My Creative Workbook

Christine de Beer - effortless floral craftsman

The sound of a kiss

In Thai it's chup,

in German, schmatz,

in Greek, mats-muts,

in Malayalam,umma,

in Japanese, chu.

muah,

smack,

xxx,

and mwah... Happy New Year to you!!!

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Tutorials
Stacked Table-Top Twig Heart
31 December 2014
Stacked Table-Top Twig Heart

Stack and glue moss covered twigs into a heart shape
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.
Syringe with tube
3 January 2011
Syringe with tube

Easy way to fill test tubes and easiest way to remove water from a vase
Cut spiked flower stems and foliage into short sections
16 August 2011
Cut spiked flower stems and foliage into short sections

Orchids grow in long flower spikes. It is great to use the entire stem but sometimes you need shorter section. There is a trick to cutting the stems without leaving a visible blunt stem.
Placing orchids in test tubes
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.
Have your heart set on it armature for Valentines Day
12 February 2025
Have your heart set on it armature for Valentines Day

A prepare ahead armature design that relies on the strength of a heart shape.
Craft a birch bark bud vase topper for a openhearted Valentine's display
14 February 2024
Craft a birch bark bud vase topper for a openhearted Valentine's display

Craft a keepsake heart on top of a vase to display special flowers.
Blossom Twig Heart Frame… with a twist in the middle
15 February 2023
Blossom Twig Heart Frame… with a twist in the middle

Curve and tie a blossoming twig into a heart... that can suspend a heavy flower head.
Snowy twig band armature for a ever changing winter display
18 January 2023
Snowy twig band armature for a ever changing winter display

A well made snow covered twig band armature will last all winter so that you can display even the most delicate winter treasures.
Tilt container with a spilling twigs armature
9 February 2022
Tilt container with a spilling twigs armature

Perfect design for a warmer than usual winter design that hints at thawing.
Float a swirling vine nest in a small vase to help keep your flowers in place
10 February 2021
Float a swirling vine nest in a small vase to help keep your flowers in place

Turn a flower vase into a bud vase by floating a smaller container inside the larger one.
A Sprouting Spring Twig Heart
8 February 2017
A Sprouting Spring Twig Heart

Carefully glue a twig armature to display the mini-miniature Darling orchids
Related Designs
A tendril Valentine connection
12 February 2025
A tendril Valentine connection

A delicate... but robust armature framing a heart space.
Spoiler Alert: It’s You
14 February 2024
Spoiler Alert: It’s You

A birch bark heart for Valentine's Day
If you frame it that way…
15 February 2023
If you frame it that way…

A blossom frame to display the prettiest anthurium of the whole bunch!
Getting the Band Back Together Again
18 January 2023
Getting the Band Back Together Again

Glue a band of snow dusted twigs to create a delicate armature for winter treasures.
Pouring
9 February 2022
Pouring

Place a small fishbowl vase at an angle to look like it is pouring out flowers and twigs.
My valenVine
10 February 2021
My valenVine

An... everything is moving... design. The tulips are growing and the small vine filled vase is bopping around in the water. And if you lean them against each other just right it grows and bobs in place!
It could hold
8 February 2017
It could hold

A fragile looking heart made from twigs that can hold a lot of orchids
Favourite Flowers
Oncidium
Oncidium

Cherry twig cocoon with Oncidium orchids and dandelion seeds