Christine de Beer - effortless floral craftsman
Folded Bleached Baby’s Breath Wreath Armature
- 26 October 2016
- click to send Christine a smile
I used a wreath that I made for a previous design as the basis of my armature. See the Tutorial below for detailed instructions for bleaching Baby's Breath and how to glue the wreath
![Place the wreath on a flat working surface and glue in a few green twigs Place the wreath on a flat working surface and glue in a few green twigs](/images/2016/10/place-the-wreath-on-a-flat-working-surface-and-glue-in-a-few-green-twigs-l.jpg?inside=600x600)
Place the wreath on a flat working surface and glue in a few green twigs
![Fold the wreath in half Fold the wreath in half](/images/2016/10/fold-the-wreath-in-half-l.jpg?inside=600x600)
Fold the wreath in half
![Place a few drops of wood glue in the fold and secure with butterfly hairclips to keep it in place Place a few drops of wood glue in the fold and secure with butterfly hairclips to keep it in place](/images/2016/10/place-a-few-drops-of-wood-glue-in-the-fold-and-secure-with-butterfly-hairclips-to-keep-it-in-place-l.jpg?inside=600x600)
Place a few drops of wood glue in the fold and secure with butterfly hairclips to keep it in place
![Peg a few dried stems into the armature to secure the shape Peg a few dried stems into the armature to secure the shape](/images/2016/10/peg-a-few-dried-stems-into-the-armature-to-secure-the-shape-l.jpg?inside=600x600)
Peg a few dried stems into the armature to secure the shape. Remove the clips once the glue is dry
![Cross the stems to form a grid Cross the stems to form a grid](/images/2016/10/cross-the-stems-to-form-a-grid-l.jpg?inside=600x600)
Cross the stems to form a grid to both rest the armature on and to place the flower material
![Slip a vase under the armature to keep the flower material hydrated Slip a vase under the armature to keep the flower material hydrated](/images/2016/10/slip-a-vase-under-the-armature-to-keep-the-flower-material-hydrated-l.jpg?inside=600x600)
Slip a vase under the armature to keep the flower material hydrated. Fill it with water
![Place the heavier pumpkins first Place the heavier pumpkins first](/images/2016/10/place-the-heavier-pumpkins-first-l.jpg?inside=600x600)
Place the heavier pumpkins first...
![Place the orchids in the water and add twigs and autumn leaves Place the orchids in the water and add twigs and autumn leaves](/images/2016/10/place-the-orchids-in-the-water-and-add-twigs-and-autumn-leaves-p.jpg?inside=600x600)
Place the orchids in the water and add twigs and autumn leaves
![Add a few more water tubes to add orchids to the armature Add a few more water tubes to add orchids to the armature](/images/2016/10/add-a-few-more-water-tubes-to-add-orchids-to-the-armature-l.jpg?inside=600x600)
Add a few more water tubes to add orchids to the armature
See the Tutorial below for more detailed instructions on how I make my own drinking straws test tubes and hanging it with butterfly feeler wire
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Tutorials
Gypsophila dries really well and can be bleached to a stunning winter white
When you need to keep a tiny stem hydrated this is just what you need.
I don't always want to wire my test tubes into the design. I like to create a bit of movement by simply hooking the tubes to gently swing.
A perfect way to use a Lathyrus vine after all it flowered
This is a great way to use all those bits of twigs and sticks in your design room to make a floral armature
Favourite Flowers
Baby’s breath, soap wort, Gyp, Gypsophila
Related Designs
This was the fourth (and last) design I did in my "All things Autumn (by which I mean all things chocolate)" floral art demonstration
Give a loosely woven wreath legs to stand on to hover lightly around a pumpkin
Hanging pumpkins and tiny vases to create a Autumn mobile floral design.
Create a floral circlet to rest the little pumpkin on... but above the water line.
Keep you fresh plant material hydrated in water... and your dried plant material suspended to keep it from falling into the water.
Celebrate the bright colours of autumn with lilies and Chinese lanterns
As a floral artist I am inspired by the endurance of nature and my work is still re-creating the Sleeping Beauty Castle of my imagination.