My Creative Workbook

Christine de Beer - effortless floral craftsman

Sticks stuck in a ground covered foundation

Break the edges to create a natural looking shape

Break the edges of a long piece of styrofoam to create a natural looking shape

Move around the Styrofoam and pinch away the neat sharp edge.

Move around the Styrofoam and pinch away the neat sharp edge.

Rough edged polystyrene.

The rough edged polystyrene.

Paint the Styrofoam shape brown

Paint the Styrofoam shape brown

No need to be perfect, the shape will be covered in potting soil

No need to be perfect, the shape will be covered in potting soil

Pour wood glue and warm water in the paint bowl.

Pour wood glue and warm water in the paint bowl.

Mix to create a runny brown glue.

Mix to create a runny brown glue.

Spread the glue on the Styrofoam shape

Spread the glue on the Styrofoam shape

Sprinkle some potting soil on to the wet glue

Sprinkle some potting soil on to the wet glue

Gently pat the soil down to make sure it sticks

Gently pat the soil down to make sure it sticks

Cover the entire shape and set aside to dry

Cover the entire shape and set aside to dry

Drip some more glue on to the armature

Drip some more glue on to the armature

And sprinkle more potting soil to cover any gaps

And sprinkle more potting soil to cover any gaps

Set the ground covered foundation aside to dry completely

Set the ground covered foundation aside to dry completely

Cut a cardboard half circle that is exactly the same size as the ground foundation

Cut a cardboard half circle that is exactly the same size as the ground foundation.

Place the cardboard on a flat working surface

Place the cardboard on a flat working surface. Measure the twigs to conform to the cardboard shape. Add about a centimeter to the length of the twig so that you can push it into the ground covered polystyrene

Cut each twig at a very sharp angle so that it easily spears into the polystyrene

Cut each twig at a very sharp angle so that it easily spears into the polystyrene without ripping it apart

Rest the cardboard on the foundation and spear the first twig into place

Rest the cardboard on the foundation and spear the first twig into place

Alternate between spearing twigs at the back and the front

Alternate between spearing twigs at the back and the front so that the cardboard stands upright with the support of the twigs

Gently push each twig down into the foundation until it exactly match the shape of the cardboard

Gently push each twig down into the foundation until it exactly match the shape of the cardboard

Space out the twigs to fill the armature

Space out the twigs to fill the armature

Gently lift away the cardboard

Gently lift away the cardboard

The twig armature is now ready to design with

The twig armature is now ready to design with

Add a few loose twigs to the foundation

Add a few loose twigs to the foundation

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

Tutorials

2 October 2013 Spiny Twig Porcupine Armature

Glue a few twigs to display Autumn flowers and foliage on

18 June 2014 Sticking a stick curve to create a hollowed out crescent armature

An easy way to create a neat curve in a very short time

Related Designs

26 November 2014 Late Autumn Early Christmas.

Glue a ground foundation for a late autumn design

12 July 2017 Sparkler

A radiating twig design

21 February 2018 Impossible things

A cut stem flower frog for the heavy Hanging Heliconia flowers

6 November 2019 Dance lessons from the Autumn leaves

A fun and easy contemporary floral design to display foraged autumn leaves and just a touch of flowers that can easily be replaced.

5 February 2020 What it’s all about

A bundle of twigs armature to create a pretend Spring design for a snowy morning.

13 September 2023 I am a fan!

Giving my book a super fan make-over.

2 October 2013 Prickly

Build a twig porcupine armature for fall flowers

18 June 2014 Stuck stick

Glue a few sticks to create a hollowed out crescent armature