Christine de Beer - effortless floral craftsman
Layered sisal and twig armature
- 9 September 2015
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![Use wood glue and sisal to make a large sisal mat Use wood glue and sisal to make a large sisal mat](/images/2015/09/use-wood-glue-and-sisal-to-make-a-large-sisal-mat-l.jpg?inside=600x600)
Use wood glue and sisal to make a large sisal mat
See the Tutorial below for more detailed instructions on how to make an armature from sisal and glue
![Fold the sisal in four and press flat Fold the sisal in four and press flat](/images/2015/09/fold-the-sisal-in-four-and-press-flat-l.jpg?inside=600x600)
Fold the sisal in four and press flat
![Cut a disk shape in the sisal to create a frame for the focal point Cut a disk shape in the sisal to create a frame for the focal point](/images/2015/09/cut-a-disk-shape-in-the-sisal-to-create-a-frame-for-the-focal-point-l.jpg?inside=600x600)
Cut a disk shape in the sisal to create a frame for the focal point
![Remove the four disks Remove the four disks](/images/2015/09/remove-the-four-disks-l.jpg?inside=600x600)
Remove the four disks
![Place the sisal armature on a flat working surface Place the sisal armature on a flat working surface](/images/2015/09/place-the-sisal-armature-on-a-flat-working-surface-l.jpg?inside=600x600)
Place the sisal armature on a flat working surface
![Fold the sisal in four Fold the sisal in four](/images/2015/09/fold-the-sisal-in-four-l.jpg?inside=600x600)
Open it up and start to pin small snippets of twigs at random places through the sisal
See the Tutorial below for an easy way to bite and snap sturdy twigs.
![Keep adding twigs crossing them at random places Keep adding twigs crossing them at random places](/images/2015/09/keep-adding-twigs-crossing-them-at-random-places-l.jpg?inside=600x600)
Keep adding twigs crossing them at random places
![Add a few twigs here and there on the entire sisal surface Add a few twigs here and there on the entire sisal surface](/images/2015/09/add-a-few-twigs-here-and-there-on-the-entire-sisal-surface-l.jpg?inside=600x600)
Add a few twigs here and there on the entire sisal surface
![Fold the next layer of sisal over the first Fold the next layer of sisal over the first](/images/2015/09/fold-the-next-layer-of-sisal-over-the-first-l.jpg?inside=600x600)
Fold the next layer of sisal over the first
![And pin a new layer of twigs And pin a new layer of twigs](/images/2015/09/and-pin-a-new-layer-of-twigs-l.jpg?inside=600x600)
And pin a new layer of twigs
![Randomly pin twigs to cross with twigs on the layers below Randomly pin twigs to cross with twigs on the layers below](/images/2015/09/randomly-pin-twigs-to-cross-with-twigs-on-the-layers-below-l.jpg?inside=600x600)
Randomly pin twigs to cross with twigs on the layers below
![Fold over the next layer of sisal Fold over the next layer of sisal](/images/2015/09/fold-over-the-next-layer-of-sisal-l.jpg?inside=600x600)
Fold over the next layer of sisal
![And pin with twigs And pin with twigs](/images/2015/09/and-pin-with-twigs-l.jpg?inside=600x600)
... and pin with twigs
![Fold over the last layer of sisal. Fold over the last layer of sisal.](/images/2015/09/fold-over-the-last-layer-of-sisal-l.jpg?inside=600x600)
Fold over the last layer of sisal.
![Fitting it neatly into place Fitting it neatly into place](/images/2015/09/fitting-it-neatly-into-place-l.jpg?inside=600x600)
Fitting it neatly into place
![And pin this layer with twigs And pin this layer with twigs](/images/2015/09/and-pin-this-layer-with-twigs-l.jpg?inside=600x600)
And pin this layer with twigs
![Add a few smaller twigs for visual contrast Add a few smaller twigs for visual contrast](/images/2015/09/add-a-few-smaller-twigs-for-visual-contrast-l.jpg?inside=600x600)
Add a few smaller twigs for visual contrast
![The twig and sisal armature is ready to design with The twig and sisal armature is ready to design with](/images/2015/09/the-twig-and-sisal-armature-is-ready-to-create-with-l.jpg?inside=600x600)
The twig and sisal armature is ready to design with
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Tutorials
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.
Glue a few wigs to follow the shape of a glass bowl to create a disk armature
Soak sisal fibres in strawberry and black berry juice to stain it purple
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