My Creative Workbook

Christine de Beer - effortless floral craftsman

A floral float… that floats

Ah yes… this is one of my tried and tested ideas. This time I am going big… and staying home. If you know my work you have probably seen me do this: I float flowers using a tiny bubble wrap skirt. It’s actually one of my most popular Tutorials. You will find the original single flower version below in the Tutorial section.

The effortless floral craftsman by Christine de Beer

Flowers naturally float in water. They just don’t always naturally float on water. For that they sometimes need a bit of help. Water slowly seeps in between the petals to pool and weigh down the bloom. Book readers: you will also find the core Tutorial with an all new design example on page: 157 and Newsletter subscribers: this week my tip for you is about burnout... and how I use my core techniques to help me get unstuck. Make sure to sign up below the post so that you don't miss out.

Fill a large display container with water

Fill a large display container with water.

Float the bubble wrap shape in the water

Float the bubble wrap shape in the water.

Use a wooden skewer to make a hole in the bubble wrap

Use a wooden skewer to make a hole in the bubble wrap just big enough to fit a flower stem.

Thread the flower stem through the bubble wrap

Thread the flower stem through the bubble wrap so that the stem end is below the water and the flower head above the bubble wrap...

Make another hole for the next stem

Make another hole for the next stem...

Build up the design by poking holes and adding the stems

Build up the design by poking holes and adding the stems.

Finish the design with a few longer stems resting over the design

Finish the design with a few longer stems resting over the design...

And a few dew drop crystals to add sparkle

And a few dew drop crystals to add sparkle.

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

Tutorials

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.

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.

27 June 2018 Foliage tube armature for long stemmed freesia buds

Curl and pin a few leaves into a tube to create an armature for those "left over" freesiabuds.

23 January 2019 Zig-Zag fold plastic for a flower stem support

Zig Zag fold clear plastic for a flower stem support that looks like ice

Favourite Flowers

Freesia

Freesia, freesias

Related Designs

20 May 2020 Whatever floats your boat

This is one of my best known and still my go-to core techniques for floating flowers.

12 August 2020 A lesson in letting be

Deceptively simple. A design that relies on you working with not against what is already there.

7 July 2021 Do and Don'ts

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

3 August 2022 It's a Heatwave!

Deep water design for extremely warm weather.

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

Floating the most delicate cut flowers

3 January 2012 Going Cold Twinkle Turkey

Is it better to go Cold Twinkle Turkey and embrace the minimalist living room or rather ease into it?

19 March 2014 One of one of everyone

Float flowers using a bubble wrap raft

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.

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.

24 September 2014 Leapfrog

Fold and weave a frog from grass

4 September 2019 Gently down the stream

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

22 August 2018 Freestyle Freesia design video for Flower Factor

Freestyle Freesia design video for Flower Factor

27 June 2018 Look deep

Curl foliage to use as a natural armature for delicate buds.

4 September 2013 Been there, Seen that

My article and woven heart basket design featured in the third anniversary issue of DIY Weddings Magazine

23 January 2019 Do they have cold feet?

Keep flower stems upright with a folded cellophane plastic support that looks like cracked ice.