My Creative Workbook

Christine de Beer - effortless floral craftsman

Create a centerpiece foundation with lumber and the cellophane your flowers were wrapped in

Wrap a piece of lumber in cellophane

Wrap a piece of lumber in cellophane. This is a fantastic way to re-use the cellophane you bought your flowers in

... talking about buying flowers, this week I have a special flower buying tip for newsletter subscribers.

Scrunch up the wrap at the top side of the lumber

Scrunch up the wrap at the top side of the lumber.

Secure the cellophane with clear tape

Secure the cellophane with clear tape.

So that the underside is flat and the top is puffy

So that the underside (resting on your table) is flat and the top is puffy covering the lumber and creating the look of cracked ice.

Open pockets in the cellophane

Open pockets in the cellophane...

To keep your heavier design details in place

To keep your heavier design details in place. I used glass Christmas trees but it also works with candles or any design detail you want to add.

Glue dried twigs to the wrap

Glue dried twigs to the wrap.

Add artificial snow to the twigs as you build up the foundation

Add artificial snow to the twigs as you build up the foundation.

See the Tutorial below in the Tutorial section for more detailed instructions on how to add snow.

Add another twig

Add another twig down the length of the foundation.

And another twig

And another twig, each time adding a dusting of snow to the twigs.

Paint around the edge of the lumber with wood glue

Paint around the edge of the lumber with wood glue...

And sprinkle with artificial snow to conceal the lumber

And sprinkle with artificial snow to conceal the lumber.

Set the foundation aside for the glue to dry

Set the foundation aside for the glue to dry.

Glue in drinking straw water tubes

Glue in drinking straw water tubes to keep the orchids hydrated.

See the tutorial below for detailed instructions on how I make the tubes.

Add in dried seeded eucalyptus

Add in dried seeded eucalyptus...

A few dew drop crystals

... a few dew drop crystals...

And a few more around the edge of the design

... and a few more around the edge of the design...

Fold a ribbon in half and add that to the design

Fold a ribbon in half and add that to the design... this is a great way to bring in the exact colour of an event without having to go to extreme measures like adding dye to your flowers.

Add a few tinsel curls

Add a few tinsel curls... it's New Year's Eve after all!

And finish the design with a design detail that makes it unique

And finish the design with a design detail that makes it unique... in this case the most delicate dusting of a snow date. 20 from this side and 20 from that side, just for fun.

See the Tutorial below for detailed instructions on how to make the delicate snow date.

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

Tutorials

1 January 2020 Make a delicate dusting of snow date for New Year’s Eve

Flexible and unique letter to add into a wither themed design ... this is also a great way to transition a design from Christmas to New Year's eve!

28 December 2016 Adding snow to twigs

Glue artificial snow to twigs

22 May 2012 Bite and snap a sturdy twig

Break the sturdy twig on the scribe line.

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.

4 December 2012 Twig Lanterns

Wire short twigs around wire rings to create rustic flameless tea-light lanterns

24 June 2015 Twig Cell phone Charging Station Centrepiece

Create an arched design to hide the electrical outlet for a cell phone charging station

25 August 2011 Placing orchids in test tubes

Cut the Phalaenopsis orchid with a bit of green stem attached. This will make them last longer.

6 February 2019 Winter White Twig Screen

Glue twigs to screen delicate flowers for a wintry design.

6 March 2019 Snow puddle armature

Connect twigs with puddles of artificial snow to craft a winter armature for your flowers.

2 May 2018 Radiating rainbow vine armature

Design an armature that is light enough to be carried by two flower stems to create a radiating frame.

30 August 2017 Standing a water tube at an angle in lumber

Create a minimal design by placing a single flower on a platform

15 March 2017 Wedding welcome and direction sign

Hang a twig and wood mobile at your weeding as a direction board

Favourite Flowers

Cymbidium

Cymbidium, Boat Orchid

Related Designs

1 January 2020 How to freeze a wow moment

Create a long lasting winter inspired floral design that looks like it is frozen in time.

29 July 2020 Tail end of the story

Craft a bark platform to design on in a foxtail fern frond.

2 December 2020 Have yourself a Merry Cellulose Fibre Christmas: Lost and Found Snow Mittens

...ok not really that fancy- it’s made from paper pulp. A cardboard box snow mittens… really. In the spirit of 2020- I am inspired by the endless stream of cardboard boxes being...

25 August 2021 Doing a loop tangle twist

oh yes, a light an airy design showing off those very first autumn leaves.

4 December 2012 'Tis the Season

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

24 June 2015 Staying connected

My article and a floral cell phone re-charge station design featured in DIY Weddings Magazine

6 February 2019 Tread softly on winter

A delicate winter twig armature to show off the delicate beauty of these early spring coloured tulips.

6 March 2019 It almost happened today!

Craft snow puddles to keep your flowers upright

16 January 2019 Every. Single. Week.

Stand tulips upright in a shallow container with a suspended twig armature.

2 May 2018 Over the rainbow

Craft a radiating design that suspends from the orchid stems

30 August 2017 If

Place a water tube at an angle in lumber so that the Zantedeschia float just above the base to show off the delicate grass snippets scattered up the stem

3 January 2018 Happy Coincidence!

Some designs really do just make themselves. I received this tiny vase for Christmas from Marius (thank you, Marius!) and while cleaning out my design room I found this little...

24 October 2018 It all stacks up

Quick and easy: Stack autumn leaves onto a wire for a... tiny table top Christmas tree.