My Creative Workbook

Christine de Beer - effortless floral craftsman

Skeleton Leaf Flameless Candle Cocoon

Rest the balloon on a container

Inflate a large balloon and give it a knot. Rest the balloon on a container so that it stands upright to make it easier to work with.

Thin wood glue with a bit of warm water

Thin wood glue with a bit of warm water

See the Tutorial below for detailed instructions on how to make skeleton leaves

Dip a large skeleton leaf into the wood glue to soak

Dip a large skeleton leaf (I used Magnolia leaves) into the wood glue to soak

Smooth the leaf on to the balloon

Smooth the leaf on to the balloon

Add another leaf to overlap the first

Add another leaf to overlap the first

Set the balloon aside to dry

Once the rounded part of the balloon is covered set it aside to dry. When it feels dry turn the balloon over and add more leaves to extend up pointing towards the tapered top, stems up

Let the balloon dry overnight

Let the balloon dry overnight

The wood glue would look milky while white and be invisible when dry

Wood glue appears milky-white while wet and invisible when dry

Slowly release the air from the balloon. Do not simply pop the balloon as this will rip the leaves. See the Tutorial below on how to deflate a balloon

Remove the balloon

Remove the balloon and gently reshape the leaves

Skeleton leaf cocoon.

Skeleton leaf cocoon ready to design with

Place the flameless candle in the cavity.

Place the flameless candle in the cavity.

Switch on the light

and switch on the battery powered flickering light

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

Tutorials

22 September 2012 Skeleton Leaves

Remove the pulp from leaves so that only the vain framework remain

7 April 2012 A Neighbor friendly way to deflate a balloon

Apart from avoiding the noise popping a balloon makes this is also a less violent way to deflate a balloon when you make Papier Mache items

Related Designs

17 April 2013 Hide-and-go-peek

Create a soft light by making a leaf cocoon for a flameless candle

26 August 2015 Bent

Weave a wreath from sweetpea stems and tendrils

14 June 2017 Things are looking up!

My article and Bamboo Lantern design featured in DIY Weddings Magazine

25 October 2017 When the pretty eyeballs you back!

Barely there skeleton blossoms with Eucalyptus eyes for my Halloween design... Oh! and a Willow Paddle, which probably should have been the main Tutorial... but... well...

24 November 2021 It’s the most… it’s the most... Glowing-est Patina Christmas of all!

This is the first of my Christmas 2021 series of designs. This year in the form of a mini workshop… my Christmas present to you. We will explore how to patina Copper and use it to...

12 October 2022 Ahead

Oh my... a corn leaf mummy head for autumn... looking ahead to Halloween styling.

4 January 2023 Around and about the new year

A glowing cranberry ball for frosty evening decorating.