My Creative Workbook

Christine de Beer - effortless floral craftsman

Shaping Thanks with wire that has a bit of give

11 October 2017

Write your message on a flat working surface with a marker. Use cursive (script, longhand or joined-up writing) to make it easier to bend the wire to shape.

Bend thick wire to follow the script

Join any letters that are not attached with epoxy glue

Let the glue set

Wire "thanks" ready to design with

Soak vines in warm water and carefully manipulate the stems top twlrl around the letters

For more information on how to manipulate stems see the Tutorial below

Carefully open a few vine tendrils and curl it around the letters

Glue in acorns, wire tendrils and autumn leaves.

For more details on how to make wire tendrils see the Tutorial below.

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Tutorials

19 February 2013

Manipulating stems: Snapping at an angle, Bending, Spiraling, Curling and Straightening

Most stems, twigs and even sturdier branches can be bend into shapes. It takes practice and more than a bit of patience. The main idea is to slowly manipulate the branch without breaking it.

26 July 2011

Wire Tendrils

Curl the wire at irregular intervals to create a natural wire tendril similar to that of a passion fruit plant

6 July 2016

Floral Monogram Seating Plan

Wrap Spanish moss around a monogram wire frame to create a creative seating plan

8 February 2017

A Sprouting Spring Twig Heart

Carefully glue a twig armature to display the mini-miniature Darling orchids

16 December 2015

Ivy vine Christmas tree mobile

Twist ivy vines around a cardboard shape to create a lace fine Christmas tree mobile.

31 July 2012

Cherry stem Masquerade Masque

Glue cherry stems to create a mask

11 May 2016

Twig snippet vase armature

Glue twig snippets to closely follow the shape of a glass vase

6 September 2011

Twig collar

Create a light and transparent collar-base for the large composite flower to nestle into.

16 October 2012

Taco-shaped twig armature

Make a half-moon shaped armature to fill with flowers

17 February 2016

Stack a Twig Enclosure

Loop and tie a few stacked twigs to create an enclosed floral armature

14 June 2017

Hanging Bamboo Lantern

This is a perfect do-ahead-of-time hanging design for a summer wedding. Craft one or three or a whole lot of the lanterns and add some orchids at the last moment to finish the design.