My Creative Workbook

Christine de Beer - effortless floral craftsman

Stack banana leaf rice pockets to float as rosettes

Place a large banana leaf on a flat working surface

Place a large banana leaf on a flat working surface.

Place a small bowl on the leaf and cut a disk out with a sharp knife

Place a small bowl on the leaf and cut a disk out with a sharp knife.

For my design I made three pocket sized to stack

For my design I made three pocket sized to stack. This is the biggest disk I used.

Fold the disk over to create the sides

Fold the disk over to create the side.

Gather the side and fold it into a z

Gather the side and fold it into a "Z".

Pin the leaf with a twig

Pin the leaf with a twig. Cut the twig at a sharp angle to make it easier to spear.

I prefer using a twig. Yes, it's harder to do. Yes, a staple might be easier but it looks rather... well... terrible in a decorative design.
If you are a newsletter subscriber... there's a special hint for you this week on how to pick the exact right twig.

Fold the opposite side and fold it again into a z

Fold the opposite side and fold it again into a "Z". Secure it with a small twig.

Fold and secure the next side

Fold and secure the next side...

Fold and secure the remaining side

Fold and secure the remaining side and cut away any over long twigs.

Of course you can also find loads more information about how to pierce, spear and thread (with) plant material in my book.

Your banana leaf craft pocket is now ready to design with

Your banana leaf pocket is now ready to design with.

Adjust the size of the pockets by scaling the disk up or down

Adjust the size of the pockets by scaling the disk up or down.

Test the pockets to see if the all float.

Although I rather liked the fact that some of them filled up with water and slightly sink creating depth. You can test the pockets to see how and if they all float to determine placement.

For the rosette:

Place a small pocket into a medium pocket

Place a small pocket into a medium pocket... and both of those into a large pocket.

Gently place the banana rosette on the water to float

Gently place the banana rosette on the water to float.

You can also float small pockets on their own

You can also float small pockets on their own to look like buds and small and medium pockets to look like opening buds.

To finish my design I simply dropped twigs into the water to float along with the banana leaf flowers that I made

To finish my design I simply dropped twigs into the water to float along with the banana leaf flowers.

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

Tutorials

30 December 2015 Eucalyptus rose

Release the soothing effect of the aroma and vapors from the Eucalyptus leaves my slightly crushing it while making roses

6 September 2011 Autumn leaf Roses

I used to make baskets full of these when I was a little girl. We had a big Acasia thorn tree and I used to spear my “roses” onto the tree pretending I was the fairy responsible...

28 February 2011 Paper flowers

You can use any type of paper to make flowers. I use tissue paper, Crêpe paper, cardboard, newsprint and coffee filters (new and used) to make sweet peas, carnations, paper...

11 November 2012 Autumn Leaf Rosette

Great way to use all the autumn leaves you collect on walks during the season. Slowly build up the leaf rosette and let the leaves dry before adding a few more.

2 July 2019 Grass Spiral Wind Spinner

Thread grass into flexi grass to create a spinner that gently turns in the wind.

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.

Related Designs

4 September 2019 Gently down the stream

A mindful summer craft using banana leaves to create a floating arrangement.

7 July 2021 Do and Don'ts

One of my trusty tried and tested techniques. When the going gets hot... float your flowers!

8 June 2022 Make Believe

Ever seen an eucalyptus flower? This is... and is not one.

3 August 2022 It's a Heatwave!

Deep water design for extremely warm weather.

17 May 2023 Purple haze… float

Softest Wisteria colour to cool things down on an unexpectedly warm day.

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.

22 May 2024 Let me float my Wednesday idea by you for a bit

Floating the most delicate cut flowers

14 August 2024 everything in one

Connect a unit of leaves... and a pretty floppy stem with thorns.

4 September 2024 A shade around there, probably… maybe

A dried flower and foliage... flower... disk to help me pretend it is autumn

3 July 2019 Taking a Breather

A relaxing summer design that spins gently in the wind

30 December 2015 Achoo! Season

Fold and roll a rose from Eucalyptus leaves

1 March 2017 Gumusservi

To celebrate the 6th year anniversary of My Creative Workbook I am looking at the most popular Tutorial I have done to date:

11 July 2018 Stay-a-Float

Snip florets from a hydrangea mop head to float on water

17 January 2018 Flowering Between a Rock and a Hard place

Create a subtle contrast by floating or anchoring some of your design elements.

3 January 2012 Going Cold Twinkle Turkey

Is it better to go Cold Twinkle Turkey and embrace the minimalist living room or rather ease into it?

24 September 2014 Leapfrog

Fold and weave a frog from grass

5 December 2018 Personal Preference

The third design I did for my book launch demonstration looking at aspects that influences my effortless style of designing.