My Creative Workbook

Christine de Beer - effortless floral craftsman

Knot a wool grid for a cozy Tulip and twig armature design

Measure and cut wool to wrap around a shallow container

Measure and cut wool to wrap around a shallow container.

Book readers turn to page 46 if you want to level this up with a great plant based alternative to the wool.
For more information about my book: The Effortless Floral Craftsman

Knot the wool to secure it around the container

Knot the wool to secure it around the container.

Wrap and knot another wool section

Wrap and knot another wool length.

It can be frustrating to knot these first few lengths of wool. See our email for my tip on how to make it a little bit less frustrating and keep it from slipping as you build up the grid. I send out a once-a-week email to let readers know when the design is ready for them to view. This is also my place where I get to connect with readers and share a special design related tip so that you can reply and ask questions. If you are not yet signed up the subscription button is below this post.

Keep knotting wool pieces securing them to each other to craft a strong grid

Keep knotting wool pieces securing them to each other to craft a strong grid that can carry the weight of the flowers.

Design note: make sure the wool is not droopy and will not touch the water. See our email for details.

Test all the wool pieces to make sure they are well above the water

Test all the wool pieces to make sure they are well above the water.

Adjust any if needed.

Fill the container with water

Fill the container with water.

Glue a snow covered twig to follow the wool line

Secure a snow covered twig with hot glue to follow the wool line.

I wanted my twigs to extend above the tulips so I placed them with all the side twigs pointing mostly up. If you are unsure of how to cover twigs with artificial snow see the Tutorial below.

Build up on the wool grid to create a pretty twig design

Build up on the wool grid to create a pretty twig design.

Reflex the tulip petals and place it in the water filled container

Reflex the tulip petals and place it in the water filled container.

For more information on how to reflex tulip petals see the Tutorial below.

Nestle the tulips so that the twigs support and extend over them

Nestle the tulips so that the twigs support and extend over them.

Add in a few more snow covered twigs to finish off the design

Add in a few more snow covered twigs to finish off the design.

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

Tutorials

3 March 2011 Reflex Tulip Petals

Tulip petals can be opened or reflexed to create a fuller bloom

21 March 2012 Where to cut Tulips to condition

Here is a trick to make sure your tulips will condition thoroughly

28 December 2016 Adding snow to twigs

Glue artificial snow to twigs

11 May 2011 Slow down tulip growth, after the stems have been severed from the bulbs

Tulips continue to grow after being cut. Sometimes when you make a very small design or for competition or bridal work you want to minimize growth. The best way to do this is to...

30 April 2014 Scattered grass armature

An grass armature that looks scattered but is actually very secure

16 January 2019 Delicate Twig Hammock Armature to keep tulips upright in a shallow container

Craft a suspended armature to create a clear winter design.

18 January 2017 T-connect twigs to shadow a design

Split a twig to create a t connection to hover a twig over the design

4 April 2018 Tap in a Twig Support

Wedge snipped twigs into a glass vase to act as a support for your flowers

20 January 2021 Trapped Bubble Double Shallow Vase Design

Trap air between two vases to create a third circle... and frame for a small feather hint to a hopeful Spring

6 February 2019 Winter White Twig Screen

Glue twigs to screen delicate flowers for a wintry design.

24 March 2021 A Spring Sprout Wreath Flower Frog

Craft an everything is still growing spring design to celebrate... what we love!

19 June 2012 Tapping away Tulip pollen

Tap away most of the pollen from a fully opened tulip

3 January 2012 Bubble raft to float flowers

Flowers naturally float in water. They just don’t always naturally float on water. For that they sometimes need a bit of help.

Favourite Flowers

Tulipa

Tulip

Related Designs

19 January 2022 Thaw

It's Tulip Season! Perfect for that "it's still winter ... but is that something green I see...?" mood designs.

23 February 2022 Plan Together

Leaning Muscari flowers in a snow covered twig armature.

1 February 2023 Why When

An old tulip trick in a new way to keep the flowers fanned out

1 March 2011 FLOAT

Reflex Tulip and Passion Fruit Tendrils in a wax disk

30 April 2014 Scattered

Scatter some dried grass to make a floral armature

16 January 2019 Every. Single. Week.

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

4 April 2018 Grow on it

Wedge twigs into a vase to create a grid.

20 January 2021 Hope Bubble

That good old double vase trick... but this time I deliberately added a bubble between the two layers to create a third circle in the design.

6 February 2019 Tread softly on winter

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

24 March 2021 To two too!

A Spring Tulip celebration design... with a special message

7 June 2017 Dream, Job

Create a grid to rest some plant material so that it floats and some with their stems to rest in the water below

27 January 2016 Well, I'll be

Manipulate fresh willow stems to create a sprouting armature for long tulip stems

19 March 2014 One of one of everyone

Float flowers using a bubble wrap raft