My Creative Workbook

Christine de Beer - effortless floral craftsman

Potted bark pod for a flowering plant

Thin wood glue with warm water.

Thin wood glue with warm water.

Rip up some brown paper and place the shape on a flat working surface

Rip up some brown paper in irregular shapes and place the shape on a flat working surface

Soak the brown paper in the thinned glue and smooth it to cover the shape

Soak the brown paper in the thinned glue and smooth it to cover the shape

Overlap the brown paper to fully cover the white shape with brown paper.

Overlap the brown paper to fully cover the white shape with brown paper. The brown paper covering will harden as it dries and form a protective layer between the foam and the bark. It also makes it easier to remove the bark and re-use the Styrofoam sphere

Smooth down all the brown paper pieces to closely follow the shape

Smooth down all the brown paper pieces to closely follow the shape

Flip the shape over and cover the sides and top

Flip the shape over and cover the sides and top

Follow the curves of the shape

Follow the curves of the shape

Set the shape on a vase to dry overnight

Set the shape on a vase to dry overnight

For more information on using Papier Mache see the Tutorial below

The paper covered bowl is now ready to design with

The paper covered bowl is now ready to design with

Cut away any extra bits of paper

Cut away any extra bits of paper

Rip bark into long strips and glue it to the paper covered shape

Rip bark into long strips and glue it to the paper covered shape

Work your way outwards leaving long strips pointing into the shape

Work your way outwards leaving long strips pointing into the shape. This will secure the plant and somewhat cover the growth medium around the orchid roots.

Glue in a second layer of bark

Glue in a second layer of bark

Turn the shape around and glue strips of bark to the underside

Turn the shape around and glue strips of bark to the underside

The bark shape is now done and ready for the potted plant

The bark shape is now done and ready for the potted plant

Design notes:
Make sure not to plant plants with different water and soil needs in the same design. For my design I added the rosary vine (a succulent) in it's own tiny containers with soil and the budding twigs in small test tubes (see the Tutorial below) and the orchid is in a growth medium making it easy to water each plant as it requires hydration.

Measure the depth of the plant with your fingers

Measure the depth of the plant with your fingers

Measure the size of the plastic pot

Measure the size of the plastic pot

Cut the pot smaller if need be.

Cut the pot smaller if need be.

Slip a loose fitting bag over the pot to catch any water that drains out of the pot

Slip a loose fitting bag over the pot to catch any water that drains out of the pot. You can also place a small bowl under the plant or let the water drain out into the Styrofoam but I added the plastic because I wanted to add more plant material into the potted design and required padding

Place the plant in the bark covered shape

I also wrapped a sheet of tissue paper to conceal the bag and give the test tubes and plant containers something to nestle into. Place the plant in the bark covered shape

Lift the strips of bark to cover the pot, plastic and tissue paper

Lift the strips of bark to cover the pot, plastic and tissue paper. The entire design should be snug and secure.

Special note: Orchid roots should not be completely covered. Make sure it can still get some light

Make sure it is easy to water the plant to keep it beautiful for as long as possible

Make sure it is easy to water the plant to keep it beautiful for as long as possible

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

Tutorials

2 June 2011 Papier Mache

I save all the thin tissue paper or un-printed newsprint papers that are wrapped around the flowers that are delivered to me to make batches of Papier Mache with. These sheets...

4 January 2011 Drinking straw "test tubes"

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

10 July 2012 Bark covered heart

Cover cardboard with bark to create a heart shaped log

17 September 2014 Bark Bowl

Glue bark onto a bowl to create a dome shape

21 December 2016 Bark Christmas Stocking

Cover a wire frame to create a Christmas stocking armature

22 January 2013 Bark Veneer Cardboard Cake stands

A quick and easy way to make a cardboard cake stand

14 January 2013 Bark and paper covered Styrofoam stand for ice cream cones

Press a wooden skewer into the Styrofoam to help the cones stand upright when displayed

22 January 2013 Bark Veneer Cardboard Floral Cake

Glue a stack of cardboard circles to create a log-like floral cake

5 February 2014 Bark Gift Bag

Cut and glue bark into a gift bag

19 August 2015 Bark pod for growing a Pearl Oyster mushroom mini farm

Glue bark to a Papier Maché and wire frame to create a pod shaped armature

7 April 2012 Just Hatched Papier Mache Easter Eggs

Glue newsprint paper to balloons to make large egg shaped containers to design in

Favourite Flowers

Paphiopedilum

Lady Slipper, Slipper orchid

Ceropegia woodii

Rosary vine, Chain of Hearts, Collar of hearts and String of hearts

Related Designs

11 January 2017 As special as an almost never find

Sometimes you find such a beautiful plant that you just can't bring yourself to cut it. This design explores using the entire plant, pot and all, in a design

15 March 2017 Wedding Welcome

My article and wedding direction board design featured in DIY Weddings Magazine

18 October 2017 On the inside

For a softer autumn leaf pod turn the leaves so that the bright side faces in when making the pod.

13 December 2017 Just hear those sleigh bells jingling

Craft a bark sleigh that will last for weeks.

15 July 2020 Pass it on

A cascade of orchids growing over a slice of wood. Easy to design... and even easier to maintain!

18 November 2020 Have yourself a Merry Cellulose Fibre Christmas: Yule log

...ok not really that fancy- it’s made from paper pulp. A cardboard box Yule log… really. In the spirit of 2020- I am inspired by the endless stream of cardboard boxes being...

22 September 2021 Kinda Corny

Crafting with corn to make... well... corn, really.

10 November 2021 … any day now

Using dried floral material is so trendy right now. But the longer lasting the design elements the more effort you have to put in to stop it from looking lifeless.

9 November 2022 All Pumpkind Out

A physalis husk pumpkin to celebrate the last bright rays of Autumn.

25 January 2023 Even More

This orchid developed at the very end of a long stem... right as the rest of the flowers started to die back so I made a special armature to display the cut stem.

11 October 2023 Plenty Glow to Harvest

Glow and sparkle bark armature to celebrate the first signs of Autumn

17 January 2024 Wave Wrap

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

13 March 2024 In All Ways

A birch bark basket... perfect for some new Spring floral details.

5 January 2011 Protea Composite

To create this huge Protea I took apart nine Protea flower heads and glued the tepals and bracts back on to a polystyrene ball to create a large Protea composite flower that is...

10 July 2012 Sticktoitness

Glue a heart shaped design made from bark and wood.

17 September 2014 Still

My bark bowl design and tutorial featured in the Centrepiece Wedding Magazine

19 August 2015 Growth Medium

Design a bark and moss pod for a mushroom mini farm

7 April 2012 Spring Clean

A clean Easter design. The tiny blossoms are Kalanchoe 'Calandiva Pink'. Tucked low in the paper eggs are a few Cymbidium orchids and the twigs are contorted hazel. The...

22 January 2013 It's High Time for Tea: from craft to art, taking a delicious floral journey with veneer techniques

This was my second two designs for my It's High Time for Tea Floral Craft and Art Demonstration at The Capilano Flower Arranging Club meeting.