My Creative Workbook

Christine de Beer - effortless floral craftsman

Canary vine tangle in a double vase

Here is another version of the double vase trick

Here is another version of the double vase trick... this is a great way to get more use out of your design containers...

Place a flat container in a narrow container

Test all your containers by balancing them on one another, or inside one another or on top of one another... you never know what great new idea this will spark.

My round flat container fits perfectly upright in my long narrow container.

Book readers turn to page 167 where I tell you all about the double vase trick. For more information about my book: The Effortless Floral Craftsman

Add water into the long and narrow container until you also have water in the flat container

Add water into the long and narrow container until you also have water in the flat container.

Pay special attention to how deep the water line is

Pay special attention to how deep the water line is so that your vine stems will be well hydrated when you start designing.

Groom the vine stems by removing the foliage

Groom the vine stems by removing the foliage. Love the flowers from this canary vine. It is the best thing I grew this year in my balcony gardens. And it last so well in designs!

Oh yes... here is where we add personality. I will show you a bit more in our email this week. It is an easy "tweak" but it works like magic! As always, this email is also a great way for us to connect on a one on one basis. Feel free to reply to ask questions or comments. Or say hi. I would love to hear what is going on in your floral world. You can subscribe below this post to join and receive your email next Wednesday morning (Vancouver time) the moment the design is ready for you to view.

Place the shallow container flat on your design surface

Place the shallow container flat on your design surface...

And mark the waterline with tiny bits of painters tape to guide you

And mark the waterline with tiny bits of painters tape to guide you.

All the cut stem ends need to be well inside this line

All the cut stem ends need to be well inside this line for it to remain hydrated.

Place the cut stem in the blue part and then twirl it around the inside of the container

Place the cut stem in the blue part and then twirl it around the inside of the container.

Position the flowers neatly around the container

Position the flowers neatly around the container and make sure that they wont get damaged or bruised when you lift the container up again.

Remove the painter tape

Remove the painter tape.

Lift the container back into the water filled vase

Lift the container back upright into the water filled vase...

And anchor the vine tangle by hooking a few of the vines over the top of the container

And anchor the vine tangle by hooking a few of the vines over the top of the container.

Inspect the bottom of the container

Inspect the bottom of the container to make sure all the stem ends are below the water line.

Add in a few dried autumn leaves

Add in a few dried autumn leaves... for that "day after Halloween" look.

And a few sparkling dew drop crystals

And a few sparkling dew drop crystals...

See the Tutorial below for more detailed instructions on how to add the crystals without damaging your floral details.

Finish your design with a rather bored looking sisal ghost with dangling feet

and finish your design with a rather bored looking sisal ghost with dangling feet.

See the Tutorial below for detailed instructions.

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

Tutorials

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.

6 November 2012 Stalk and Husk Scarecrow

Use husks or dried leaves to make a scarecrow or doll

22 January 2014 That good old double vase trick

Create a dry layer by placing a smaller vase inside the larger vase

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.

14 January 2011 Ripping Flax

Flax can be ripped into fibres creating long and versatile strips

28 April 2021 A contained design for watching those pretty twigs get their leaves

Careful manipulation of twigs in a shallow container. With a special note on how to use new growth.

9 December 2020 A Twig and personal inner Gyp flurry melted snowman

Remember how Olaf from Frozen remained cool? With a personal flurry, of course! Two fishbowls, stacked and you are very nearly done.

30 October 2019 Bat Skeleton crafted from twigs

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

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.

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.

28 October 2020 Arachnis Gerbera-petal-legicus

The easiest Gerbara disk floret spider... ever!

28 October 2015 Besom Broom

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

2 October 2013 Spiny Twig Porcupine Armature

Glue a few twigs to display Autumn flowers and foliage on

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.

Related Designs

1 November 2023 That day after Halloween feeling

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

17 April 2024 In The Time it Takes To Listen To Learn

Ideal design for those flowers that needs a deep soak to remain hydrated.

24 July 2024 Just... the Most

Perfect for summer designing with some space for the vines to continue to grow in your design.

18 September 2024 Finding balance

Balancing dried ribbons of foliage to craft a wind twisted floral display.

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.

28 April 2021 Here comes the sun...

A minimal design celebrating the new growth on twigs

31 October 2017 Mr Twig-or-cheat

An extra Almost-a-Design for Halloween this year

12 October 2022 Ahead

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

9 December 2020 Have yourself a Merry Cellulose Fibre Christmas: Gyp flurry Snowman

...ok not really that fancy- it’s paper pulp. Cardboard boxes, really. In the spirit of 2020- I am inspired by the endless stream of cardboard boxes being delivered. My list of...

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...

26 October 2022 Arachnis Phobicus

A fun woven spider for Halloween decorating

28 October 2015 On Pumpkin Coloured Days

Create a besom broom to sweep up those Autumn leaves

28 October 2020 Magic Spell Number 614: How to make absolutely any task you need to do fun

A hint of a wreath table top design for pre-Halloween decorating.

16 October 2012 Bright, brighter… brightest!

Celebrate the bright colours of autumn with lilies and Chinese lanterns

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

7 October 2011 Thanksgiving Harvest

Thanksgiving pumpkin with Chinese lanterns and spiral blossoms

20 October 2021 Flying Lessons

An easy get ahead with Halloween decoration that will last.

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.