My Creative Workbook

Christine de Beer - effortless floral craftsman

Budding winter twigs with a fluffy fairy light garland

Place a few budding twigs in bud vases.jpg

Place a few budding twigs in water filled bud vases.

Have a look at the twigs. If this were in nature where would the snow accumulate?

When creating a display or installation see where you can find something similar in nature to emulate. This adds credibility to your design. If you want to read more about creating believable floral illusions turn to page 273 of my book.

For more information about my book: The Effortless Floral Craftsman

Paint the twigs with wood glue

Paint the twigs with wood glue.

Sprinkle the glue painted sections with artificial snow

Sprinkle the glue painted sections with artificial snow from above so that it settles on the twigs.

And add snow to the vases

And add snow to the vases... but...

... this week I wanted to create a blizzard effect inside the vases without damaging the vase by gluing the snow to it. I also wanted to be able to clean out the water as needed without having to replace the snow each time. My solution is so easy! See my tip this week in our email for a detailed picture and explanation. If you are not yet signed up for the email, the button is below this post.

Glue in a few shiny beads to reflect the light onto the twigs

Glue in a few shiny beads to reflect the light onto the twigs.

Cut Kalanchoe flowers from the plant

Cut Kalanchoe flowers from the plant...

And glue the flowers into the design with floral glue

And glue the flowers into the design with floral glue.

Fluff out filler or cotton wool into a long section

Fluff out filler or cotton wool into a long section...

If you want a bit more detail about fluffing out cotton wool to look like snow or want to read more about filler see the Tutorials below.

Roll the wool around a fairy light

Roll the wool around a fairy light.

Secure the wool with the tiniest drop of hot glue possible and add the next section to cover the entire string of lights

Secure the wool with the tiniest drop of hot glue possible and add the next section to cover the entire string of lights.

Make sure the layer of wool is as thin as possible so that the lights cast a soft glow

Make sure the layer of wool is as thin as possible so that the lights cast a soft glow...

When you switch the lights on

... When you switch the lights on.

Place the snow lights around the vases

Arrange the snow lights around the vases...

And conceal the battery pack with a bit of fluffed out wool so that you have easy access to it

And conceal the battery pack with a bit of fluffed out wool "hat" so that you have easy access to it.

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

Tutorials

28 December 2016 Adding snow to twigs

Glue artificial snow to twigs

27 November 2012 Fluff cotton wool for snow

Cotton balls can be unrolled and fluffed to create long garlands of "snow"

6 December 2017 Fluffy pillow filler tree skirt

The fluffy stuffing found in pillows create beautiful, water repellent tree skirts.

4 December 2013 Flower Girl Red Net Basket

Weave a twig wreath for an easy net basket

10 January 2018 Long lasting flower wand

Create a long lasting wand with Kalachoe.

7 April 2012 Foam pin holder drying rack

This is a convenient way to keep flowers perfectly upright while you wait for glue to dry.

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.

7 November 2018 Ripped Flax Mittens

Knot delicate floral mittens from flax.

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

27 September 2017 Tendril vine Wreath Pumpkin

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

23 August 2017 Twirl a ripped Phormium pumpkin pod

Rip the New Zealand flax to create a delicate fiber armature

Favourite Flowers

Kalanchoe

Christmas Kalanchoe, Kalanchöe or Kalanchoë

Related Designs

12 January 2022 All That Potential

Softly glowing winter twigs for a minimal display

23 November 2022 Ways to Merry a Christmas

A little bit of effort... that will last for weeks design to hang about the whole Festive Season.

12 April 2023 The word we are looking for is… fun

A leaning twig armature with both the first signs of Spring and the last signs of winter.

4 December 2013 Red, Redder, Reddest!

My article and flower girl net basket design featured in the Red! issue of DIY Weddings Magazine

4 May 2016 Ring-a-round

Open a vine wreath to create a spiral twig armature around a glass container

10 January 2018 Let some magic find you

My article and floral wand design featured in DIY Weddings Magazine

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.

7 November 2018 Grab your party mittens, flower buds… it’s Book Launch Day!

Celebrating my book launch by knotting floral mittens using the design Tutorial from my book and the template from the free gift template booklet.

13 December 2017 Just hear those sleigh bells jingling

Craft a bark sleigh that will last for weeks.

27 September 2017 As tendrils tend to do

Curl a wreath with tendrils to create a twig-pumpkin

23 August 2017 Almost is still not quite

Weave just a hint of the Autumn to come

2 December 2015 Stacking the odds in your favour

Cover a wire frame for a winter kissing bough.

30 April 2015 Layer

Design One from my Inspiration Video: Use the same floral ingredients, willow twigs, Lichen, Spanish Moss, Kalanchoe and Gypsophila to make three distinctly different contemporary...