My Creative Workbook

Christine de Beer - effortless floral craftsman

Popsicle Stick Square Armature

Line a deep square tray with plastic wrap

Line a deep square tray with plastic wrap

Set the Popsicle sticks in the tray and secure with wood glue in a random overlapping pattern

Set the Popsicle sticks in the tray and secure with wood glue in a random overlapping pattern

Build up the shape making sure every connection point is secured with glue

Build up the shape making sure every connection point is secured with wood glue

As a rule I try to glue each stick at three points

As a rule of thumb, I try to glue each stick at three points to the neighbouring sticks

To create dimension built the sticks so that it rests both over and under the other sticks

To create dimension built the sticks so that it rests both over and under the other sticks

Once you have the first layer move on to add the next layer

Once you have the first layer move on to add the next layer

Keep adding layer after layer.

Keep adding layer after layer.

When you have a solid armature set it aside to dry

When you have a solid armature set it aside to dry

Lift the armature from the tray

Lift the armature from the tray

Glue the second Popsicle square in the same way

Glue the second Popsicle square in the same way

Glue in a partially stripped willow stick

Set the armature on a flat working surface and glue in a partially stripped willow stick

See the Tutorial below for detailed instructions on how to strip the bark from willow sticks

Set the two armatures upright with a gap between the two

Set the two armatures upright with a gap between the two

Let the armatures balance on the working surface

Let the armatures balance on the working surface

Press a willow twig from one side of the armature straight through to the other side and glue to secure.

Press a willow twig from one side of the armature straight through to the other side and glue to secure.

Keep adding sticks to secure the two armatures

Keep adding sticks to secure the two armatures

Add in some more decorative willow sticks

Add in some more decorative willow sticks

Wrap painters tape around the bottom of four willow sticks as spacers for the armature feet

Wrap painters tape around the bottom of four willow sticks as spacers for the armature feet

Glue in the stick so that only the blue tape sticks out from the bottom of the armature

Glue in the stick so that only the blue tape sticks out from the bottom of the armature

Glue in all four feet.

Glue in all four feet.

Remove the tape

Remove the tape

The armature is now ready to design with

The armature is now ready to design with

Glue in a few willow tips

Glue in a few willow tips, ivy leaves and grape vine tendrils

Popsicle stick armature ready to add flowers

Popsicle stick armature ready to add flowers

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

Tutorials

18 January 2012 Butterfly hairclip claws to hold twigs in place while glue dries

Butterfly hair clips are the perfect little claws to help you hold tiny items in place while you wait for glue to dry

22 May 2012 Bite and snap a sturdy twig

Break the sturdy twig on the scribe line.

4 January 2011 Drinking straw "test tubes"

When you need to keep a tiny stem hydrated this is just what you need.

8 June 2016 Stripping bark from willow sticks

Strip the green bark from the stems to expose the smooth wood

22 September 2012 Stir-stick Sunburst

Glue a radiating armature from stir-sticks.

19 October 2011 Making a parasol

I glued wooden slats into a frame and then wove flax string to create the floral parasol

21 September 2011 Birch wood coffee stir sticks fan

I wanted to make a thin and delicate fan with open spaced slats for weaving plant material through.

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...

Favourite Flowers

Salix matsudana "Tortuosa"

Curly Willow, Chinese Willow, Tortured Willow, Globe Willow, Dragon's Claw, Hankow Willow

Related Designs

8 June 2016 When the wind whisper

Glue a fantasy forest from Popsicle sticks, grape vine tendrils and willow tips

6 September 2017 One of those difficult questions

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29 November 2017 Marcescent

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2 May 2018 Over the rainbow

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30 May 2018 You see... here is the Thing:

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6 March 2019 It almost happened today!

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Soft minimal... this is exactly the kind of design I place in our apartment. Use a few fall treasures picked up on a walk and add a copper leaf to up the effort and love you add...

27 October 2021 Ship Shape

The dry wheat stems are suspended from the outside of the container so that they remain dry and the flower stems can gently rest inside to remain hydrated.

27 April 2022 Shine Shade

Glue snippets of grass into a double layer sphere to create a sheltered floral globe.

21 June 2011 WAFA 10th International Flower Show in Boston USA: This Glorious Earth

I wove my Zipper from just over 300 short, dried rose twigs with tiny thorns on them. The delicate "fabric" at the back of the design is woven rose bush roots. Aranthera and...

6 September 2011 When Autumn Fall

Autumn leaf composite flower

21 September 2011 All things being Equal

The fan is made from 18 coffee stir sticks and dressed with a veil of grass, fall leaves and Viburnum berries

3 July 2012 Twig-a-tude

Stack and wire twigs to create a twig mushroom with attitude for summer

22 September 2012 Turning of the leaves

An Autumn Equinox design that captures the moment before the spectacular colour burst of autumn floats around again

9 December 2015 On a Grand Scale

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