My Creative Workbook

Christine de Beer - effortless floral craftsman

A design solution for showcasing the tiniest flowers... in a big way

Flowers naturally float in water. They just don’t always naturally float on water. For that they sometimes need a bit of help.

Fill the display container with water to float your floral details

Fill the display container with water to float your floral details.

You can either fill it all the way to the top and let the flowers show above the water line or fill to below the top to frame the flowers within the container.

Gently place the largest floral details to create a foundation

Gently place the largest floral details to create a foundation.

This week in our email I tell you about four dimension designing. And my tip is about making sure your design develops in a way that it remains beautiful. If you are not yet signed up, I send out a notification email every Wednesday morning the moment the design is ready for us to view... and discuss. I include a tip every week for you to read before viewing the design so that you can get most out of the weekly inspiration. This is also a convenient way for us to connect. Simply reply to the email if you have a comment or question... or say hi. I would love to hear from you. The sign up is below this post.

The large nasturtium foliage creates a raft for you to style the more delicate floral details on

The large nasturtium foliage creates a raft for you to style the more delicate floral details on.

Place the delicate flowers so that it is suspended by the floating foliage

Place the delicate flowers so that it is suspended by the floating foliage. Make sure the cut stems are below the water to keep the flowers hydrated.

Drip a few water drops on the nasturtium leaves

Drip a few water drops on the nasturtium leaves... simply dip your finger in the water and let it drip... pretty, right?

Add in a few vines

Add in a few vines to drape over the floating foliage and flowers.

And make sure the vines create some heigh

A few this way and a few draping that way... still low over the floating design but just enough to add some height and vibrancy. Make sure to place the vines so that they look healthy and growing... pointing up.

Book readers turn to page 74 for a special tip for adding fresh growing plant material to your design.
For more information about my book: The Effortless Floral Craftsman
but to get you started you can also find a Tutorial for adding new growth below this post.

I finished my design with a few dew drop crystals

.. and as always I finished my design with a few dew drop crystals... for sparkle.

Every week I add a new design with related tutorials. Be sure to subscribe to receive an email notification with design inspiration.

Tutorials

11 April 2018 Pick up any bits of plant material floating in the water

Use a wet brush to lift any tiny bits of plant material floating on and in the water to keep your container clear.

4 September 2019 Stack banana leaf rice pockets to float as rosettes

Fold and peg banana leaves into pockets so that they float freely on water. This is inspired by a traditional banana leaf craft used to cook rice in.

8 July 2015 Using a pin to place tiny dew drop crystals

It's sometimes difficult to place a tiny crystal or bead exactly where you want it.

3 January 2012 Bubble raft to float flowers

Flowers naturally float in water. They just don’t always naturally float on water. For that they sometimes need a bit of help.

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...

30 June 2021 Sparkling dew drop puddle to keep flowers hydrated even during a heatwave

Done in no time design... and it is rather refreshing to make.

22 September 2012 Stir-stick Sunburst

Glue a radiating armature from stir-sticks.

15 July 2015 Floating transparent ripples to support delicate floral material

Cut circles out of transparencies to make ripples in the water

7 July 2021 Floral Raft in a Bottle

Float flowers in a bottle by giving each flower their own little bubble wrap raft-skirt.

20 May 2020 A floral float… that floats

If you know my work you have probably seen me do this: I float flowers using a tiny bubble wrap skirt... this time I am floating an entire design on it's own bubble wrap raft.

Related Designs

22 May 2024 Let me float my Wednesday idea by you for a bit

Floating the most delicate cut flowers

4 September 2019 Gently down the stream

A mindful summer craft using banana leaves to create a floating arrangement.

30 June 2021 Into a Puddle!

Heat proof floral design for summer.

22 September 2012 Turning of the leaves

An Autumn Equinox design that captures the moment before the spectacular colour burst of autumn floats around again

15 July 2015 So Fine

Use transparencies to create floating devices for the flower material

11 July 2018 Stay-a-Float

Snip florets from a hydrangea mop head to float on water

24 September 2014 Leapfrog

Fold and weave a frog from grass

7 July 2021 Do and Don'ts

One of my trusty tried and tested techniques. When the going gets hot... float your flowers!

4 March 2020 All Aboard!

Ooooh! Am I excited to show you this design. It is an ordinary fishbowl vase... balanced on it's side.

5 December 2018 Personal Preference

The third design I did for my book launch demonstration looking at aspects that influences my effortless style of designing.