My Creative Workbook

Christine de Beer - effortless floral craftsman

Tread softly on winter

That’s where the potential prettiness is hibernating.

All that budding sleeping beauty...

dormant gorgeousness in the making...

napping probable gracefulness...

undeveloped sprouting delight...

germinating shoots of winter potential.

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Tutorials
Winter White Twig Screen
6 February 2019
Winter White Twig Screen

Glue twigs to screen delicate flowers for a wintry design.
Adding snow to twigs
28 December 2016
Adding snow to twigs

Glue artificial snow to twigs
Twig sparkler
12 July 2017
Twig sparkler

Glue twigs to radiate out from a central point
Bite and snap a sturdy twig
22 May 2012
Bite and snap a sturdy twig

Break the sturdy twig on the scribe line.
Glue a round stacked twig platter
6 March 2012
Glue a round stacked twig platter

Stack and glue tiny twigs to create a round platter
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
Twig snippet vase armature
11 May 2016
Twig snippet vase armature

Glue twig snippets to closely follow the shape of a glass vase
Popsicle Stick Square Armature
8 June 2016
Popsicle Stick Square Armature

Glue Popsicle sticks to create a double layered, upright armature
Scalable twig and Phalaenopsis orchid winterscape panel
9 December 2015
Scalable twig and Phalaenopsis orchid winterscape panel

This design can easily scale up or down by using larger or smaller pieces of wood to create a larger wall panel or make a few of these panels to stack as tiles to create a more easily manageable composite
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.
Disk Twig Armature
29 July 2015
Disk Twig Armature

Glue a few wigs to follow the shape of a glass bowl to create a disk armature
Bamboo scaffold armature
28 May 2014
Bamboo scaffold armature

Latch a few bamboo pieces together to create a scaffold for the flowers to hang from
Bamboo panel
28 May 2014
Bamboo panel

Create a panel for the flowers to hang on
A Muscari cluster frog to display a precious Scilla Siberica on its own dogwood twig
2 April 2025
A Muscari cluster frog to display a precious Scilla Siberica on its own dogwood twig

Crafting a display cluster of plant material is the best way to turn the most delicate of stems into a focal point.
See through Jasmine Vine tangle support
10 April 2024
See through Jasmine Vine tangle support

This is a great way to explore using vines dried, soon to dry and fresh and hydrated to craft the thinnest possible transparent design.
Lean along armature for grape Hyacinths
12 April 2023
Lean along armature for grape Hyacinths

A last lean towards winter as the snow melts and the Spring flowers starts to make an appearance.
Hover winter twig armature with an acetate platform
8 February 2023
Hover winter twig armature with an acetate platform

Crystal clear floral design for winter styling
Spiked Tulip Fan
1 February 2023
Spiked Tulip Fan

Fanned out Tulips for a snowy winter display... that stays just so.
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.
Bundled up Rosehip Scatter twigs… for anywhere you need a small frosted winter decorating touch
28 December 2022
Bundled up Rosehip Scatter twigs… for anywhere you need a small frosted winter decorating touch

A delicate winter decoration to add sparkle to those in between Christmas and New Years Eve days.
Dendrobium orchid and grass snippet cone around a glass container
27 July 2022
Dendrobium orchid and grass snippet cone around a glass container

Craft a grass armature to suspend the orchids in deep water from around the outside of your container.
A wild "found it this way" thorn and overgrown tulip design with a ribbon tangle instead of a bow.
1 June 2022
A wild "found it this way" thorn and overgrown tulip design with a ribbon tangle instead of a bow.

Glue an overgrown thorn armature to a container to display fully opened tulips
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
Place delicate stems at an angle in a shallow fiber lined container
23 February 2022
Place delicate stems at an angle in a shallow fiber lined container

Line a shallow container with fiber to create a mat for the flowers to hydrate and stand in the exact way you want to place them.
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.
Knot a wool grid for a cozy Tulip and twig armature design
19 January 2022
Knot a wool grid for a cozy Tulip and twig armature design

Bring in some warmth with a tulip design that still hints at winter
Party popper inspired Copper curls for a New Year’s Eve double vase orchid heart centerpiece
29 December 2021
Party popper inspired Copper curls for a New Year’s Eve double vase orchid heart centerpiece

A design that is aged to ring in the new. Perfect for the a New Year's celebration.
Hovering golden wheat Ghost Ship armature
27 October 2021
Hovering golden wheat Ghost Ship armature

Using dry and fresh floral material in one design without the dry becoming soggy and the fresh drying out.
Scattered dried grass with raindrop crystals
4 August 2021
Scattered dried grass with raindrop crystals

Craft a light and airy grass halo to suspend tiny drop crystals around gorgeous roses.
A Spring Sprout Wreath Flower Frog
24 March 2021
A Spring Sprout Wreath Flower Frog

Craft an everything is still growing spring design to celebrate... what we love!
Ice skating pond inspired grid for a winter floral design
2 December 2020
Ice skating pond inspired grid for a winter floral design

Turn the tried and trusted tape over the vase grid idea sticky side out... and adding artificial snow for a Christmas in Winter design solution.
Lost and found snow mittens
2 December 2020
Lost and found snow mittens

Artificial snow covered cardboard mittens to add to a winter themed design.
On the edge grid for a decorative twig and reed armature
14 October 2020
On the edge grid for a decorative twig and reed armature

Place the floral details strategically on the edge of sturdier parts of the armature to keep the reed grid from collapsing under the weight of the floral details.
Twig snippet pillar armature
19 February 2020
Twig snippet pillar armature

A great do-in-advance and reusable design solution for a winter, early spring floral display.
Manipulate Blossoming Twigs To Hang Fluttering Woven Grass Hearts
12 February 2020
Manipulate Blossoming Twigs To Hang Fluttering Woven Grass Hearts

These peach blossom branches needed only the tiniest bit of help to frame the woven hearts to perfection.
Create a centerpiece foundation with lumber and the cellophane your flowers were wrapped in
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)
Make a delicate dusting of snow date for New Year’s Eve
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!
Cross hatch Twig Armature
2 October 2019
Cross hatch Twig Armature

Add a bit of shadow and dimension to a flat armature by using the sketch technique of cross hatching.
Twig Dome Armature
17 July 2019
Twig Dome Armature

Crafted from a hand full of twigs to give you a large design... even though you add only two stems of sweet peas.
Snow puddle armature
6 March 2019
Snow puddle armature

Connect twigs with puddles of artificial snow to craft a winter armature for your flowers.
Related Designs
Sparkler
12 July 2017
Sparkler

A radiating twig design
Round and Round
6 March 2012
Round and Round

Instead of weaving a platter try stacking the twigs from large to tiny small
It could hold
8 February 2017
It could hold

A fragile looking heart made from twigs that can hold a lot of orchids
Details
24 August 2016
Details

Glue twigs to create a vase shaped armature
When the wind whisper
8 June 2016
When the wind whisper

Glue a fantasy forest from Popsicle sticks, grape vine tendrils and willow tips
On a Grand Scale
9 December 2015
On a Grand Scale

My article and a floral panel design featured in DIY Weddings Magazine
Beautiful Things
29 July 2015
Beautiful Things

Glue a few twigs into a disk armature
Be Silent And Listen
28 May 2014
Be Silent And Listen

Lash a few bamboo pieces together to create a scaffold armature
Love that a whole bunch!
2 April 2025
Love that a whole bunch!

Loved this delicate Scilla Siberica so much I got it its own bunch of Grape Hyacinths.
(if only) I can see you
10 April 2024
(if only) I can see you

Tangle jasmine vines outside a vase for a transparent screen to display floral details on and around a sea horse vase to display floral details in.
The word we are looking for is… fun
12 April 2023
The word we are looking for is… fun

A leaning twig armature with both the first signs of Spring and the last signs of winter.
Snow… drops
8 February 2023
Snow… drops

A late winter design for minimal floral styling.
Why When
1 February 2023
Why When

An old tulip trick in a new way to keep the flowers fanned out
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.
Giving a nod
28 December 2022
Giving a nod

A scattering of winter decorating for wherever you might need it.
Wrong on the right, for a right
27 July 2022
Wrong on the right, for a right

A glued snipped to create a cooling cone for dangling orchids
Found it!
1 June 2022
Found it!

A very secure thorn branch armature to hold overgrown Tulips in place
…. Aaaaaand tick!
9 March 2022
…. Aaaaaand tick!

Ever wonder how I decide what I share with you? A fun design ticking all the boxes.
Plan Together
23 February 2022
Plan Together

Leaning Muscari flowers in a snow covered twig armature.
Pouring
9 February 2022
Pouring

Place a small fishbowl vase at an angle to look like it is pouring out flowers and twigs.
Thaw
19 January 2022
Thaw

It's Tulip Season! Perfect for that "it's still winter ... but is that something green I see...?" mood designs.
It’s the most… it’s the most... Toast-iest Patina Christmas of all!
29 December 2021
It’s the most… it’s the most... Toast-iest Patina Christmas of all!

This is the sixth of my Christmas 2021 series of designs. This year in the form of a mini workshop… my Christmas present to you. This week I will show you how to go overboard on almost everything... and still get a pretty patina on your copper design details.
Ship Shape
27 October 2021
Ship Shape

The dry wheat stems are suspended from the outside of the container so that they remain dry and the flower stems can gently rest inside to remain hydrated.
Counting Raindrops
4 August 2021
Counting Raindrops

Grass crisscross that makes you want to lean in closer to count the late summer raindrops around these gorgeous roses.
To two too!
24 March 2021
To two too!

A Spring Tulip celebration design... with a special message
Have yourself a Merry Cellulose Fibre Christmas: Lost and Found Snow Mittens
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 delivered.
Stick it out… the creative spirit version
14 October 2020
Stick it out… the creative spirit version

Soft minimal Fall armature making it easy to replace the flowers as the season progress.
The Upside of being Inside
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.
Parallel Hang Ups
12 February 2020
Parallel Hang Ups

While waiting for the blossoms to open... why not weave in a touch of Valentine's Day love?
How to freeze a wow moment
1 January 2020
How to freeze a wow moment

Create a long lasting winter inspired floral design that looks like it is frozen in time.
Cross-hatch a Shadow Bright Autumn
2 October 2019
Cross-hatch a Shadow Bright Autumn

A clever trick borrowed from art techniques to add dimension to a bright and colourful Autumn floral design.
… and... a bit more... effort… to make it special
17 July 2019
… and... a bit more... effort… to make it special

Instead of just placing a handful of twigs and two stems of sweet peas in a vase... why not...?
It almost happened today!
6 March 2019
It almost happened today!

Craft snow puddles to keep your flowers upright
Favourite Flowers
Tulipa
Tulipa

Plaited tulips in my I’ve got my head in the clouds design.