My Creative Workbook

Christine de Beer - effortless floral craftsman

Turn shop bought baubles into designer frosted snowballs

Dip a dry bristle brush in thick water based craft paint

Dab the brush in a dry container to spread the paint on the brush.

Paint the lightest dry brush strokes over the shiny bauble.

I usually test my brush on my hand. It is rather messy but it is the best way to make sure you have just enough paint on the brush.

Don't cover the entire surface... just enough to let the shine shine through the paint.

Turning a shiny, inexpensive bauble into a designer, antique look snow ball.

For my design I frosted both shiny and matte gold baubles to create an understated glow of gold without it looking too stark against the winter themed wreath.

Once dry your frosted baubles are ready to design with.

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Tutorials
How to dress a shop bought artificial wreath to go from meh to: it looks so real!
13 November 2019
How to dress a shop bought artificial wreath to go from meh to: it looks so real!

Just a few adjustments can transform a boring artificial wreath into a high end looking designer decoration.
How to fake a blizzard in floral designs
13 November 2019
How to fake a blizzard in floral designs

Part of the charm of contemporary designing is adding elements to your work that create a story.
Paper flowers
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 roses, blossoms, lilies, poppies and orchids.
A tangle of ribbon instead of a bow for an unusual winter design
13 November 2019
A tangle of ribbon instead of a bow for an unusual winter design

I wanted my design to look more "found this way" than "designed this way" so I strategically tangled the ribbon to dangle down the design rather than tie it in a neat bow.
How to use artificial plants or faux plants to create beautiful and long lasting decorations without it looking tacky or... sad.
13 November 2019
How to use artificial plants or faux plants to create beautiful and long lasting decorations without it looking tacky or... sad.

What if you absolutely HAVE to decorate with faux plants? Here are my guiding rules when it comes to styling with permanent botanicals
Winter White Gyp Wreath
25 November 2015
Winter White Gyp Wreath

A dried wreath in winter white
Silver bell Christmas Greenery kissing ball
2 December 2015
Silver bell Christmas Greenery kissing ball

Use delicate sprigs of cypress or juniper, fir, pine, eucalyptus, ivy or a combination of them all to create a winter themed kissing bough
Bark and Cotton Candy Cane
14 December 2016
Bark and Cotton Candy Cane

Cover a cardboard shape in cotton and bark to create a floral armature
Blow away hot glue strands
24 July 2012
Blow away hot glue strands

When you glue a structure with hot glue there are always a few stray strands of glue stuck all over the design. Blow it away with a hairdryer.
Adding snow to twigs
28 December 2016
Adding snow to twigs

Glue artificial snow to twigs
Large wax snowflakes
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"
How to dress a shop bought artificial wreath to go from meh to: it looks so real!
13 November 2019
How to dress a shop bought artificial wreath to go from meh to: it looks so real!

Just a few adjustments can transform a boring artificial wreath into a high end looking designer decoration.
How to fake a blizzard in floral designs
13 November 2019
How to fake a blizzard in floral designs

Part of the charm of contemporary designing is adding elements to your work that create a story.
A tangle of ribbon instead of a bow for an unusual winter design
13 November 2019
A tangle of ribbon instead of a bow for an unusual winter design

I wanted my design to look more "found this way" than "designed this way" so I strategically tangled the ribbon to dangle down the design rather than tie it in a neat bow.
How to use artificial plants or faux plants to create beautiful and long lasting decorations without it looking tacky or... sad.
13 November 2019
How to use artificial plants or faux plants to create beautiful and long lasting decorations without it looking tacky or... sad.

What if you absolutely HAVE to decorate with faux plants? Here are my guiding rules when it comes to styling with permanent botanicals
Fluff out and bend wired faux plant material
13 November 2019
Fluff out and bend wired faux plant material

With just a bit of extra effort you can give an artificial plant a bit of personality
Related Designs
Stacking the odds in your favour
2 December 2015
Stacking the odds in your favour

Cover a wire frame for a winter kissing bough.
A Candy(cane) Cotton Christmas
14 December 2016
A Candy(cane) Cotton Christmas

A floral cotton candy cane
It’s unreal!
13 November 2019
It’s unreal!

Design 1 of my three week pre-Christmas designing series looking at How to style with artificial plants and branches using quality faux plants and stems. This week: a wreath