My Creative Workbook

Christine de Beer - effortless floral craftsman

A Sprouting Spring Twig Heart

8 February 2017
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Draw a heart shape on paper

Match a few sprouting spring twigs to follow the shape of the heart

Carefully glue in twigs to offer support

As a rule of thumb I glue each twig that will be a connection at three places this creates a really strong armature

Follow the top curves and glue the twigs in place

For more detailed instructions on how to manipulate twigs see the Tutorial below

Glue the twig heart on to a sprouting twig...

... and place it at an angle in a container filled with water

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Tutorials

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 its own. The cells will collapse within hours from severing and the beautiful new growth will wilt looking limp in your design. But new growth looks so fantastic and it is always tempting to try to include it.

19 February 2013

Manipulating stems: Snapping at an angle, Bending, Spiraling, Curling and Straightening

Most stems, twigs and even sturdier branches can be bend into shapes. It takes practice and more than a bit of patience. The main idea is to slowly manipulate the branch without breaking it.

22 May 2012

Bite and snap a sturdy twig

Break the sturdy twig on the scribe line.

10 February 2016

Free Standing Twig and Wire Heart Armature

Bend wires and fill in the gabs with Stillingia twigs to make a delicate heart armature

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.

1 February 2012

Love Bug

Heart shaped rosery vine and pine love bug

31 December 2014

Stacked Table-Top Twig Heart

Stack and glue moss covered twigs into a heart shape

10 September 2012

Braid a Celtic heart knot

Braid or knot a traditional Celtic heart with foliage

16 November 2011

Making the waist corsage using the BoutStix Floral Magnets

The BoutStix Floral Magnets “stick” is the backbone of the design, strengthening the narrow heart shape and adding support and balance.

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.

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.

8 March 2023

Blossom craving solutions: Forcing and Coaxing and crafting flowering branches

Early spring floral styling with some magic

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.

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.

9 February 2022

Tilt container with a spilling twigs armature

Perfect design for a warmer than usual winter design that hints at thawing.

4 August 2021

Scattered dried grass with raindrop crystals

Craft a light and airy grass halo to suspend tiny drop crystals around gorgeous roses.

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.

6 March 2019

Snow puddle armature

Connect twigs with puddles of artificial snow to craft a winter armature for your flowers.

13 February 2019

Willow and Rose heart armature

Weave willow stems into a heart shaped armature.

6 February 2019

Winter White Twig Screen

Glue twigs to screen delicate flowers for a wintry design.

25 December 2018

Twig Snowflake

Glue twigs into a snowflake twig armature for Christmas trimmings.

14 February 2018

Wire two Equisetum shoots into a heart

A wire in the hollow cavity inside a shoot of equisetum makes it easy to manipulate into a heart

10 January 2018

Long lasting flower wand

Create a long lasting wand with Kalachoe.

11 October 2017

Shaping Thanks with wire that has a bit of give

Shape the letters out of wire and then decorate with autumn design elements.

Related Designs

13 April 2012

Spring Has Sprung!

The sprouts are sprouting and the bees are being and the birds are birding. Tempting as it is new growth is hard to condition. Hard, but not impossible

7 February 2012

Grow Love

Love grows!

10 February 2016

Be My Twig-Heart

Glue an upright twig heart for a freestanding Valentine's display

11 February 2015

Love Spell

Weave willow to create a heart shaped wand design

31 December 2014

The sound of a kiss

Stack and glue twigs into a table top heart

16 November 2011

Winter formal

The elongated heart shape Echeveria waist corsage is meant to be worn low around the hip as a trailing ribbon clasp.

12 February 2025

A tendril Valentine connection

A delicate... but robust armature framing a heart space.

14 February 2024

Spoiler Alert: It’s You

A birch bark heart for Valentine's Day

8 March 2023

And now we wait

A bit of flower magic to get a few early blossoms to enjoy inside.

15 February 2023

If you frame it that way…

A blossom frame to display the prettiest anthurium of the whole bunch!

18 January 2023

Getting the Band Back Together Again

Glue a band of snow dusted twigs to create a delicate armature for winter treasures.

9 February 2022

Pouring

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

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.

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!