My Creative Workbook

Christine de Beer - effortless floral craftsman

Party popper inspired Copper curls for a New Year’s Eve double vase orchid heart centerpiece

This is one of those designs that require a bit of prep work before you start designing. I wanted to explain in a bit more detail so I added a design tip to our email to explain how and why. To receive your weekly tip the sign up button is below this post.

Place a taller vase inside an open vase

Place a taller vase inside an open vase.

Place a candle to settle into the taller vase.

Place a candle to settle into the taller vase.

You can choose any candle

You can choose any candle, for my design Tutorials I usually go for these flameless candles.

Pour water in the other container

Pour water in the other container.

Peel the petals from the orchids

Peel the petals and sepals from the cymbidium orchids...

And place the lip and column in the water filled container

And place the lip and column in the water filled container...

With the lip hooking over the edge to keep the flowers in place

With the lip hooking over the edge to keep the flowers in place.

Add in the next orchid to hook over the edge like the first

Add in the next orchid to hook over the edge like the first.

Continue adding in orchids

Continue adding in orchids...

So that they curve over the edge of the vase

So that they curve over the edge of the vase...

Design note: to speed up the preparation time to deepen the colour (or completely change it) turn to page 71 of my book. That trick works really well for something like this. The Effortless Floral Craftsman

... But to get you started I also have a more natural way to deepen the colour that I explain in this week's email.

All the way around the vase

All the way around the vase.

Glue in a few snow covered twigs to create a collar around the vases.

Glue in a few snow covered twigs to create a collar around the vases.

If you are unsure of how to add the snow to the twigs see the Tutorial below for detailed instructions.

Remove the candle and scatter in a few flakes of artificial snow

Once everything is secure remove the candle and scatter in a few flakes of artificial snow in the bottom of the inside vase.

So that the twigs looks like they are suspended above the snow

So that the twigs looks like they are suspended just above the snow.

Design note: this packet of artificial snow from Crate and Barrel is just amazing. The best I have found, absolutely.

Curl tinsel to add to look like it is caught up in the snow covered twigs...

Remove the copper curls from the chemical

Remove the copper curls from the chemical and drain it on a kitchen paper towel.

For more detailed instructions on how to add a patina to copper see the Tutorial below.

And place the curls all over the design

And place the curls all over the design to look like it floated down after being fired from a party popper.

Keep the design light and airy

Keep the design light and airy by gluing the curls to be supported by the twigs.

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

Tutorials

24 November 2021 Patina Copper

The colour and the effect will vary due to application, temperature and humidity.

28 December 2016 Adding snow to twigs

Glue artificial snow to twigs

24 November 2021 Flameless Patina Copper Lantern

This is the easiest battery operated votive candle lantern to hand craft from a copper sheet... ever! As always with my Tutorials you will not need any special tools or workshop...

5 May 2011 Wire curls

curl wire to add to designs

1 December 2021 Copper stars to hang as Design Accessories

Cut stars from a copper plate for a lovely turquoise patina Christmas decoration.

1 December 2021 Happy twig glow-man proudly showing off it's copper star garland

Craft a twig and foam snowman with an inner glow.

8 December 2021 Green Patina Copper Bells

Easiest bell DIY. Add a bit more character by chemically treating the bell to have a lovely green patina.

9 December 2015 Scalable twig and Phalaenopsis orchid winterscape panel

This design can easily scale up or down by using larger or smaller pieces of wood to create a larger wall panel or make a few of these panels to stack as tiles to create a more...

24 July 2012 Blow away hot glue strands

When you glue a structure with hot glue there are always a few stray strands of glue stuck all over the design. Blow it away with a hairdryer.

6 December 2017 Barely there twig tabletop Christmas tree

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

27 November 2012 Winter Woodland Chandelier

Wrap vines and twigs around a wire frame to create a decorative woodland chandelier

28 February 2018 Marching winter frosted twig and freesia stack

Frost a few twigs to craft a delicate armature for fragrant freesias

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.

25 December 2018 Twig Snowflake

Glue twigs into a snowflake twig armature for Christmas trimmings.

24 December 2018 Curl tinsel

Gently pull the tinsel over a blade to curl

6 March 2019 Snow puddle armature

Connect twigs with puddles of artificial snow to craft a winter armature for your flowers.

6 February 2019 Winter White Twig Screen

Glue twigs to screen delicate flowers for a wintry design.

Favourite Flowers

Cymbidium

Cymbidium, Boat Orchid

Related Designs

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This is the sixth of my Christmas 2021 series of designs. This year in the form of a mini workshop… my Christmas present to you. This week I will show you how to go overboard on...

13 November 2024 Fall-a-la-lah!

Transitioning into the Christmas season... gently

24 November 2021 It’s the most… it’s the most... Glowing-est Patina Christmas of all!

This is the first of my Christmas 2021 series of designs. This year in the form of a mini workshop… my Christmas present to you. We will explore how to patina Copper and use it to...

1 December 2021 It’s the most… it’s the most... Hap-Hapiest Patina Christmas of all!

This is the second of my Christmas 2021 series of designs. This year in the form of a mini workshop… my Christmas present to you. Craft a three twig sphere snow man to proudly...

8 December 2021 It’s the most… it’s the most... Jingle Patina Christmas of all!

This is the third of my Christmas 2021 series of designs. This year in the form of a mini workshop… my Christmas present to you. Craft the easiest copper bells to hang in a...

15 December 2021 It’s the most… it’s the most… wonderful Patina Copper Christmas Tree of all!

This is the fourth of my Christmas 2021 series of designs. This year in the form of a mini workshop… my Christmas present to you. Paint copper to add a beautiful patina to a...

22 December 2021 It’s the most… it’s the most… wonderful Patina Copper Spiral Bauble Christmas of all!

This is the fifth of my Christmas 2021 series of designs. This year in the form of a mini workshop… my Christmas present to you. This week I will show you how to add a mostly...

9 December 2015 On a Grand Scale

My article and a floral panel design featured in DIY Weddings Magazine

6 December 2017 While I sing of beauty's treasure

Glue the most delicate twig table top Christmas tree

28 February 2018 March Days

Line up a few frosted twigs to march across a shallow container

16 January 2019 Every. Single. Week.

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

6 March 2019 It almost happened today!

Craft snow puddles to keep your flowers upright

6 February 2019 Tread softly on winter

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