My Creative Workbook

Christine de Beer - effortless floral craftsman

Mesh bag net armature to keep your flowers in place

Instead of vegetable net bags becoming trash wrap it around your container for an instant armature. It even looks a bit like a spider web- perfect for a long lasting design as we count down to Halloween.

Cut the net bag open on one end and remove the pumpkins

Cut the net bag open on one end and remove the pumpkins...

Wrap the net over the opening of a container

Wrap the net over the opening of a container.

Place an elastic band around the net

Place an elastic band around the net.

Cut away the tags

Cut away the tags and trim the edges of the net bag. Set all the off-cuts aside to use as accessories once the design is done.

This week I share a bonus tip with you on how I position the mesh bag so that it becomes part of the design rather that a visual distraction. Make sure you are signed up for my weekly notification email where I share one tip related to that week's design in more detail. You can then reply to the email if you have any further questions or something to share with me.

To create a messy collar around the container fold the edge up

To create a messy, ripped collar around the container fold the edge up...

Slip over a second elastic band

... Slip over a second elastic band to secure...

... in case you are wondering about the green, the chrysanthemums I am using have these bright green disk florets and I wanted to bring that out in the sea of orange. A tiny touch that makes the mechanics look more deliberate. You can cover it with raffia or ribbon if it suits your style better but I quite liked the bands with the windblown and tattered overall look.

And fluff out the net all around

And fluff out the net all around.

Fill the container with water

Fill the container with water to keep the fresh flower hydrated.

Slip the flower stems through so that the flowers rest on the net

Slip the flower stems through so that the flowers heads rest on the net.

Build up the design by adding flowers.

Build up the design by adding flowers.

Add twigs by hooking them through the net

Add twigs and secure them in place by hooking them through the net...

To create a sturdy place to rest the heavier pumpkins on

To create a sturdy place to rest the heavier pumpkins on.

Place the pumpkins to rest on the twigs

Place the pumpkins to rest on the twigs...

Glue in some dried autumn leaves

Glue in some dried autumn leaves.

And drape bits of the net leftovers over the design

And drape bits of the net leftovers over the design for a tattered, windblown autumn harvest look.

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

Tutorials

20 March 2011 Butterfly Net

You will need wire, a short stick, twig, dowel or bamboo and net.

31 October 2018 Peg and glue a floating Halloween design

A hovering Halloween design that seems to float.

31 October 2018 Spider-mum

Craft a spider from twigs and a chrysanthemum

4 October 2017 Display wreath that hover around a big shiny pumpkin

For this design I wanted my wreath to be light and airy so that it just whips around the solid pumpkin like a breeze.

28 October 2015 Besom Broom

The word ‘Besom’ derives from the old English ‘besma’ meaning ‘bundle of twigs’.

2 July 2014 Clearly invisible taped Grid

This is the easiest way to keep flower in place

10 July 2013 Wrap a line grid to support plant material in a shallow, stemmed container

Fishing line creates an invisible grid over a shallow glass cake stand to support the plant material

1 February 2017 Coil wire and grass to create a spring frog

Twirl and wrap wire and lily grass around a dowel stick to create a spring frog

Favourite Flowers

Chrysanthemum

Chrysanthemum or "mums"

Related Designs

30 September 2020 This season all the stylish pumpkins will be wearing them!

A simple way to keep the plastic mesh the pumpkins are sold in from becoming trash: wrap it around the container as an armature for a quick Fall design. Replace the flowers as...

5 June 2012 Flower Girl’s Butterfly Net and Ring Bearer Bug Box

Two fairy tale design details that will capture the imagination of even the youngest members of your wedding party. A tiny bug box to carry your rings in for the ring bearer and...

31 October 2018 Scary stuff!

My Halloween design... with some scary stuff hidden if you can read between the leaves!

17 October 2018 But wait… there's more!

Tucked into the box with every advance copy of the book, the effortless floral craftsman is a packet of clips. This design and Tutorial is a bit of inspiration... what will you...

4 October 2017 Whipped up in the autumn breeze

Give a loosely woven wreath legs to stand on to hover lightly around a pumpkin

28 October 2015 On Pumpkin Coloured Days

Create a besom broom to sweep up those Autumn leaves

10 July 2013 Pink

Weave an invisible grid to float the plant material on

2 April 2014 Apricity

Turning a stand-by floral technique sticky side out

6 April 2016 Take it for a Spin

Make a clear grid to suspend plant material on

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