My Creative Workbook

Christine de Beer - effortless floral craftsman

Slot together Monstera Twin Leaves to create a design gap

Two Monstera leaves that can slot in together

Match up the leaf fenestration (gaps or holes) in two Monstera leaves so that it can be slot together to overlap.

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The leaf stem needs to be manipulated to give it a sharp angle

The leaf stem needs to be manipulated to give it a sharp angle...

Be firm but careful not to snap the stem

Be firm but careful when you bend the stem you don't want to snap your carefully chosen stem.

Book readers: turn to page 284 where I show you how to manipulate stems.
For more information about my book: The Effortless Floral Craftsman

... but to get you started I have also linked a basic Tutorial about twig manipulation below this post.

The leaves should slot in together seamlessly

Test the leaves to make sure it slots in together seamlessly...

Choose a small and shallow display container to keep the flower material hydrated

Choose a small and shallow display container to keep the flower material hydrated.

Carefully lift the two monstera leaves and place it in the shallow container

Carefully lift the two monstera leaves and place it in the shallow container so that they stand upright.

Pour some water into the shallow display container to make sure all the floral material remains hydrated

Pour some water into the shallow display container to make sure all the floral material remains hydrated.

The tiny gap between the two leaves are perfect for giving support to a flower stem

The tiny gap between the two leaves are perfect for giving support to a flower stem...

Simply wiggle the stem through and it will remain perfectly upright

Simply wiggle the stem through the gap and it will remain perfectly upright.

... but you can also level up the design and add a small bundle of stems:

Gather a small bunch of Spring floral treasures

Gather a small bunch of Spring floral treasures...

Secure the bunch with florist tape

Secure the bunch with florist (gutta percha) stem wrap tape.

Roll a tiny tape ball

Roll a tiny tape ball.

And place the tape ball into the stems

And place the tape ball into the stems...

The little ball keep the stems apart so that the tiny bunch stands upright on its own

The little ball keep the stems apart so that the tiny bunch stands upright on its own.

Design note: Give the stems a slight twist so that it spirals.

Slip the bundle through the gap in the monstera leaves

Slip the bundle through the gap in the monstera leaves...

And set the design back into the shallow container

And set the design back into the shallow container. Make sure all the stems are below the water line.

Finish off the design with a few dew drop crystals on the monstera leaves

Finish off the design with a few dew drop crystals on the monstera leaves.

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

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...

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.

16 August 2017 Criss-cross Monstera lace-up

Glue short sections of rosary vine into the natural gaps in the Monstera deliciosa leaf

4 February 2015 Fold over a tropical leaf cocoon

Fold and glue a Monstera deliciosa (delicious monster) 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.

8 January 2020 Leaf-puddle for a short stem in a big vase

Add a leaf to a large-ish vase to create a small puddle of water for your short flower stem to rest in.

10 May 2023 Craft a padded wooden Dowel to position a leaf cone into the sharp teeth of a Kenzan

Prevent a leaf from ripping or bruising when positioning it in your design.

6 April 2022 Create a design gap with two leaves to create shivering whiskers for your Spring design

Adding design details to create tiny gaps for more design details.

30 March 2022 Double water source to keep Carnations hydrated in foliage cones

Quick and easy design... perfect for something tiny to celebrate spring.... everywhere!

2 June 2021 Two leaf lining your container to shelter your orchids

Create a shallow puddle in a larger container to keep your flowers in place.

6 January 2021 Rolled leaf shelter for a lean-in-closer tiny bud vase design

Create a tiny visual tunnel to focus attention.

13 January 2016 Stacked Grass Pyramid Armature

Stack snippets of grass on a wire frame to make a floating pyramid armature

22 August 2018 Vein Veil For Freesias

Cut a slight veil to frame your flowers with

Related Designs

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.

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

19 June 2024 Do you know what the point is?

A bark armature standing on pointe for some gorgeous blue King Tut sweet peas

3 July 2024 Oh! my word

A perfectly flat leaf to support tiny floral details in the summer heat.

22 August 2018 FreestyleFreesia

Dutch floral designer Pim van den Akker, from Flower Factor invited me to participate in a FloraHolland initiative promoting the versatility of Freesias entitled ...

22 August 2018 Freestyle Freesia design video for Flower Factor

Freestyle Freesia design video for Flower Factor

11 January 2023 Maybe Still Maybe

... a something to look forward to design that makes you lean in closer to see what might still be.

16 August 2017 Making Ends Meet

Criss-cross corset style connect the gaps in a Monstera deliciosa leaf

4 February 2015 collywobbles!

Fold foliage butterflies

27 June 2018 Look deep

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

4 April 2011 its a wrap!

Banana leaves used to wrap flowers instead of Tissue paper or Cellophane

8 January 2020 Rest a bit here

Gently curve a shallow area with a leaf to showcase a gorgeous flower with a short stem in a water filled vase

10 May 2023 By the cone full

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

12 March 2014 Petrichor

A minimalist design in a shallow tray

6 April 2022 Gaps between those in-between Spring days

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

30 March 2022 Cone of Gratitude

Sweet spring design to hold some buds

2 June 2021 Like an open book

Position foliage to create a smaller, shallow pond for your floral details to shelter in.

6 January 2021 I tip my (flower) cap!

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

13 January 2016 Once Upon A Time

Stack and glue a Grass Pyramid Armature