My Creative Workbook

Christine de Beer - effortless floral craftsman

Reflexed petal Tulip… with a surprise Orchid flower buddy

Groom a mature tulip flower to have only one leaf on the stem.

Cut the stem so that it is angled in the bud vase to stand firmly.

No need to condition the tulip any further... it is absolutely fine (in fact wonderful) if it continues to grow and mature in the vase. It adds character.

Book readers turn to page 100 for a great trick to remove any pollen. It works so well! For more information about my book: The Effortless Floral Craftsman

Pour water into the bud vase so that the tulip remains hydrated.

Gently reflex the petals to open up the tulip cup. If you are unsure of how to reflex tulip petals see the Tutorial below.

Open only enough petals so that you can design inside the flower. I will adjust the petals as I go along but still want the tulip to mature around the design.

Handle the petals only when you absolutely need to. They damage so easily.

Glue in a few rosary vine stems. They are succulents and do not need a water source.

Drape the vines all around (front and back) the tulip and allow the stems to dangle without damaging the petals.

Add in a few sparkling dew drop crystals with a pin to make sure you do not damage the delicate plant material.

See below for detailed instructions on how to add the crystals with a pin.

Glue in a tiny water tube to keep the orchid hydrated.

This week in our email I explain a bit more about selecting a tulip with just the right level of maturity to have a well developed pistil that can support the design. I send out an email every Wednesday morning (Vancouver time) the moment the design is ready for you to view with a bit of extra detail that will help you make the most of each week's inspiration design. The sign up is below this post.

Gently slip the orchid into the water tube right inside the tulip.

Adjust the rosary vine to cascade over the tulip and the orchid...

And adjust the petals so that it beautifully frames the orchid by reflexing only parts of the tulip petals and sepals.

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Tutorials
Reflex Tulip Petals
3 March 2011
Reflex Tulip Petals

Tulip petals can be opened or reflexed to create a fuller bloom
Drinking straw "test tubes"
4 January 2011
Drinking straw "test tubes"

When you need to keep a tiny stem hydrated this is just what you need.
Using a pin to place tiny dew drop crystals
8 July 2015
Using a pin to place tiny dew drop crystals

It's sometimes difficult to place a tiny crystal or bead exactly where you want it.
A Spring Sprout Wreath Flower Frog
24 March 2021
A Spring Sprout Wreath Flower Frog

Craft an everything is still growing spring design to celebrate... what we love!
Where to cut Tulips to condition
21 March 2012
Where to cut Tulips to condition

Here is a trick to make sure your tulips will condition thoroughly
Slow down tulip growth, after the stems have been severed from the bulbs
11 May 2011
Slow down tulip growth, after the stems have been severed from the bulbs

Tulips continue to grow after being cut. Sometimes when you make a very small design or for competition or bridal work you want to minimize growth. The best way to do this is to divert their energy.
Bubble raft to float flowers
3 January 2012
Bubble raft to float flowers

Flowers naturally float in water. They just don’t always naturally float on water. For that they sometimes need a bit of help.
Braiding three Tulip stems
21 January 2015
Braiding three Tulip stems

Plait Tulip stems
Fill a trumpet shaped flower cup with... more flowers!
8 May 2019
Fill a trumpet shaped flower cup with... more flowers!

A hidden water source small enough to fit into a dainty flower.
Acorn inspired Autumn leaf armature
5 November 2014
Acorn inspired Autumn leaf armature

Dry fall leaves to create a ball shape structure
Attaching a lily bud corsage using a BoutStix Floral Magnet
21 August 2019
Attaching a lily bud corsage using a BoutStix Floral Magnet

I love these little Boutstix corsage magnets! They are strong enough to hold flowers neatly in place.
Tri-petal (with vines to fill in the gaps) lily flower wand
13 January 2021
Tri-petal (with vines to fill in the gaps) lily flower wand

Pick away petals from a lily to create space for delicate vines to really shine.
Get a head start with a long lasting shallow vine basket and succulent table top Spring display
21 February 2024
Get a head start with a long lasting shallow vine basket and succulent table top Spring display

Long, long, long lasting display that will even root in place with a few adjustments.
Longer lasting Gladiolus Composite Flower
11 September 2013
Longer lasting Gladiolus Composite Flower

Split (but don't cut) a few gladiolus flowers to spiral in a vase
Weave a daffodil corona inspired sweater for a lily
9 September 2020
Weave a daffodil corona inspired sweater for a lily

Knit a corona (as in that inside skirt like part of a daffodil) by weaving a Ceropegia woodii vine around the stamen filament of a lily.
Adding folded grass "jitters" to a Sunflower
31 July 2019
Adding folded grass "jitters" to a Sunflower

Adding tension to a design with a grass frame and collar.
Trailing Ceropegia woodii vines from a Heliconia flower
23 May 2018
Trailing Ceropegia woodii vines from a Heliconia flower

Set the rosary vines into the natural cavity of the flower head.
Rock Rest for a heavy Protea Flower Head
31 January 2018
Rock Rest for a heavy Protea Flower Head

Create a contrasting base to lift the heavy flower-head to design in
Tap in a Twig Support
4 April 2018
Tap in a Twig Support

Wedge snipped twigs into a glass vase to act as a support for your flowers
Weave a grass Platform for an opening Tulip bud
26 February 2020
Weave a grass Platform for an opening Tulip bud

Tulips continue to grow as they open. This means you not only have to be mindful of their proportions as they are now... but also as they will be once open.
Delicate Twig Hammock Armature to keep tulips upright in a shallow container
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.
Related Designs
To two too!
24 March 2021
To two too!

A Spring Tulip celebration design... with a special message
One of one of everyone
19 March 2014
One of one of everyone

Float flowers using a bubble wrap raft
Daffodillily
9 September 2020
Daffodillily

Weave around the stamens of a lily to create a daffodil like inside.
Tiptoe through the Tulips
21 January 2015
Tiptoe through the Tulips

Braid Tulip stems to set in water
FLOAT
1 March 2011
FLOAT

Reflex Tulip and Passion Fruit Tendrils in a wax disk
It takes more than one person to invent a trumpet!
8 May 2019
It takes more than one person to invent a trumpet!

Filling a trumpet flower cup... with more flowers!
All In One
5 November 2014
All In One

dry autumn leaves into an acorn shape
All in one pod
21 August 2019
All in one pod

Fold open a lily bud to conceal a clever little BoutStix floral magnet for an unusual corsage.
It's in there
13 January 2021
It's in there

Complete the picture by drawing a lily flower with delicate vines.
I'll Go First
21 February 2024
I'll Go First

My Spring/Easter design and the introduction article about my floral journey written by the editor, Nina Tucknott in the latest issue of Flora Magazine.
Making it last
11 September 2013
Making it last

Split and spiral a few gladiolus flowers in a way that the stems remain intact, to spiral in a water filled filled vase for a long lasting composite flower
Jitters!
31 July 2019
Jitters!

Zig-zag grass details add a bit of tension to the design
In Summer!
23 May 2018
In Summer!

A contemporary cascade of rosary vine and dried petals.
Rock, don't Roll
31 January 2018
Rock, don't Roll

Balance the heavy Protea flower head to lean against a rock.
Grow on it
4 April 2018
Grow on it

Wedge twigs into a vase to create a grid.
To top it all off
26 February 2020
To top it all off

This is a great "space-keeper" design. The tulip will continue to grow into the vase height as they open... but until then the grass platform part of the design diverts your attention to fix any issues you might experience with the proportions right now.
Every. Single. Week.
16 January 2019
Every. Single. Week.

Stand tulips upright in a shallow container with a suspended twig armature.
A Buzzin’
23 April 2025
A Buzzin’

Just like a buzzing bee... give a mature Tulip a Phalaenopsis orchid buddy to keep it company.
Favourite Flowers
Tulipa
Tulipa

Plaited tulips in my I’ve got my head in the clouds design.
Ceropegia woodii
Ceropegia woodii

Pompon Chrysanthemum pom-poms and strands of Rosary vine for my floral lariat necklace in the Canadian Florist Magazine
Phalaenopsis
Phalaenopsis

Phalaenopsis orchid detail from my Harnessing the Wind design