My Creative Workbook

Christine de Beer - effortless floral craftsman

The Thing Is

Beautiful

things

don't

ask

for

attention

Quote from The Secret Life of Walter Mitty spoken by the character Sean O’Connell

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Tutorials
Skeleton leaf bowl
12 November 2014
Skeleton leaf bowl

Stiffen some skeletonize leaves into a lacy fine floral bowl
Skeleton Leaves
22 September 2012
Skeleton Leaves

Remove the pulp from leaves so that only the vain framework remain
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.
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.
Unravel Sisal string to get Sisal Fibers
28 August 2013
Unravel Sisal string to get Sisal Fibers

I purchase a huge roll of sisal string to use... sometimes as string, but mostly I unravel it for the fibers
Berry dye for sisal fibers
26 June 2012
Berry dye for sisal fibers

Soak sisal fibres in strawberry and black berry juice to stain it purple
Stain wooden skewers with natural dye
24 August 2011
Stain wooden skewers with natural dye

Using fruit, berries, flowers, leaves and grasses to naturally stain design details for floral art relies on the same techniques as using paint or any other dye.
Suspend flowers above water on two wires covered with ringlet "happy birthday streamers" made from grass
19 March 2025
Suspend flowers above water on two wires covered with ringlet "happy birthday streamers" made from grass

Create a wire platform to rest the fresh flowers on so that they are hydrated but not submerged in the water below the grass dome.
Craft a sturdy “that should be impossible” grid to support even heavier flowers
3 June 2020
Craft a sturdy “that should be impossible” grid to support even heavier flowers

Using the same flower stems, only dry, to craft a grid for the same flowers stems, only fresh
Skeleton eyeball blossoms
25 October 2017
Skeleton eyeball blossoms

Hydrangea skeleton blossoms with Eucalyptus eyeballs
Muted Side Up Autumn Leaf Pod
18 October 2017
Muted Side Up Autumn Leaf Pod

Turn the leaf so that the muted underside faces outward to create a more understated Autumn colour scheme .
Papier Mache pumpkin half
18 October 2017
Papier Mache pumpkin half

Glue thin tissue paper layers to a pumpkin to create a shape to design with
Barely There Skeleton Leaf Gift Box
23 December 2015
Barely There Skeleton Leaf Gift Box

Skeleton leaves create a light and ethereal gift box
Related Designs
Let’s
19 March 2025
Let’s

... take a moment of reflection as we celebrate 5 years! Happy 5th birthday to my book: The Effortless Floral Craftsman
As if by magic
3 June 2020
As if by magic

An impossibly delicate looking way to securely keep flowers in place over a clear container.
When the pretty eyeballs you back!
25 October 2017
When the pretty eyeballs you back!

Barely there skeleton blossoms with Eucalyptus eyes for my Halloween design... Oh! and a Willow Paddle, which probably should have been the main Tutorial... but... well...
On the inside
18 October 2017
On the inside

For a softer autumn leaf pod turn the leaves so that the bright side faces in when making the pod.
Dear Santa,
23 December 2015
Dear Santa,

Gift boxes from skeleton leaves
Favourite Flowers
Brassia
Brassia

Spider orchids flowering on a Spanish moss web