My Creative Workbook

Christine de Beer - effortless floral craftsman

Trapped Bubble Double Shallow Vase Design

20 January 2021
click to send Christine a smile

By using two vases you can create two completely different design surfaces. One dry and one water filled. This time I added a twist- a bubble that makes the onlooker lean in for a closer look.

Place a large glass container on a flat surface.

Place a smaller container inside the larger container.

This trick works so, so well! If you want more inspiration turn to page 169 of my book. Book readers also turn to page 137 for more notes on using glass containers.

Add a few bits of artificial snow to a fresh winter twig.

See the Tutorial below for detailed instructions on how to add artificial snow to twigs.

Curve the twig into the smaller vase.

If you feel unsure of how to manipulate twigs so that they don't snap see the Tutorial below. I also have a section in my book about this is you want to level up on this.

Create a dry twig design inside the vase.

Slowly fill the outside vase with water.

Hold up the flower to see which way it curves.

Design note: I fell in love with this green bit in the flower so this is my front facing side. So my curve will follow anti clockwise.

Place the flower to follow that natural curve around the vase.

Tuck the next tulip stem end below the previous flower.

I have two tips that I wanted to discuss with you this week so I added it to our weekly notification email to make it easier for you to respond or ask questions. Make sure you are subscribed (see the link below) to get advance notice the moment the design is ready for you to read... and to join the behind the scenes conversation about something that inspired me or makes the design special.

Move all the way around and tuck in the tulips.

Spacing out the flowers to create a table top- in a vase wreath.

Sprinkle a bit of floating artificial snow on the surface of the water...

... With a light dusting of snow on the flowers.

Curve a feather (see the Tutorial below for detailed instructions) and add it into the dry section of the design.

Fluffy feathers are rather tricky to glue to twigs... they wobble and move if you don't get it just right. I have a easy to do hint for you on how to glue the feather in the Tutorial below.

To create the bubble fill a syringe with air.

I add a tube to a syringe to make it easy to add water in even the most awkward of vases... but it also works for sucking up water to adjust water levels... and adding bubble. See the Tutorial below for detailed instructions to make your own.

Press the syringe to make bubbles between the two vases. Be careful not to disturb the design details.

Adjust the bubble so that it creates a pretty frame to highlight the feather.

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Tutorials

20 January 2021

Curve a feather

A small adjustment to the shape of the feather creates a more whimsical look.

3 January 2011

Syringe with tube

Easy way to fill test tubes and easiest way to remove water from a vase

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.

28 December 2016

Adding snow to twigs

Glue artificial snow to twigs

4 December 2013

Large wax snowflakes

Artificial snow can be very "chemical" and flowers deteriorate quickly when exposed to it. It also dissolves in water. I use candle wax as "snow"

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.

21 March 2012

Where to cut Tulips to condition

Here is a trick to make sure your tulips will condition thoroughly

21 January 2015

Braiding three Tulip stems

Plait Tulip stems

11 May 2011

Slow down tulip growth, after the stems have been severed from the bulbs

Tulips continue to grow after being cut. Sometimes when you make a very small design or for competition or bridal work you want to minimize growth. The best way to do this is to divert their energy.

4 April 2018

Tap in a Twig Support

Wedge snipped twigs into a glass vase to act as a support for your flowers

1 April 2020

Using your seriously cool hot glue skills to glue a wire support for a tulip stem

A clever almost concealed wire support to keep a single tulip flower upright in a minimal bud design.

29 January 2025

Straight up and down icicle, clematis vine and huckleberry twig double vase winter display

Give an old mechanic a contemporary twist for creating light and airy flower displays.

23 July 2024

Pinching vines in place with almost alike but perfectly unique double vases and twig peg

The tiniest twig peg keep the vines from spilling out of the minimal double vase display.

7 February 2024

Knot willow twigs around a shallow container to keep tiny orchid stems upright

An all natural flower frog that adds to the design feel.

1 February 2023

Spiked Tulip Fan

Fanned out Tulips for a snowy winter display... that stays just so.

1 June 2022

A wild "found it this way" thorn and overgrown tulip design with a ribbon tangle instead of a bow.

Glue an overgrown thorn armature to a container to display fully opened tulips

11 May 2022

A new twist on the cellophane in a submerged design trick to make space for a stem

Create an invisible "stay under water" for blooms that still leaves space for longer stems in a vase.

23 March 2022

A Double vase, Sticky tape, Reflexed AND Woven Nestled Grass and Tulip Whirl

so many techniques rolled into one rather pretty tulip nest. Perfect to celebrate new beginnings: Spring and my book birthday... and my online workshop!