My Creative Workbook

Christine de Beer - effortless floral craftsman

Stuck stick

Stuck up

Stuck down

Stick around

Slung over

Glued under

Finish and through

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Tutorials
Sticking a stick curve to create a hollowed out crescent armature
18 June 2014
Sticking a stick curve to create a hollowed out crescent armature

An easy way to create a neat curve in a very short time
Drinking straw "test tubes"
4 January 2011
Drinking straw "test tubes"

When you need to keep a tiny stem hydrated this is just what you need.
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.
Bring out the pretty spots on the lip of this tiny orchid with a dotted twig stump armature
22 January 2025
Bring out the pretty spots on the lip of this tiny orchid with a dotted twig stump armature

Create a delicate floating and natural display without using floral foam with a twig frog armature.
New growth Spring frog
26 April 2023
New growth Spring frog

Willow cutting left in water will root and sprout... perfect for a all natural flower frog to admire as is or to keep long stem flowers upright.
Lily grid for cradling the first spring sprigs in a small vase
9 March 2022
Lily grid for cradling the first spring sprigs in a small vase

Place a fully opened lily over the opening of your vase to help support more delicate stems
Racked up dried Twig Snippets to display a few flower buds
18 August 2021
Racked up dried Twig Snippets to display a few flower buds

Combining dried and fresh floral details for a easy breezy summer design.
a Just-Replace-The-Flowers-When-They-Wilt freestanding bark armature
6 May 2020
a Just-Replace-The-Flowers-When-They-Wilt freestanding bark armature

Part of sustainable designing is designing with the entire life-cycle of your work in mind. Designing armatures is a lasting and ever changing design solution.
Pour glue over a stick Bundle to craft a Poke Out Spring stick Armature
5 February 2020
Pour glue over a stick Bundle to craft a Poke Out Spring stick Armature

Fake an early Spring by crafting a long lasting stick bundle that has a blossoming branch of succulent flowers.
Stem line-up
21 February 2018
Stem line-up

Line up stems to create a base for the heavy Hanging Heliconia stems
Sticks stuck in a ground covered foundation
26 November 2014
Sticks stuck in a ground covered foundation

Glue potting soil to polystyrene to create a natural looking armature
Related Designs
Spot on!
22 January 2025
Spot on!

Connect the dots with round willow cuts and the spotted lip of the tiniest mini miniature Phalaenopsis orchids
Oh So Me
26 April 2023
Oh So Me

Snip and grow willow to create a Spring new growth support for your tall flower stems.
…. Aaaaaand tick!
9 March 2022
…. Aaaaaand tick!

Ever wonder how I decide what I share with you? A fun design ticking all the boxes.
At Play
18 August 2021
At Play

A quick-to-do-but-looks-impressive way to display a beautiful cut garden vine for an effortless summer design.
Forever… incomplete
6 May 2020
Forever… incomplete

Craft a pretty armature that can be used again and again.
What it’s all about
5 February 2020
What it’s all about

A bundle of twigs armature to create a pretend Spring design for a snowy morning.
Impossible things
21 February 2018
Impossible things

A cut stem flower frog for the heavy Hanging Heliconia flowers
A Point of Support
30 March 2016
A Point of Support

My contemporary floral art design demonstrated at the Canada Blooms flower show in Toronto.