Christine de Beer - effortless floral craftsman
Glistening kalanchoe and cypress snow pond ice skating rink
- 18 December 2024
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Measure out a low glass container to fit on a cake stand...
Fill the low glass container with fairy lights...
Secure the lights to the container with clear tape so that it remains in position when you turn the container over.
Place the container upside down on the cake stand.
And use the clear tape to secure the battery pack on the bottom of the cake stand so that it is easy for you to switch the lights on and off.
Start the design by placing a few huckleberry branches to frame the clear container.
Simply build up whatever looks right for your design. I placed two branches on one side.
Paint the stems with wood glue every here and there...
And add a sprinkling of artificial snow to the twigs.
Oh boy... this is a tricky process to get the shape of those booties of the bark skates just right! This week in our email I share my tip for keeping the bark moist while curving it into the exact shape you want. I send out an email every Wednesday morning (Vancouver time) the moment the design is ready for you to view with a design specific tip for you so that you can have the "inside scoop" even before viewing the design. The sign up is below this post if you wan to join in and follow along.
While the glue sets on the booties of the skates I am using them as a placeholder so that I can design the pond.
For detailed instructions on how to craft the bark ice skates see the Tutorial below.
The idea is to build up a winter wonderland of snow and small floral designs using kalanchoe flowers and lemon cypress. Use floral glue to secure a small snippet of lemon cypress to the low container...
Design note: Yes, I am attaching the floral details right to the glass. If you would prefer not to glue the details to the glass see the Tutorial below for another way to create your ice skating pond.
Also... To clean the vase after use: simply soak the glass container in warm water. The wood glue will dissolve and you can separate the compostable plant material from the re-usable snow floating in the water. Pick out the plant material and scoop up the snow with a sieve. You can even re-use the crystals.
Start to build up a small cypress design and paint around it with wood glue...
Sprinkle artificial snow on the glue.
Glue in kalanchoe flowers snipped from a plant...
And slowly add in more flowers and cypress to create small designs all over the container.
Somewhat concealing the wires with snow and glue puddles and leaving the lights open to sparkle through the glass.
And designing tiny floral arrangements around the container every here and there.
Design note: succulent flowers like kalanchoe will look fresh and beautiful for weeks without any water source making them ideal for this kind of design. If you would prefer to use orchids or any other type of flower you would need a water source.
Book readers turn to page 303 for a fun tweak to my drinking straw water tube to make sure the water stays in place even if you want to move the design. For more information about my book: The Effortless Floral Craftsman
But to get you started I also have the basic Tutorial of how to make a tiny drinking straw water tube linked below.
Add in a few huckleberry tips to create a wilder look of an outside skating pond to match the rustic look of the skates...
Hang a few silver baubles into the design...
Finish crafting the bark skates and add them to balance elegantly on the pond.
And finish off the design with a few dew drop crystals.
See the Tutorial below for how to add the crystals without disturbing the delicate floral details and snow.
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Tutorials
It's sometimes difficult to place a tiny crystal or bead exactly where you want it.
Make ahead (oversized) bark and kalanchoe Christmas decoration... and best of all it last for weeks!
This is a convenient way to keep flowers perfectly upright while you wait for glue to dry.
Create a design with a hint of incompleteness… something to still look forward to.
Artificial snow covered cardboard mittens to add to a winter themed design.
Turn the tried and trusted tape over the vase grid idea sticky side out... and adding artificial snow for a Christmas in Winter design solution.
Soak and roll a sheet of birch bark into a scroll for a woodland inspired Santa's Nice list
Connect twigs with puddles of artificial snow to craft a winter armature for your flowers.
Wire a small twig gift-box for Christmas presents
How to make a floral display design that will leave space for even more decorations.
Kalanchoe flowers last weeks without a water source and is the perfect way to dress up a bark and silver bell sleigh
Craft an ethereal Christmas tree from Eucalyptus leaves, twigs and sparkling snow flake crystals.
Cover Styrofoam with leaf snippets to create a gift box design
Skeleton leaves create a light and ethereal gift box
A great all natural gift decorating alternative
Cover a cardboard shape in cotton and bark to create a floral armature
Cover a wreath frame with bark strips and fluffed out cotton
When you need to keep a tiny stem hydrated this is just what you need.
Favourite Flowers
Christmas Kalanchoe, Kalanchöe or Kalanchoë
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