My Creative Workbook

Christine de Beer - effortless floral craftsman

Fill a trumpet shaped flower cup with... more flowers!

Choose a flower with a deep trumpet shape

Choose a flower with a deep trumpet shape like a freshly opened lily.

Place the lily to stand facing up in a small bud vase

Place the lily to stand facing up in a small bud vase.

Design note: I did two unusual things with my placement. Firstly I cut the stem flat, rather than at an angle as we normally would. This is so that the flower stands firmly and I can add extra weight to the flower head without it toppling over. And secondly I cut the stem shorter than I normally would to fit the proportion of the vase. This is so that it looks "heavier" and draws your eye into the cup of the flower.

Place tiny water tubes into the trumpet of the flower

Place tiny water tubes into the trumpet of the flower. Mostly it will nestle into the petals but you can add a tiny drop of floral glue if you prefer.

See the Tutorial below for more detailed instructions on how I make my own water tubes from drinking straws.

Fill the tubes with water

Fill the tubes with water.

See the Tutorial below for more detailed instructions on how I make this syringe.

Place the flowers in the tubes so that it remains hydrated

Place the flowers in the tubes so that it remains hydrated.

Place the cyclamen foliage in the tubes

Place the cyclamen foliage in the tubes.

See the Tutorial below for a good way to harvest Cyclamen leaves and flowers.

Add a something to give the design the height it needs.

Add a something to give the design the height it needs. In this design I removed the petals from two lilies and added only the pistils.

Lastly add a few whimsical tendrils

Lastly add a few whimsical tendrils and dew drop crystals.

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

Tutorials

22 May 2012 Harvesting cyclamen flowers and foliage

Cyclamen stems are so close together that it is easy to damage the plant when cutting stems.

4 January 2011 Drinking straw "test tubes"

When you need to keep a tiny stem hydrated this is just what you need.

2 January 2011 Lilies

How to keep Lilies in bud for longer. Removing the pollen. Stringing a Lily Garland.

3 January 2011 Syringe with tube

Easy way to fill test tubes and easiest way to remove water from a vase

31 January 2018 Rock Rest for a heavy Protea Flower Head

Create a contrasting base to lift the heavy flower-head to design in

5 November 2014 Acorn inspired Autumn leaf armature

Dry fall leaves to create a ball shape structure

23 May 2018 Trailing Ceropegia woodii vines from a Heliconia flower

Set the rosary vines into the natural cavity of the flower head.

26 July 2011 Wire Tendrils

Curl the wire at irregular intervals to create a natural wire tendril similar to that of a passion fruit plant

Favourite Flowers

Lilium

Lily

Cyclamen

Cyclamen, English sowbread

Related Designs

8 May 2019 It takes more than one person to invent a trumpet!

Filling a trumpet flower cup... with more flowers!

9 September 2020 Daffodillily

Weave around the stamens of a lily to create a daffodil like inside.

21 October 2020 When it gets chilly

Use the heart of a sunflower as a platform to place your autumn floral details on.

13 January 2021 It's in there

Complete the picture by drawing a lily flower with delicate vines.

11 September 2024 More! More!! More!!!

Adding more to an autumn design... but leaving everything out that you don't need.

19 September 2018 Before I show you my book- let me show you my book

… and why we call this the special craftsmanship edition

31 January 2018 Rock, don't Roll

Balance the heavy Protea flower head to lean against a rock.

5 November 2014 All In One

dry autumn leaves into an acorn shape

23 May 2018 In Summer!

A contemporary cascade of rosary vine and dried petals.

26 September 2018 Cover Story

The design for the cover of my book, the effortless floral craftsman, crafted from Fiddlehead Fern and Red Lipstick Hanging Heliconia.

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