My Creative Workbook

Christine de Beer - effortless floral craftsman

Staying connected

24 June 2015
click to send Christine a smile

My article and floral cell phone re-charge station design featured in

Technology has definitely joined the party

The use of mobile devices are no longer a sign that someone has disconnected from what is happening in their immediate environment, but rather a symbol of connectedness on a wider scale.

It can even help to connect with and include friends and family that could not attend the ceremony. Planning your wedding now also includes finding clever ways to Incorporate technology.

You can plan a fun photo booth for your wedding reception, a Pinterest inspiration board, use Instagram to share your special day, create a website for out-of-town guests, or have a Twitter hashtag to keep the party going.

Inevitably there will be guests whose mobile devices run out of battery life just as they eagerly want to share your wedding details online. A charging station can be a place to connect devices and a wonderful conversation starter to connect with fellow guests in person. A recharging station need not be all cables clutter and unsightly electrical cords.

You can create a special floral center piece that cleverly conceals all the hardware, keeping in mind that there are special design considerations when concealing it.

The electrical outlets and devices generate a lot of heat. Do not fully cover the station and choose flowers that will not wilt easily. Also dry material can cause a fire hazard.

While it is best to have some sort of a water source for the fresh flower material in the design, be aware of possible water spills and electrocution.

Allow for easy and convenient access to the power outlet and cables without risking the beautiful design to become damaged by over eager users. Make sure that the back of the design is finished off neatly if any one peaks behind to plug something into the electrical outlet.

Supply a few chargers with different connectors and leave a few power outlets open for those who have their own chargers.

Thank you DIY Weddings Magazine for inviting me to contribute.

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Tutorials

24 June 2015

Twig Cell phone Charging Station Centrepiece

Create an arched design to hide the electrical outlet for a cell phone charging station

22 May 2012

Bite and snap a sturdy twig

Break the sturdy twig on the scribe line.

4 January 2011

Drinking straw "test tubes"

When you need to keep a tiny stem hydrated this is just what you need.

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.

13 April 2012

Drying Mushrooms for Floral Art

I use edible mushrooms in my designs. To preserve them I press a tiny stake into the base and let them air-dry.

13 April 2012

A secret trick to conditioning new growth

Conditioning new growth and sprouts are difficult because the little sprouts have not had time to fully develop its cellular structure to survive being cut and taking up water on its own. The cells will collapse within hours from severing and the beautiful new growth will wilt looking limp in your design. But new growth looks so fantastic and it is always tempting to try to include it.

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

19 February 2020

Twig snippet pillar armature

A great do-in-advance and reusable design solution for a winter, early spring floral display.

1 January 2020

Create a centerpiece foundation with lumber and the cellophane your flowers were wrapped in

A winter themed centerpiece with a secret water source (without a container or floral foam)

1 January 2020

Make a delicate dusting of snow date for New Year’s Eve

Flexible and unique letter to add into a wither themed design ... this is also a great way to transition a design from Christmas to New Year's eve!

2 May 2018

Radiating rainbow vine armature

Design an armature that is light enough to be carried by two flower stems to create a radiating frame.

Related Designs

29 July 2020

Tail end of the story

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

19 February 2020

The Upside of being Inside

A creative design that has some height to it without blocking the view. This can easily be scaled up or down to match the environment you want to display it in.