My Creative Workbook

Christine de Beer - effortless floral craftsman

Long lasting floral finial decoration for Christmas

Cut birch bark into long strips

Cut birch bark into long strips.

Soak the strips overnight in warm water

Soak the strips overnight in warm water

Use metal clips to clip the strips into one long birch strip

Use metal clips to clip the strips into one long birch strip...

It is easier to manipulate the bark wet but glue the bark once dry

The clips are just temporary because it is easier to manipulate the bark wet but glue the bark once dry.

Use a round stick to help guide the bark and start to roll it from one end

Use a round stick to help guide the bark and start to roll it from one end.

Roll the bark to about the mid point

Roll the bark to about the mid point...

Start to roll the other end

Start to roll the other end, this time without the stick to create a more open roll to shape the finial.

Bring the two ends together

Bring the two ends together...

Stack the bark rolls and set it aside to dry in this shape

Stack the bark rolls and set it aside to dry in this shape.

To keep it from unrolling slip the rolled bark into a vase so that it is kept tightly rolled

Design tip: To keep it from unrolling slip the rolled bark into a vase so that it is kept tightly rolled.

Remove the bark once completely dry

Remove the bark once completely dry.

Remove the metal clips

Remove the metal clips...

And secure the strips of bark where they overlap into one long strip with hot glue

And secure the strips of bark where they overlap into one long strip with hot glue.

Pull the two rolls out towards the sides

Pull the two rolls out towards the sides.

And secure the rolls into position with hot glue

And secure the bark rolls into position with hot glue.

Paint the finial shape with thinned wood glue

Paint the finial shape (or giant, delicious looking Christmas Croissant, depending on who you ask...) with thinned wood glue.

And sprinkle on artificial snow to settle in the glue puddles

And sprinkle on artificial snow to settle in the glue puddles.

Set the bark shape aside to dry

Set the bark shape aside to dry...

Add in a few dew drop crystals and more snow as needed

Add in a few dew drop crystals and more snow and your finial is ready for its flowers...

If you would prefer a table top design using the bark armature you can find a link below.

Measure out and cut wire to be longer than the bark finial

Measure out and cut wire to be longer than the bark finial...

Slip the wire right through the bark from the one side to the other

Slip the wire right through the bark from the one side to the other.

Decide on the top and the bottom of your design

Decide on the top and the bottom of your design... I wanted my end to be thinner and more elongated so I am using the tighter wound side for that...

Roll the end of the wire with pliers to create a flat base

Roll the end of the wire with pliers to create a flat base...

That fits snugly on the bark roll

That fits snugly on the bark roll.

Roll the top wire twice around

Roll the top wire twice around to make a sturdy hanger...

Secure the end of the wire with pliers and twist it back into the bark roll

Secure the end of the wire with pliers and twist it back into the bark roll to conceal the sharp point.

Use hot glue to secure the wires at the top and bottom firmly in place

Use hot glue to secure the wires at the top and bottom firmly in place.

Test your design to make sure it hangs straight

Test your design to make sure it hangs straight before hanging it up to design. Adjust by bending the top wire if needed.

Book readers turn to page 208 for a similar idea for a design... only this time using eucalyptus threaded leaves. For more information about my book: The Effortless Floral Craftsman

I started my design by gluing in a few alpine huckleberry tips

I started my design by gluing in a few alpine huckleberry tips...

Extending over the top

Extending over the top...

And all the way to the bottom

And all the way to the bottom...

And every here and there in between

And every here and there in between.

Paint the hook on the top with wood glue and cover with a sprinkling of snow to conceal

Paint the hook on the top with wood glue and cover with a sprinkling of snow to conceal.

I am cutting kalanchoe flowers straight from the plant

I am cutting kalanchoe flowers straight from the plant. These flowers look delicate but last so well even without a water source. This design will look pretty for weeks!

Glue the tiny flowers into the design

Glue the tiny flowers into the design with floral glue.

And build up tiny arrangements by adding buds and sprigs of lemon cypress

And build up tiny arrangements by adding buds and sprigs of lemon cypress.

Be careful not to compact the flowers too tight

Be careful not to compact the flowers too tight.

Allow the flowers to fall naturally

Allow the flowers to blossom naturally...

With some flowers higher than the others

With some flowers higher than the others... and others pointing to the side.

And the lemon cypress sprigs to extend out from the design

And the lemon cypress sprigs to extend out from the design.

This week in our email I tell you how I cut the sprigs of ever green to insert into the design... yes! there is absolutely a trick. I send out an email every Wednesday morning (Vancouver time) the moment the design is ready for you to view with a note about the design that is "nice to know" when looking at the week's inspiration. The sign up is below this post.

Allow the design to spin so that you can make sure every tiny arrangement is complete with no gaps visible from all angles

Allow the design to spin so that you can make sure every tiny arrangement is complete with no gaps visible from all angles.

Finish off the design with a few larger dew drop crystals to add sparkle

Finish off the design with a few larger dew drop crystals to add sparkle...

And a pretty bauble

And a pretty bauble... or three. It's Christmas time!!!

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

Tutorials

8 July 2015 Using a pin to place tiny dew drop crystals

It's sometimes difficult to place a tiny crystal or bead exactly where you want it.

28 December 2016 Adding snow to twigs

Glue artificial snow to twigs

7 April 2012 Foam pin holder drying rack

This is a convenient way to keep flowers perfectly upright while you wait for glue to dry.

21 February 2024 Get a head start with a long lasting shallow vine basket and succulent table top Spring display

Long, long, long lasting display that will even root in place with a few adjustments.

23 November 2022 Snowy Pinecone with green tomato berries and Kalanchoe flowers

A snowflake covered design that will hang on to well past Christmas.

2 December 2015 Silver bell Christmas Greenery kissing ball

Use delicate sprigs of cypress or juniper, fir, pine, eucalyptus, ivy or a combination of them all to create a winter themed kissing bough

6 December 2017 Barely there twig tabletop Christmas tree

Glue curved twig snippets to craft a delicate winter white Christmas tree

28 December 2016 A bark strip and fluffed cotton disk wreath

Cover a wreath frame with bark strips and fluffed out cotton

14 December 2016 Bark and Cotton Candy Cane

Cover a cardboard shape in cotton and bark to create a floral armature

21 December 2016 Bark Christmas Stocking

Cover a wire frame to create a Christmas stocking armature

19 December 2018 Sparkling Eucalyptus Tabletop Christmas tree

Craft an ethereal Christmas tree from Eucalyptus leaves, twigs and sparkling snow flake crystals.

4 December 2013 Flower Girl Red Net Basket

Weave a twig wreath for an easy net basket

16 December 2015 Kalanchoe Christmas Bauble

The delicate Kalanchoe flowers last surprisingly well without a water source and is ideal for glue techniques

13 December 2017 Long lasting bark and Kalanchoe sleigh

Kalanchoe flowers last weeks without a water source and is the perfect way to dress up a bark and silver bell sleigh

27 December 2017 Pine NeedleTube

Glue pine needles to a up-cycled disk to create a winter scene

4 December 2019 Eucalyptus collar for a snow-covered Christmas candle

Not only will your home smell wonderful while crafting this design you will also have a ethereal and long lasting design to enjoy.

16 November 2022 Magnolia Rose Bowl with the brightest Holly berries and Kalanchoe flowers

Long lasting berries, magnolia leaves and succulent (kalanchoe) flowers that can remain without any water or maintenance for... well... all the way to Christmas!

17 January 2024 A birch bark spiral wrap to cradle floral details in a wine glass

Spiral birch bark strips into two mirror images to create a wintery wrap for a bud vase.

14 December 2022 Sparkle Spool and Velvet Magnolia Table Top Christmas Tree

A pretty way to warm up your living space with the luxurious velvet texture you find on the underside of Magnolia leaves.

20 December 2023 Velvet Magnolia Leaf Christmas Tree

Cozy textured tall and luxurious table top tree design.

Favourite Flowers

Kalanchoe

Christmas Kalanchoe, Kalanchöe or Kalanchoë

Related Designs

20 November 2024 A Very Merry… all elf pass into Santa’s workshop!

A light... and slight start to designing for Christmas... an oversized Finial

27 November 2024 A Very Merry… all elf pass into Santa’s workshop, special department of tinkering together those Soooo Good, for Goodness Sake moments

Long lasting and easy to pick up and place garland to decorate a Festive Platter of… anything, really!

4 December 2024 A Very Merry… all elf pass into Santa’s workshop, department for checking it twice

A frozen in a moment bark scroll with silver leaf letters that was about to reveal Santa's Nice list!

21 February 2024 I'll Go First

My Spring/Easter design and the introduction article about my floral journey written by the editor, Nina Tucknott in the latest issue of Flora Magazine.

2 December 2015 Stacking the odds in your favour

Cover a wire frame for a winter kissing bough.

6 December 2017 While I sing of beauty's treasure

Glue the most delicate twig table top Christmas tree

28 December 2016 A Jingle Cotton Christmas

Cover a wreath frame with bark and cotton for a textured Christmas wreath design

14 December 2016 A Candy(cane) Cotton Christmas

A floral cotton candy cane

21 December 2016 A Gleaming Cotton Christmas

Glue bark to a wire frame to create a Christmas stocking armature

19 December 2018 Oh Florist-tree

Craft an Eucalyptus Christmas tree

4 December 2013 Red, Redder, Reddest!

My article and flower girl net basket design featured in the Red! issue of DIY Weddings Magazine

16 December 2015 Christmas Waves

Twist a Kalanchoe and Ivy vine Christmas tree mobile

13 December 2017 Just hear those sleigh bells jingling

Craft a bark sleigh that will last for weeks.

27 December 2017 Can it be?

Craft a pine tube to display a soft and snow filled winter scene

4 December 2019 A Very Merry eucalyptus-collar-candle Christmas!

An easy and naturally fragrant winter white candle decoration to bring nature into your house this Christmas.

16 November 2022 All your Christmases…

A little bit of effort... that will last for weeks design to roll us in to the Festive Season.

23 November 2022 Ways to Merry a Christmas

A little bit of effort... that will last for weeks design to hang about the whole Festive Season.

17 January 2024 Wave Wrap

Roll birch bark into a double spiral to cradle some perfect flowers to admire all winter.

14 December 2022 Joyf'ly

Table top Christmas tree with a fairy light twig trunk.

20 December 2023 A Very Merry Dark chocolate Velvet Texture of Yore, Tall and Trendy Christmas Cheer

Tall and velvety Christmas tree... with a starlight garland