My Creative Workbook

Christine de Beer - effortless floral craftsman

Butterfly hairclip claws to hold twigs in place while glue dries

Butterfly hair clips are the perfect little claws to help you hold tiny items in place while you wait for glue to dry

Clip out the inside pins from small butterfly hair clips to create small claws to help you hold tiny objects in place while you wait for glue to dry

I also claw the objects just the way I need them and then glue.

Slip twigs or wire in between the claws to be held upright

I use these bright glittered pink claws so that they really stand out and I wont accidentally forget one in the design. I also have a few brown, green and sap green claws for designs where I want to leave the claws as support. These butterfly claws are also great to support creeping plants and orchid flower spikes

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Tutorials
Have your heart set on it armature for Valentines Day
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.
Spaced birch bark strip basket
13 March 2024
Spaced birch bark strip basket

Sturdy and easy to make... a small harvest basket ready for all the Spring flowers still to come.
Wood chip and sparkle mushroom cornucopia
11 October 2023
Wood chip and sparkle mushroom cornucopia

A horn of plenty... seasonal sparkle.
Counterbalance elegantly leaning Calla lilies with dressed up Dried Autumn Details
21 September 2022
Counterbalance elegantly leaning Calla lilies with dressed up Dried Autumn Details

Using those much treasured dried autumn details to bridge the gap between the bright green of summer and the brightness that is yet to come.
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.
Copper Pepper Berry Wreath
3 November 2021
Copper Pepper Berry Wreath

Wire pepper berries to a wreath
Using the new growth on blossom branches as a base for a woodland design
21 April 2021
Using the new growth on blossom branches as a base for a woodland design

A fun way to use your blossom branches in a design once all the petals fall.
Twig and twinkle Christmas Tree
11 December 2019
Twig and twinkle Christmas Tree

A light as snow twig and Christmas light armature
Swirly Twirly Silver Dollar Eucalyptus baubles
11 December 2019
Swirly Twirly Silver Dollar Eucalyptus baubles

Inspired by seedpods... Glue Silver Dollar Eucalyptus leaves into 3 dimensional Christmas decorations.
Not quite a wreath, not quite a basket armature
16 October 2019
Not quite a wreath, not quite a basket armature

Easy to weave design that can hold your prettiest autumn design treasures.
Beaded wire Leaf
25 September 2019
Beaded wire Leaf

This week I show you the Tutorial for the wire leaf shown in my book on page 14 ... this time in copper.
Spin a tiny glue bead around a thin stem to secure it at an angle in a design
25 September 2019
Spin a tiny glue bead around a thin stem to secure it at an angle in a design

This is a trick for attaching fine details at exactly the right angle.
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
Willow and Rose heart armature
13 February 2019
Willow and Rose heart armature

Weave willow stems into a heart shaped armature.
Twig Snowflake
25 December 2018
Twig Snowflake

Glue twigs into a snowflake twig armature for Christmas trimmings.
Crafting a stripped bark and sisal armature
28 November 2018
Crafting a stripped bark and sisal armature

Make a free standing armature with three water tubes for fresh flowers.
Wire two Equisetum shoots into a heart
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
Bend Wired Equisetum into a Hollow Wreath
7 February 2018
Bend Wired Equisetum into a Hollow Wreath

Craft a wreath with a hollow cavity inside to use as an armature for your flowers
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
Barely there twig tabletop Christmas tree
6 December 2017
Barely there twig tabletop Christmas tree

Glue curved twig snippets to craft a delicate winter white Christmas tree
Fluffy pillow filler tree skirt
6 December 2017
Fluffy pillow filler tree skirt

The fluffy stuffing found in pillows create beautiful, water repellent tree skirts.
Acorn fork
22 November 2017
Acorn fork

Wire and glue a few acorns into the fork of a twig to create an Autumn armature
Popsicle Stick Square Armature
8 June 2016
Popsicle Stick Square Armature

Glue Popsicle sticks to create a double layered, upright armature
Musical staff line armature
25 June 2014
Musical staff line armature

Drill holes into sticks to create a suspended armature
See-through sisal basket
9 May 2014
See-through sisal basket

Glue a very light flower girl basket from sisal
Midolino heart armature standing on Hana-Kubari legs
15 January 2014
Midolino heart armature standing on Hana-Kubari legs

Create a re-usable cane armature for a romantic pave design
Whisk basket
9 October 2013
Whisk basket

Bend an glue a whisk inspired basket to display autumn leaves in.
Weave a heart shaped basket
4 September 2013
Weave a heart shaped basket

An easy to assemble open weave basket
Barely there Mad Hatter's Top Hat
28 August 2013
Barely there Mad Hatter's Top Hat

Glue sisal fibers to create a floral top hat
Spiral rattan and skeleton leaf bee
12 June 2013
Spiral rattan and skeleton leaf bee

Spiral curl and knot a rattan bee
Tiny Rattan Basket
29 May 2013
Tiny Rattan Basket

Weave a thin and delicate rattan basket
Spiral Curl Midelino Cane Strips
22 May 2013
Spiral Curl Midelino Cane Strips

Create large and luxurious spiral curls
Weave a Midelino Cane Tubular Muff Bouquet Armature
22 May 2013
Weave a Midelino Cane Tubular Muff Bouquet Armature

Weave the cane coils into a decorative tube
Floral Ice Cream Cones
14 January 2013
Floral Ice Cream Cones

Weave a few cones and add orchids to make the floral ice cream cones
Wire hooks for baubles
18 December 2012
Wire hooks for baubles

Bend thin decorative wire to create hooks to hang baubles or design details
Stalk and Husk Scarecrow
6 November 2012
Stalk and Husk Scarecrow

Use husks or dried leaves to make a scarecrow or doll
Midelino Harvest Moon Basket
30 October 2012
Midelino Harvest Moon Basket

This is a great flat and open basket to take outside when “harvesting” your fall leaves, pods and flowers. Who knows, you might even find a ghost pumpkin or three…
Bark covered heart
10 July 2012
Bark covered heart

Cover cardboard with bark to create a heart shaped log
Twig mushroom
3 July 2012
Twig mushroom

Stack and wire a twig mushroom armature
Mossy Twig handbag
6 January 2012
Mossy Twig handbag

Radiate short twigs in a circle to make a moss and twig handbag
Related Designs
A tendril Valentine connection
12 February 2025
A tendril Valentine connection

A delicate... but robust armature framing a heart space.
In All Ways
13 March 2024
In All Ways

A birch bark basket... perfect for some new Spring floral details.
Plenty Glow to Harvest
11 October 2023
Plenty Glow to Harvest

Glow and sparkle bark armature to celebrate the first signs of Autumn
Balanced Attitude
21 September 2022
Balanced Attitude

Getting the balance just so... so that you lean into the first sights of Autumn.
… 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.
Coppepeppepepper wreath
3 November 2021
Coppepeppepepper wreath

Wire dried pepper berries to a wreath with super fancy flat wire (okay... it's the humble wire from a copper pot scrubber but it still looks fancy!)
All A-flutter
21 April 2021
All A-flutter

Adding a few fluttering petals to a design.
How to lay a little bit low
25 March 2020
How to lay a little bit low

A flat-lay to celebrate finally finding the perfect way to dry passion fruit flowers... and my book's first birthday but mostly the drying of passion fruit flowers thing.
A Very Merry eucalyptus bauble Christmas!
11 December 2019
A Very Merry eucalyptus bauble Christmas!

For this year's Christmas tree I wired and glued a wild and wintry twig armature... but... these little eucalyptus baubles are just the cutest!
Center Peace
16 October 2019
Center Peace

A visual breather from all the bright and festive designs to come when designing for Autumn.
It’s one and a half to two times... but to the side
25 September 2019
It’s one and a half to two times... but to the side

Soft minimal... this is exactly the kind of design I place in our apartment. Use a few fall treasures picked up on a walk and add a copper leaf to up the effort and love you add into your designs.
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???
Pick Love
13 February 2019
Pick Love

Craft a willow heart to display 12 red roses to celebrate Valentine's Day.
A Very Merry Season’s Greetings Holly Jolly Happy Most Wonderful Christmas Time to you!
25 December 2018
A Very Merry Season’s Greetings Holly Jolly Happy Most Wonderful Christmas Time to you!

A Merry Christmas Twig Snowflake
Two Are
14 February 2018
Two Are

Equisetum Valentine's hearts
Up around the bend
7 February 2018
Up around the bend

Bend Equisetum into curves to wire into an open wreath shape
Up around the bend
7 February 2018
Up around the bend

Bend Equisetum into curves to wire into an open wreath shape
Just hear those sleigh bells jingling
13 December 2017
Just hear those sleigh bells jingling

Craft a bark sleigh that will last for weeks.
While I sing of beauty's treasure
6 December 2017
While I sing of beauty's treasure

Glue the most delicate twig table top Christmas tree
How do squirrels Cache a tree?
22 November 2017
How do squirrels Cache a tree?

Hoard a few acorns in the fork of a twig to show off a single oncidium orchid.
Harvest Moon
26 October 2016
Harvest Moon

Fold a fine twig wreath in half to create a moon shaped armature
There are Octobers
19 October 2016
There are Octobers

Autumn wreath
When the wind whisper
8 June 2016
When the wind whisper

Glue a fantasy forest from Popsicle sticks, grape vine tendrils and willow tips
So white
25 November 2015
So white

A dried Baby's breath and fresh orchid wreath
Love Spell
11 February 2015
Love Spell

Weave willow to create a heart shaped wand design
Late Autumn Early Christmas.
26 November 2014
Late Autumn Early Christmas.

Glue a ground foundation for a late autumn design
All In One
5 November 2014
All In One

dry autumn leaves into an acorn shape
What's done is done
3 September 2014
What's done is done

My article and lace fine wreath design featured in the Autumn issue of DIY Weddings Magazine
The day came
29 May 2013
The day came

Weave a tiny rattan basket
So this is Christmas, I hope you had fun…
18 December 2012
So this is Christmas, I hope you had fun…

Capilano Flower Arranging Club Designing for Christmas Workshop: Yule log
'Tis the Season
4 December 2012
'Tis the Season

My article looking at contrasts and 6 winter lantern designs featured in the DIY Wedding Magazine
Sticktoitness
10 July 2012
Sticktoitness

Glue a heart shaped design made from bark and wood.
Twig-a-tude
3 July 2012
Twig-a-tude

Stack and wire twigs to create a twig mushroom with attitude for summer
Design-time saving tip sheet for a demanding Mother’s Day
28 February 2012
Design-time saving tip sheet for a demanding Mother’s Day

Time Saving Tips and Article in the Canadian Florist Magazine
Winter’s Green
18 January 2012
Winter’s Green

This contorted hazel twig reminded me of an ancient and wise bonsai tree. It definitely has a story of its own to tell. I wanted to capture that in my design. All it needed was to be aged with a beard of lichen and moss. And I couldn’t resist adding a lighter touch of fragrant paper white snowflakes to swing gently on its bare winter branches in the chilly breeze.
Forest Filigree Christmas Wreath
7 December 2011
Forest Filigree Christmas Wreath

I wanted my Hazel twig wreath to look like forest filigree: mysteriously overgrown, tangled with age and dappled with moss and lichen. The wreath is also dressed with fresh and dried flower bud clusters and operculum of Eucalyptus.