My Creative Workbook

Christine de Beer - effortless floral craftsman

Prevent scratches, rust and water stains on display surfaces

Polyethylene (PE) Foam sheet.

Polyethylene (PE) foam sheets are spongy and non-abrasive. You can save and up-cycle the foam you get as protective packaging or purchase it from electronic component or packaging supply stores.

Cut the foam to exactly fit the base of your container.

Cut the foam to exactly fit the base of your vase. I also use this under concrete, stone or metal cans or containers.

Smooth the foam.

Smooth the foam flat over the surface. The foam will stick and create a crush proof layer between the vase and the surface that you want to protect.

The foam is almost invisible.

The foam is almost invisible and if you look carefully it looks like sandblasted glass

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

Related Designs

17 July 2012 So far so green

The only thing I needed to make these avocado green arums perfect was a small admirer...

7 October 2015 Down-bubble

Add grass "bubbles" that can be repositioned to your design

22 June 2016 Perfection

Spiral grass to create a nest for the lady slipper orchids

24 January 2018 How to make a stack of just enough:

Stack two vases to create a small gap at the side to keep a leaf upright

4 April 2018 Grow on it

Wedge twigs into a vase to create a grid.

11 April 2018 Follow the line

Stack a few glass containers and fill each with water to a different level.

10 July 2019 These are my favourite summer things:

A submerged design... perfect for summertime designing... and enjoying!

27 January 2021 Knot how it was supposed to go

When you figure out the "how to" tricks of manipulating plant material it is possible to respectfully set them into seemingly impossible new directions.

17 February 2021 From here in out

An all natural, zero waste design using only plant material.

30 August 2011 Ichi-go, ichi-e

Freely translated it means Each Moment, Only Once. It is a saying associated with Japanese tea ceremonies.

22 May 2012 Lean

Place short twigs, leaning to one side to create a flower frog

24 April 2012 Words Matter.

Braiding and plaiting and knotting hair is a huge trend in hairdressing at the moment. Intricate little plaits are draped over long flowing hair to add complexity and quirk. ...

28 February 2012 Design-time saving tip sheet for a demanding Mother’s Day

Time Saving Tips and Article in the Canadian Florist Magazine

18 January 2012 Winter’s Green

This contorted hazel twig reminded me of an ancient and wise bonsai tree. It definitely has a story of its own to tell. I wanted to capture that in my design. All it needed was...

1 November 2011 On The Street Where You Live

A floral design snapshot of what it looks like when walking down the streets of Vancouver this week.

20 January 2011 The last Vine Wreath

Every designer knows how to stretch their supplies. We use and re-use our dried plant material until our fellow designers feel like hiding it from us. I formed such an...