My Creative Workbook

Christine de Beer - effortless floral craftsman

Booo-tunias

Remove most of the foliage from the petunia stems

Remove most of the foliage from the petunia stems...

So that the design details that you do add really stand out

... so that the design details that you do add really stand out.

To add to the Halloween theme of the design

Choose twisted and gnarled stems to add to the Halloween theme of the design.

Insert the stems into the design to drape elegantly over the armature

Insert the stems into the design to drape elegantly over the armature

You can find detailed instructions on how to craft the twig armature in the Tutorials below.

This week in our email I talk to you about drying plant material to add personality and character to it. I send out an email every Wednesday morning (Vancouver time) with a design detail that I want to highlight even before you view the design so that you can notice how I use the technique and get even more out the weekly inspiration. You can sign up for the email below this post.

I am using salvia flower buds for the eyeballs

I am using salvia flower buds for the red eyeballs of my boootunias...

Groom the flower buds so that you only have the two closed buds on a long stem

Groom the flower buds so that you only have the two closed buds on a long stem...

Book readers: If you are using flower buds that need a secret water source turn to page 303. It works so well! You can even try this technique when creating body flowers if you want to make sure they do not wilt even on a hot day.
For more information about my book: The Effortless Floral Craftsman

Slip the buds into the petunia

Slip the buds into the petunia.

Roll black mondo grass to create the tongue

I roll black Mondo grass twice to craft the tongue. First from the cut end... roll the grass loosely between your fingers.

Release the curled grass to create an arch

Release the curled grass to create more of an arch than a curl at the cut end so that when placed in the flower it will arch out instead of just being flat...

Then roll the tip of the grass tightly

Then roll the tip of the grass tightly... and roll it back and forth between your fingers to set the curl...

So that the tongue has a scroll like curl in it

So that the tongue has a scroll like curl in it.

Add a small amount of floral glue to the cut end

Add a small amount of floral glue to the cut end...

And glue the tongue into the petunia

And glue the tongue into the petunia flower.

And position the flowers so that they each have a personality and something to say about the whole Halloween situation

And position the flowers so that they each have a personality and something to say about the whole Halloween situation. You will notice that even the slightest tilt in the flower head can give so much character to each flower! This one looks rather exasperated to say the least.

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

Tutorials

30 October 2024 Booo-tunias levitating in a scary twig armature

Craft a stable dried autumn armature to keep petunia stems suspended in water at the top of a container.

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.

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.

3 July 2012 Twig mushroom

Stack and wire a twig mushroom armature

30 October 2019 Bat Skeleton crafted from twigs

Eerie! Because you use what is there already in the twigs this skeleton looks rather... realistic!

3 October 2018 Inside Pod Designing

Snip open a Physalis pod to create a cavity for delicate floral details.

2 October 2013 Spiny Twig Porcupine Armature

Glue a few twigs to display Autumn flowers and foliage on

26 October 2016 Folded Bleached Baby’s Breath Wreath Armature

Glued Baby's Breath Wreath, folded in half to create a moon shaped armature

28 October 2015 Besom Broom

The word ‘Besom’ derives from the old English ‘besma’ meaning ‘bundle of twigs’.

27 September 2017 Tendril vine Wreath Pumpkin

Reshape a vine wreath into smaller wreaths to combine as a pumpkin

29 September 2011 Twig and skeleton leaf Stick Insect

Made from dried cherry twigs and a skeleton leaf.

26 October 2022 The horror of flower dye and a spider that sits beside her

Weave a spider from lily grass... and reposition it every so often for a creative Halloween twist.

14 June 2023 Fold a crab from grass

A fun coastal touch for your design... a woven crab.

12 October 2022 Corn-o’leaf mummy-o'lantern

Wrap and tie a fishbowl vase with corn foliage to craft a lantern for autumn... almost... Halloween.

6 November 2012 Stalk and Husk Scarecrow

Use husks or dried leaves to make a scarecrow or doll

1 February 2012 Love Bug

Heart shaped rosery vine and pine love bug

17 July 2012 Guacamole Green Coiled Grass Chameleon

My Chameleon is mono-botanical. Made from coiled grass

6 February 2013 Fold a Foliage Fish

Fold and weave a fish from two blades of grass

24 September 2014 Folding a Frog

Fold and weave a frog from grass

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.

28 October 2020 Arachnis Gerbera-petal-legicus

The easiest Gerbara disk floret spider... ever!

1 November 2023 Bored looking Sisal ghost with dangling bell feet

Quick and so easy... I added the bells so that the ghost looks kinda bored now that Halloween is all over.

Related Designs

30 October 2024 Those B00OOOoootunias though!

Add something dark and suspicious to your petunias for a fun Halloween display

1 November 2023 That day after Halloween feeling

Time to cut down vines... and enjoy them a bit longer in a Halloween display.

20 October 2021 Flying Lessons

An easy get ahead with Halloween decoration that will last.

3 July 2012 Twig-a-tude

Stack and wire twigs to create a twig mushroom with attitude for summer

30 October 2019 There once was a bat called Tequila, a Halloween story

An all plant zero waste, levitating, twig (with just a splatter of autumn leaves, a breath of spiderweb and float of roots) Halloween decoration with an eerie bat skeleton made...

3 October 2018 But what’s inside?

This week we are looking at the contents pages of my book... but more specifically at the sweet little pod design on the content page of my book.

2 October 2013 Prickly

Build a twig porcupine armature for fall flowers

26 October 2016 Harvest Moon

Fold a fine twig wreath in half to create a moon shaped armature

28 October 2015 On Pumpkin Coloured Days

Create a besom broom to sweep up those Autumn leaves

27 September 2017 As tendrils tend to do

Curl a wreath with tendrils to create a twig-pumpkin

29 September 2011 Pick-Up Sticks

A twig and stick design with sweet dumpling pumpkins and rosary vine (Ceropegia woodii). I also made a cherry twig and skeleton leaf Stick Insect

26 October 2022 Arachnis Phobicus

A fun woven spider for Halloween decorating

14 June 2023 Because I am beautiful!

It deserves a bowl all of it's own... right? I am (of course!) talking about these spectacular little sweet peas called King Tut. Not much else is needed. But add a cute little...

12 October 2022 Ahead

Oh my... a corn leaf mummy head for autumn... looking ahead to Halloween styling.

6 November 2012 Mr. Stalk, the Seriously Terrifying Scarecrow, on his Day Off

An easy going design of ripped grass and calla lilies. But look a bit closer. See if you can find Mr. Stalk relaxing somewhere between the blades of grass.

4 October 2017 Whipped up in the autumn breeze

Give a loosely woven wreath legs to stand on to hover lightly around a pumpkin