass snippets scattered up the stem