My Creative Workbook

Christine de Beer - effortless floral craftsman

Rolled leaf shelter for a lean-in-closer tiny bud vase design

Poke a small hole into a leaf

Poke a small hole into a leaf.

Thread an orchid stem through the leaf

Thread an orchid stem through the hole in the leaf.

Thread a few vines through the hole in the leaf

Thread a few vines through the hole in the leaf.

Newsletter subscribers: I have a tip for you about the why behind these vines. Yes, it's pretty and also does double duty. Let me know what you think! And if you are not yet signed up- be sure to join to receive an advance notice email every Wednesday with an exclusive tip that highlights something special for each design.

Poke a guide hole close to the tip of the leaf

Poke a guide hole close to the tip of the leaf.

Roll the leaf over and slip the stem end through the hole

Roll the leaf over and slip the stem end through the hole...

Capturing the pretty moth orchid inside

... Capturing the pretty moth orchid inside.

Gather the stems together and slip it into a bud vase

Gather the stems together and slip it into a water filled bud vase.

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

Tutorials

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.

21 October 2015 Use the stem of an Autumn leaf to wrap, pin and secure it in a roll

A glue-less way of manipulating leaves

23 March 2013 Rolling leaf tubes

Roll foliage to create tubes

22 May 2019 Gently peel leaves from the stalk to create a twisted stem end

Roll leaves to create a stopper to keep flowers in place in a bud vase

14 October 2015 Roll hundreds (yes! hundreds) of autumn leaves so create a natural, upright flower frog

Rolled leaves offer support for floral stems

5 October 2016 Folded leaf nest

Leaf armature made of rolled mini Monstera leaves

4 February 2015 Fold over a tropical leaf cocoon

Fold and glue a Monstera deliciosa (delicious monster) leaf

22 March 2017 Skewered Foliage Garland

Create a garland that dries well with rolled up leaves

28 June 2017 Skewer leaf rolls to support a tiny water source for fresh flowers

Hide the water source in a rolled leaf

27 June 2018 Foliage tube armature for long stemmed freesia buds

Curl and pin a few leaves into a tube to create an armature for those "left over" freesiabuds.

11 November 2015 Balancing the curved stems of dried Autumn leaf tubes

Long stemmed autumn leave tubes as a floral armature

Favourite Flowers

Phalaenopsis

Phalaenopsis, Moth orchid

Ceropegia woodii

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

Related Designs

6 January 2021 I tip my (flower) cap!

An enclosed design that invites the onlooker to lean in closer to explore the pretty orchid.

30 March 2022 Cone of Gratitude

Sweet spring design to hold some buds

6 April 2022 Gaps between those in-between Spring days

Give a minimal design a few grass "whiskers" to feel that Spring breeze.

20 April 2022 Oh this? Yes! it is new

New growth... too cute to resist!

11 May 2022 Is this new…?

Giving old ideas a new twist to refresh it for Spring

10 May 2023 By the cone full

A small design to display those last Spring snippets from your garden...

19 July 2023 … And his little flower

Easy support for a single flower... and knot a special secret admirer just to keep it company.

28 February 2024 When the Super-duper is taking it Easy-peasy

Easy does it design that hints at but is not yet as intensive as the fun basket weaving and crafting that comes with Spring designing.

24 April 2024 You Just Like You

Support a small bundle of spring florals to stand upright in water with two Monstera leaves.

8 May 2024 I mean… did you!?!

Playing with shapes to frame the light in a dramatic floral design.

15 May 2024 Well, well, well, if it isn’t the design solution I have been procrasti-crafting on

Beautiful Bletilla striata (Chinese Ground Orchid) deserves it's own elaborate frilly skirt display.

12 June 2024 Just about enough space

Create a little bit of space to keep a few thin stemmed floral treasures upright in your design

21 October 2015 Watch the leaves turn

Roll autumn leaves to create a wreath

23 March 2013 Today I'll be

Silhouette design using glasses filled with water

22 May 2019 Putting your own spin on it

I would definitely describe my own personal style as minimalist classic... but with an edgy twist.

14 October 2015 What a find!

Roll autumn leaves to create a frog to keep flowers upright

5 October 2016 I found it this way: Leaf nest design

This was the third design I did in my "I found it this way" floral art demonstration

4 February 2015 collywobbles!

Fold foliage butterflies

31 May 2017 Let's hang out

Skewer some Eucalyptus to suspend between the orchids

28 June 2017 Somewhere in the Middle

Skewer Dracaena leaves into a roll that supports a tiny water source for the Oncidium orchids

27 June 2018 Look deep

Curl foliage to use as a natural armature for delicate buds.

11 November 2015 Balancing Act

Bend dried fall leaves to balance on the edge of a glass container