My Creative Workbook

Christine de Beer - effortless floral craftsman

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.

Set the hairdryer on the highest (warmest) setting.

Because the strands are so thin they don’t need a lot of heat to simply melt away.

Do not focus the heat on any section for long enough to melt the glue connection.

Simply heat until the strands start to melt

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Tutorials
Spinning a Hot Glue Spider Web or silk for a Floral Cocoon
28 March 2011
Spinning a Hot Glue Spider Web or silk for a Floral Cocoon

How to spin (and remove) hot glue spider web or floral cocoon
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.
Wood chip and sparkle mushroom cornucopia
11 October 2023
Wood chip and sparkle mushroom cornucopia

A horn of plenty... seasonal sparkle.
Snow glow fluffy display bed for your design details
4 January 2023
Snow glow fluffy display bed for your design details

A cranberry lantern to cozy up a white winter's evening.
Cranberry snow glow lantern
4 January 2023
Cranberry snow glow lantern

Sugar frosted cranberry ball filled with fairy lights.
Take your time to craft a Bulrush Dial Armature
29 June 2022
Take your time to craft a Bulrush Dial Armature

Slowly build up a dial armature from dried bulrush
Grass snippet globe with T-connections for a (shaded) second layer
27 April 2022
Grass snippet globe with T-connections for a (shaded) second layer

Craft two snippet half moons to connect... and... then add a second layer of grass snippets here and there to shade the flowers.
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.
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.
Half and Half Copper and Twig Christmas tree
15 December 2021
Half and Half Copper and Twig Christmas tree

Cut a tree from copper and twigs for a long lasting tabletop Christmas decoration.
Happy twig glow-man proudly showing off it's copper star garland
1 December 2021
Happy twig glow-man proudly showing off it's copper star garland

Craft a twig and foam snowman with an inner glow.
Hellebores, Foxtail and copper star garland for a happy glow-man
1 December 2021
Hellebores, Foxtail and copper star garland for a happy glow-man

This is the second part of my twig glow-man Tutorial... and probably the easiest garland you can possibly make.
Two layer table top forest floor armature that Transition from Autumn to Christmas
10 November 2021
Two layer table top forest floor armature that Transition from Autumn to Christmas

Don’t you just hate short cuts?<br> ... because the longer your design elements will last the more effort it will take for you to make them look vibrant again.
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.
Upright standing besom for the modern witch on the go
20 October 2021
Upright standing besom for the modern witch on the go

Craft a wire tripod to fit into the bristles of a handcrafted broom so that it can stand freely in your display.
Dried twig collar in a double vase display for gravity sensitive flowers
11 August 2021
Dried twig collar in a double vase display for gravity sensitive flowers

Putting the focus on the flowers with an ever changing design.
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.
Contactless gift exchange wreath perfect to double as Santa’s Gift Bag for your front door
25 November 2020
Contactless gift exchange wreath perfect to double as Santa’s Gift Bag for your front door

Craft a small pouch into a half-and-half wreath so that you can leave... and receive tiny gifts and cards in true Christmas 2020 style .
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.
All dried Autumn hemisphere design that will outlast even the falling leaves outside
23 September 2020
All dried Autumn hemisphere design that will outlast even the falling leaves outside

Preserve some floral material to design with when it is but not quite Autumn outside.
a Just-Replace-The-Flowers-When-They-Wilt freestanding bark armature
6 May 2020
a Just-Replace-The-Flowers-When-They-Wilt freestanding bark armature

Part of sustainable designing is designing with the entire life-cycle of your work in mind. Designing armatures is a lasting and ever changing design solution.
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.
Eucalyptus collar for a snow-covered Christmas candle
4 December 2019
Eucalyptus collar for a snow-covered Christmas candle

Not only will your home smell wonderful while crafting this design you will also have a ethereal and long lasting design to enjoy.
How to dress a shop bought artificial wreath to go from meh to: it looks so real!
13 November 2019
How to dress a shop bought artificial wreath to go from meh to: it looks so real!

Just a few adjustments can transform a boring artificial wreath into a high end looking designer decoration.
How to fake a blizzard in floral designs
13 November 2019
How to fake a blizzard in floral designs

Part of the charm of contemporary designing is adding elements to your work that create a story.
Turn shop bought baubles into designer frosted snowballs
13 November 2019
Turn shop bought baubles into designer frosted snowballs

Brushing a shiny bauble with an almost dry brush with just a bit of paint on turns it into a beautiful almost antique snowball.
A tangle of ribbon instead of a bow for an unusual winter design
13 November 2019
A tangle of ribbon instead of a bow for an unusual winter design

I wanted my design to look more "found this way" than "designed this way" so I strategically tangled the ribbon to dangle down the design rather than tie it in a neat bow.
How to use artificial plants or faux plants to create beautiful and long lasting decorations without it looking tacky or... sad.
13 November 2019
How to use artificial plants or faux plants to create beautiful and long lasting decorations without it looking tacky or... sad.

What if you absolutely HAVE to decorate with faux plants? Here are my guiding rules when it comes to styling with permanent botanicals
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.
Glue a grapevine armature shaped like the petals of an open rose
15 May 2019
Glue a grapevine armature shaped like the petals of an open rose

Cut a wreath into sections to glue back together into a beautiful rose petal shape
Winter White Twig Screen
6 February 2019
Winter White Twig Screen

Glue twigs to screen delicate flowers for a wintry design.
Delicate Twig Hammock Armature to keep tulips upright in a shallow container
16 January 2019
Delicate Twig Hammock Armature to keep tulips upright in a shallow container

Craft a suspended armature to create a clear winter design.
Sparkling Eucalyptus Tabletop Christmas tree
19 December 2018
Sparkling Eucalyptus Tabletop Christmas tree

Craft an ethereal Christmas tree from Eucalyptus leaves, twigs and sparkling snow flake crystals.
Peg and glue a floating Halloween design
31 October 2018
Peg and glue a floating Halloween design

A hovering Halloween design that seems to float.
Long lasting bark and Kalanchoe sleigh
13 December 2017
Long lasting bark and Kalanchoe sleigh

Kalanchoe flowers last weeks without a water source and is the perfect way to dress up a bark and silver bell sleigh
Autumn Screen
29 November 2017
Autumn Screen

Craft a hanging twig and autumn leaf design
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
Bark Christmas Stocking
21 December 2016
Bark Christmas Stocking

Cover a wire frame to create a Christmas stocking armature
Add a Cotton pod Cuff to the Bark Christmas Stocking Armature
21 December 2016
Add a Cotton pod Cuff to the Bark Christmas Stocking Armature

A fluffy cuff lines the top edge of the bark Christmas Stocking
Folded leaf nest
5 October 2016
Folded leaf nest

Leaf armature made of rolled mini Monstera leaves
Twig snippet vase armature
11 May 2016
Twig snippet vase armature

Glue twig snippets to closely follow the shape of a glass vase
Free Standing Twig and Wire Heart Armature
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
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
Rolled up Autumn leaf wreath
21 October 2015
Rolled up Autumn leaf wreath

Create a textured wreath with Chrysanthemums and rolled up Autumn leaves
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
Twig Cell phone Charging Station Centrepiece
24 June 2015
Twig Cell phone Charging Station Centrepiece

Create an arched design to hide the electrical outlet for a cell phone charging station
Sticking a stick curve to create a hollowed out crescent armature
18 June 2014
Sticking a stick curve to create a hollowed out crescent armature

An easy way to create a neat curve in a very short time
Pine scale wreath
14 August 2012
Pine scale wreath

Break pine scales from the cone and glue on a wreath frame to create a continuous pine scale wreath
Stacked Twig Roundabout
24 July 2012
Stacked Twig Roundabout

This is a great way to use all those bits of twigs and sticks in your design room to make a floral armature
Related Designs
(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.
Plenty Glow to Harvest
11 October 2023
Plenty Glow to Harvest

Glow and sparkle bark armature to celebrate the first signs of Autumn
Around and about the new year
4 January 2023
Around and about the new year

A glowing cranberry ball for frosty evening decorating.
But for this… let’s not rush
29 June 2022
But for this… let’s not rush

A take your time and mindfully craft a pretty design to celebrate the summer solstice- it is officially summer here in Canada.
Shine Shade
27 April 2022
Shine Shade

Glue snippets of grass into a double layer sphere to create a sheltered floral globe.
Pouring
9 February 2022
Pouring

Place a small fishbowl vase at an angle to look like it is pouring out flowers and twigs.
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.
It’s the most… it’s the most… wonderful Patina Copper Christmas Tree of all!
15 December 2021
It’s the most… it’s the most… wonderful Patina Copper Christmas Tree of all!

This is the fourth of my Christmas 2021 series of designs. This year in the form of a mini workshop… my Christmas present to you. Paint copper to add a beautiful patina to a half and half Christmas tree.
It’s the most… it’s the most... Hap-Hapiest Patina Christmas of all!
1 December 2021
It’s the most… it’s the most... Hap-Hapiest Patina Christmas of all!

This is the second of my Christmas 2021 series of designs. This year in the form of a mini workshop… my Christmas present to you. Craft a three twig sphere snow man to proudly display a festive green garland.
… any day now
10 November 2021
… any day now

Using dried floral material is so trendy right now. But the longer lasting the design elements the more effort you have to put in to stop it from looking lifeless.
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.
Flying Lessons
20 October 2021
Flying Lessons

An easy get ahead with Halloween decoration that will last.
A bit Special... four dimensional designing
11 August 2021
A bit Special... four dimensional designing

Using that little something that is unusual about your flower to make the design stand out.
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.
Have yourself a Merry Cellulose Fibre Christmas: Santa’s gift bag wreath
25 November 2020
Have yourself a Merry Cellulose Fibre Christmas: Santa’s gift bag wreath

...ok not really that fancy- it’s made from paper pulp. A cardboard box gift bag wreath… 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.
Getting a head start on all that Fall-ing
23 September 2020
Getting a head start on all that Fall-ing

Floral styling using mostly dried material that will last the entire Autumn.
Forever… incomplete
6 May 2020
Forever… incomplete

Craft a pretty armature that can be used again and again.
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.
A Very Merry eucalyptus-collar-candle Christmas!
4 December 2019
A Very Merry eucalyptus-collar-candle Christmas!

An easy and naturally fragrant winter white candle decoration to bring nature into your house this Christmas.
It’s unreal!
13 November 2019
It’s unreal!

Design 1 of my three week pre-Christmas designing series looking at How to style with artificial plants and branches using quality faux plants and stems. This week: a wreath
… 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...?
Heard it through the grapevine?
15 May 2019
Heard it through the grapevine?

Have you heard? I have wonderful news this week. Oh! and I also have this pretty grapevine armature shaped like the petals of an open rose to show you. But... Have you heard my wonderful news???
Tread softly on winter
6 February 2019
Tread softly on winter

A delicate winter twig armature to show off the delicate beauty of these early spring coloured tulips.
Every. Single. Week.
16 January 2019
Every. Single. Week.

Stand tulips upright in a shallow container with a suspended twig armature.
Oh Florist-tree
19 December 2018
Oh Florist-tree

Craft an Eucalyptus Christmas tree
Scary stuff!
31 October 2018
Scary stuff!

My Halloween design... with some scary stuff hidden if you can read between the leaves!
Just hear those sleigh bells jingling
13 December 2017
Just hear those sleigh bells jingling

Craft a bark sleigh that will last for weeks.
Marcescent
29 November 2017
Marcescent

Glue a delicate autumn room devider
It could hold
8 February 2017
It could hold

A fragile looking heart made from twigs that can hold a lot of orchids
A Gleaming Cotton Christmas
21 December 2016
A Gleaming Cotton Christmas

Glue bark to a wire frame to create a Christmas stocking armature
I found it this way: Leaf nest design
5 October 2016
I found it this way: Leaf nest design

This was the third design I did in my "I found it this way" floral art demonstration
Pour
11 May 2016
Pour

Glue a twig vase and melt some plastic to create a tumbling design
Be My Twig-Heart
10 February 2016
Be My Twig-Heart

Glue an upright twig heart for a freestanding Valentine's display
On a Grand Scale
9 December 2015
On a Grand Scale

My article and a floral panel design featured in DIY Weddings Magazine
Watch the leaves turn
21 October 2015
Watch the leaves turn

Roll autumn leaves to create a wreath
Beautiful Things
29 July 2015
Beautiful Things

Glue a few twigs into a disk armature
The sound of a kiss
31 December 2014
The sound of a kiss

Stack and glue twigs into a table top heart
Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good night!
24 December 2014
Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good night!

A bark Christmas stocking glued to a frame
Stuck stick
18 June 2014
Stuck stick

Glue a few sticks to create a hollowed out crescent armature
It's stick season!
8 January 2014
It's stick season!

Snap and stack an glue a few twigs to create a lace like armature
Jingle Belling
18 December 2013
Jingle Belling

Glue a stacked twig round-about to use as a Christmas table top wreath
A Twist on Tradition
12 August 2012
A Twist on Tradition

August is the month for retail florists and wholesalers to start designing, ordering and preparing their product range for the Christmas and Festive Season. This is my article that I wrote for the August 2012 Christmas design Issue of Canadian Florist Magazine
A little bit of Art and Soul
24 July 2012
A little bit of Art and Soul

A twig structure with roses