My Creative Workbook

Christine de Beer - effortless floral craftsman

Edge of a platter Christmas quarter wreath garland

Cut a woven wreath

Cut a woven wreath...

If you are unsure of how to weave a wreath see the Tutorial below.

Cut the wreath into whatever size you need

... into whatever size you need. I made mine a just about a quarter wreath curve.

Use floral glue to secure a branch of evergreen to the twig wreath

Use floral glue to secure a branch of evergreen to the twig wreath...

Glue another branch into the other side also pointing outwards

Glue another branch of lemon cypress into the other side also pointing outwards

Trim a small huckleberry tip branch

Trim a small huckleberry tip branch...

And glue in a stem to follow the curve of the cypress

And glue in a stem to follow the curve of the cypress...

On both sides of the garland

On both sides of the garland.

Weave the stems through the cypress so that it makes a natural looking unit

Weave the stems through the cypress so that it makes a natural looking unit...

Combining the bright green cypress and the red tips on the huckleberry twigs

Combining the bright green cypress and the red tips on the huckleberry twigs...

While leaving the back to look natural and finished without any wires

While leaving the back to look natural and finished.

Design note: this is why I chose to glue the design elements. I do not want any wires to show nor to have to go back to conceal anything. Using a wreath base creates a rustic and all natural back that requires no extra effort.

Snip a few kalanchoe flowers from a plant

Snip a few kalanchoe flowers from a plant...

I am using both a florist kalanchoe and a christmas kalanchoe for my design

I am using both a florist kalanchoe and a Christmas kalanchoe for my design.

Kalanchoe flowers are great to use in designs where you are not adding a water source. Cut the succulent flowers directly from the plant to design with. They might look delicate but will last for so long you will start to think it is Christmas magic!

Glue the flowers directly into the design using floral glue

Glue the flowers directly into the design using floral glue.

Think of the design as a corsage and build it up slowly

Think of the design as a boutonniere and build it up slowly...

Adding flowers all the way around the garland

Adding flowers all the way around the garland.

Add in flowers between the cypress so that the design looks natural

Look at the design from all angles and add flowers low on the wreath and even between the cypress so that the design looks full and blossoming.

It can get a bit sticky to get the tiny, tiny flowers into position so deep between the cypress branches. I show you how I place mine without getting any glue onto the branches in our email of this week. I send out an email each Wednesday morning (Vancouver time) the moment the design is ready for you to view, with a "good to know" tip for you to take notice of something unique about each design... in greater detail so that you can get more out of each weeks inspiration design. The sign up is below this post.

But keep the wreath underside clear

Keep the wreath underside clear so that the design can easily be repositioned and styled around the edge of the platter.

Come to think of it this design will also be great at a place setting to curve around a plate. Or as a chair decoration, even a clear (Perspex) chair where you can see the wreath at the back. Just goes to show you... it is definitely worth it to pay special attention and invest the energy into perfecting the craftsmanship of a design.

Place the flowers on a cake stand.

For my design though, I am placing the flowers around the edge of a cake stand. The curve of the cut wreath allows you to design a small garland filled with flowers that takes up almost no space on the platter or cake stand leaving space around it without it touching any food you might want to display.

But make sure the flowers are clearly for display only. They are not edible. Or simply use the rest of the design space for a sparkling winter display.
Book readers, if you want to rather use edible flowers you will need a secret water source to keep them hydrated. Turn to page 303 for a Tutorial for the tiniest possible water source that will not spill even when you move the design. I usually add this to body flowers and it works wonderfully. For more information about my book: The Effortless Floral Craftsman

I filled a glass Christmas tree with some fairy lights

For my display, I filled a glass Christmas tree with some fairy lights

Taped the rest of the lights down with clear tape

Taped the rest of the lights down so that it is level on my cake stand with clear tape...

Taped the switch to the underside of the stand

Taped the on/off switch to the underside of the cake stand...

And concealed the lights with some artificial snow

And concealed the lights with some artificial snow.

Add in silver tinsel

I also added a few strands of tinsel to the design to tie in the silver wire of the Christmas lights...

But I curl my tinsel for a Festive touch

But I curl my tinsel for a Festive touch.

See the Tutorial below for detailed instructions on how to curl tinsel.

Draping the tinsel over the design

Draping the tinsel over the design...

Tiny dew drop crystals for the lightbulbs every here and there

And I use tiny dew drop crystals for the lightbulbs every here and there... but mostly to keep the tinsel exactly where I want it draped over the design.

Simply stick the tinsel in place with the sticky back of the crystal

Simply stick the tinsel in place with the sticky back of the crystal.

See the Tutorial below for more detailed instructions on how to place the dew drop crystals on delicate plant material.

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

Tutorials

24 December 2018 Curl tinsel

Gently pull the tinsel over a blade to curl

1 November 2011 Weaving a twig wreath

For my design I wanted the wreath to look wind blown so I added a few loosely woven twigs into the weave. I also wanted to emphasize the autumn colours so I added a twirling...

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 November 2024 Long lasting floral finial decoration for Christmas

Make ahead (oversized) bark and kalanchoe Christmas decoration... and best of all it last for weeks!

8 November 2023 First Frost Sparkle Wire and Twinkle Vine Wreath

An impossibly delicate wreath shape that will last... and last... all Festive Season long.

25 November 2015 Winter White Gyp Wreath

A dried wreath in winter white

20 December 2017 Twinkle and Pine Christmas Star

Use a cardboard shape to craft a simple wire Christmas star

25 December 2018 Twig Snowflake

Glue twigs into a snowflake twig armature for Christmas trimmings.

6 December 2017 Barely there twig tabletop Christmas tree

Glue curved twig snippets to craft a delicate winter white Christmas tree

29 November 2011 Messy wire lace

I call this “lace” because I use pins to guide the wire sections together- almost like you do when making lace.

12 December 2012 Piled Pine Needle Tabletop Wreath

Use wood glue to make a light as air table top wreath from pine needles

23 November 2022 Snowy Pinecone with green tomato berries and Kalanchoe flowers

A snowflake covered design that will hang on to well past Christmas.

2 December 2015 Silver bell Christmas Greenery kissing ball

Use delicate sprigs of cypress or juniper, fir, pine, eucalyptus, ivy or a combination of them all to create a winter themed kissing bough

27 December 2017 Pine NeedleTube

Glue pine needles to a up-cycled disk to create a winter scene

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.

10 January 2018 Long lasting flower wand

Create a long lasting wand with Kalachoe.

Related Designs

27 November 2024 A Very Merry… all elf pass into Santa’s workshop, special department of tinkering together those Soooo Good, for Goodness Sake moments

Long lasting and easy to pick up and place garland to decorate a Festive Platter of… anything, really!

4 December 2024 A Very Merry… all elf pass into Santa’s workshop, department for checking it twice

A frozen in a moment bark scroll with silver leaf letters that was about to reveal Santa's Nice list!

20 November 2024 A Very Merry… all elf pass into Santa’s workshop!

A light... and slight start to designing for Christmas... an oversized Finial

8 November 2023 A warm up

An almost Christmas... Christmas wreath featured in the winter edition of Flora Magazine.

25 November 2015 So white

A dried Baby's breath and fresh orchid wreath

20 December 2017 A Very Merry Christmas Star

A wire Christmas star with a secret plan to hide the twinkle

6 December 2017 While I sing of beauty's treasure

Glue the most delicate twig table top Christmas tree

29 November 2011 Jack Frost’s Christmas stocking

I used wire, fishing line (mono-filament) and Phalaenopsis orchid roots to make a messy lace Christmas stocking and dressed the stocking with frost green Cymbidium orchids

12 December 2012 It's a swell time…

An exceptional moment frozen in time… 12:12:12 12/12/12

7 September 2016 You are all invited!

My article and Willow Crown design featured in DIY Weddings Magazine

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.

2 December 2015 Stacking the odds in your favour

Cover a wire frame for a winter kissing bough.

27 December 2017 Can it be?

Craft a pine tube to display a soft and snow filled winter scene

18 December 2012 So this is Christmas, I hope you had fun…

Capilano Flower Arranging Club Designing for Christmas Workshop: Yule log

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.

10 January 2018 Let some magic find you

My article and floral wand design featured in DIY Weddings Magazine