My Creative Workbook

Christine de Beer - effortless floral craftsman

Twinkle and Pine Christmas Star

Draw a star shape on sturdy cardboard

Draw and cut a star shape from sturdy cardboard.

Secure the wire to one point and start to wrap the wire lightly around the shape.

Secure the wire to one point and start to wrap the wire lightly around the shape.

Wrap the entire star shape

Wrap the entire star shape.

Pinch the edges slightly so that there is a kink in the wire

Pinch the edges slightly so that there is a kink in the wire so that it keeps the shape once the cardboard is removed.

Bend the wire with your pliers to tighten the wire around the star shape

Bend the wire with your pliers to tighten the wire around the star shape

The twist in the wire also give the wire armature an interesting look

The twist in the wire also adds visual interest to the wire star shape.

Soak the cardboard star in a tub filled with warm water

Soak the cardboard star in a tub filled with warm water.

Pull away the soggy cardboard

Pull away the soggy cardboard.

Re-shape the star where needed

Re-shape the star where needed

Glue pine needles to the wire

Glue pine needles to the wire

Follow the star shape.

Follow the shape to highlight the star with every added needle.

Your basic shape is now ready to design with

Your basic shape is now ready to design with.

Add a bit of artificial snow

Add a bit of artificial snow

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

Glue in tiny water tubes

Glue in tiny water tubes

See the Tutorial below for more detailed instructions on how I make tiny water tubes from drinking straws.

Add the fresh flowers and wrap the design with a string of tiny LED lights

Add the fresh flowers and wrap the design with a string of tiny LED lights

See the Tutorial below for detailed instructions on how I add a Secret Battery holder for the lights

Crafting a see through Christmas star

Keep the design light so that you get a magical and ethereal see-through Christmas star.

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

Tutorials

4 January 2011 Drinking straw "test tubes"

When you need to keep a tiny stem hydrated this is just what you need.

28 December 2016 Adding snow to twigs

Glue artificial snow to twigs

7 December 2011 Hang a wreath on a door without knocking nails into the door face

I use two methods (or a combination of both) to attach a wreath to a door.

25 August 2011 Placing orchids in test tubes

Cut the Phalaenopsis orchid with a bit of green stem attached. This will make them last longer.

24 April 2013 Macramé hanging vases

Knot wool to create a catch to hang tiny bud vases from

28 December 2011 Macramé inspired hanging test tubes

When I hang these delicate glass bubbles I want to make sure they are really secure. By slipping them into Macramé inspired knots they are not only hanging securely but the...

12 June 2012 Sticky Shooting Star

Glue gypsophila sticks, flowers and dandelion seeds into a star shape

20 November 2012 Green Trick Floral Wings

Glue gypsophila sticks, green trick carnations, Star of Bethlehem, passion fruit tendrils, jasmine foliage and string of pearls succulents to create floral wings

12 December 2012 Piled Pine Needle Tabletop Wreath

Use wood glue to make a light as air table top wreath from pine needles

10 December 2014 Prickly Pine-needle Square

Create a floral foam cube for a Christmas "gift" table design

10 December 2014 Pine Bauble

Pine needles create tiny balls

17 December 2014 Daisy shaped Pine Star

Use the sheath as a casing to create a decorative pine star

26 August 2015 Sun baked Sweetpea vine wreath

A perfect way to use a Lathyrus vine after all it flowered

16 December 2015 Ivy vine Christmas tree mobile

Twist ivy vines around a cardboard shape to create a lace fine Christmas tree mobile.

29 November 2011 Messy wire lace

I call this “lace” because I use pins to guide the wire sections together- almost like you do when making lace.

Favourite Flowers

Phalaenopsis

Phalaenopsis, Moth orchid

Related Designs

20 December 2017 A Very Merry Christmas Star

A wire Christmas star with a secret plan to hide the twinkle

27 December 2017 Can it be?

Craft a pine tube to display a soft and snow filled winter scene

27 November 2019 The struggle is real!

Design 3 looking at How to style with artificial plants and branches using quality faux plants and stems. This week: mistletoe! And also .. give your faux a reason for being...

11 December 2019 A Very Merry eucalyptus bauble Christmas!

For this year's Christmas tree I wired and glued a wild and wintry twig armature... but... these little eucalyptus baubles are just the cutest!

25 December 2019 Wishing you a Light Touched Christmas

A naturally fragrant, star shaped gift box basket. Merry Christmas to you.

8 December 2021 It’s the most… it’s the most... Jingle Patina Christmas of all!

This is the third of my Christmas 2021 series of designs. This year in the form of a mini workshop… my Christmas present to you. Craft the easiest copper bells to hang in a...

7 September 2022 Of the shades to come

This design requires a bit of prep-time so it is perfect to make while waiting for the first autumn leaf to appear…

30 November 2022 Take a bough… it’s Christmas time!

A wool and twig snowflake design (made from candy canes!) that will last the entire Festive Season.

21 December 2022 Let it

A happy December Solstice or the Winter Solstice lantern.

8 November 2023 A warm up

An almost Christmas... Christmas wreath featured in the winter edition of Flora Magazine.

22 November 2023 Gentle transition

There's no need to rush the seasons. Take it slow and enjoy the plant material that are still available even if you are excited about what is to come...

13 December 2023 A Very Merry Naked Tree and Woodland Woodsy and Oversized Flowers Trendy Christmas Cheer

From now to a bit after New Year's Eve I will show you my take on the trends for Christmas 2023. This week I am continuing with a garland bowl and a cone and twig reindeer.

20 December 2023 A Very Merry Dark chocolate Velvet Texture of Yore, Tall and Trendy Christmas Cheer

Tall and velvety Christmas tree... with a starlight garland

7 December 2011 Forest Filigree Christmas Wreath

I wanted my Hazel twig wreath to look like forest filigree: mysteriously overgrown, tangled with age and dappled with moss and lichen. The wreath is also dressed with fresh and...

15 December 2011 Rocking around Three Candle Trees

Wire spirals twisted around candles to make small Christmas trees for the Christmas Eve dinner table

11 June 2012 Wish Upon a Dandelion Star

A sticky shooting star made with gypsophila stems and fluffy dandelion seeds

20 November 2012 there’s a feeling

Glue snippets of dried green stems and Green Trick Carnation to make tiny floral wings for Christmas

12 December 2012 It's a swell time…

An exceptional moment frozen in time… 12:12:12 12/12/12

11 December 2013 Glistening and glowing out in the snow

Glue twigs to create a snow scattered dome

18 December 2013 Jingle Belling

Glue a stacked twig round-about to use as a Christmas table top wreath

10 December 2014 Let It Snow

Use floral foam to create a pine needle cube

17 December 2014 Star of Wonder

Glue pine needles into star shapes

26 August 2015 Bent

Weave a wreath from sweetpea stems and tendrils

16 December 2015 Christmas Waves

Twist a Kalanchoe and Ivy vine Christmas tree mobile

13 December 2017 Just hear those sleigh bells jingling

Craft a bark sleigh that will last for weeks.

6 December 2017 While I sing of beauty's treasure

Glue the most delicate twig table top Christmas tree

29 November 2011 Jack Frost’s Christmas stocking

I used wire, fishing line (mono-filament) and Phalaenopsis orchid roots to make a messy lace Christmas stocking and dressed the stocking with frost green Cymbidium orchids