My Creative Workbook

Christine de Beer - effortless floral craftsman

Vase topped with a Hollow Wreath for Halloween

Chop a dried vine wreath open at one side.

Gather a few of the vines and bind it together with bark wire.

Design note: In the spirit of my " 5 design rules" that I have set for myself for all the designs that I share here on the My Creative Workbook website (one being that I only use items in my Tutorials that are easy for you to find) and because I have heard that it is sometimes difficult to find bark wire everywhere in the world I have a Tutorial for you on how to make it yourself. See the Tutorial section below. But I will also share my Design Rules for my website next week make sure you are subscribed to my weekly email for advance notice for when the design is ready.

See the tendril curls in the bark wire? I have included the detailed instructions on how to add that in the Tutorial section below.

Split the vine open and place it around an oblong shaped container. Secure the opposite vine ends with curled bark wire.

Fill the container with water.

Once the opened up wreath is secure it is ready to design with...

Weave in more vines from the one end to the other.

Adding in tendrils to extend in all directions from the opened up wreath.

Make sure the vine is pinched securely in place over the container before adding flowers.

Thread the flowers through the wreath so that the long stems curve around the wreath frame and into the water filled container...

Creating an elegant stem line that adds, rather than distract from the wreath shape.

Continue adding flowers using the wreath to keep the flower heads suspended in position and the stems firmly in the water so that they remain hydrated.

Glue in dried autumn leaves. Using the trick I showed you last week in my email to make the top ones stand up...

... And the bottom leaves to look like they softly fell into place.

Add a few skeleton leaves.

See the Tutorial below for more detailed instructions on how to make skeleton leaves.. and if you would like to learn more page to Page 113 of my book.

Glue in a few water tubes... for the daisy spiders ( of course!)

See the Tutorials below for more details on how I made the Gerbera daisy spiders... and the water tubes.

And spin a thin glue spider web all over the design...

For more detailed instructions on how to spin the glue web see the Tutorial below... but before you start spinning the web have a look at the tip I have for you in this week's newsletter to protect the more delicate design details so that you don't ruin all your hard work right at the end! Make sure you are signed up so that you do not miss out on these once-a-week discussions on the finer details of each design.

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Tutorials
Arachnis Gerbera-petal-legicus
28 October 2020
Arachnis Gerbera-petal-legicus

The easiest Gerbara disk floret spider... ever!
Skeleton Leaves
22 September 2012
Skeleton Leaves

Remove the pulp from leaves so that only the vain framework remain
Spinning a Hot Glue Spider Web or silk for a Floral Cocoon
28 March 2011
Spinning a Hot Glue Spider Web or silk for a Floral Cocoon

How to spin (and remove) hot glue spider web or floral cocoon
Wire Tendrils
26 July 2011
Wire Tendrils

Curl the wire at irregular intervals to create a natural wire tendril similar to that of a passion fruit plant
Drinking straw "test tubes"
4 January 2011
Drinking straw "test tubes"

When you need to keep a tiny stem hydrated this is just what you need.
Wired Monkey Vine
30 March 2011
Wired Monkey Vine

This wired rope is inspired by Monkey vine that you see hanging from trees. It is strong, rough and very tough. Covering the rope with mud will add texture and it also insulate the wire from rust by creating a protective layer
Paper covered Wire
1 March 2011
Paper covered Wire

Cover the wire with the raffia
Beaded wire
14 January 2011
Beaded wire

Thread thin wire with tiny beads
Twig and skeleton leaf Stick Insect
29 September 2011
Twig and skeleton leaf Stick Insect

Made from dried cherry twigs and a skeleton leaf.
Physalis Pod Stick-man
31 October 2017
Physalis Pod Stick-man

Glue twigs into a stick man for a Halloween design
Tendril vine Wreath Pumpkin
27 September 2017
Tendril vine Wreath Pumpkin

Reshape a vine wreath into smaller wreaths to combine as a pumpkin
Using a pin to place tiny dew drop crystals
8 July 2015
Using a pin to place tiny dew drop crystals

It's sometimes difficult to place a tiny crystal or bead exactly where you want it.
Use dried roots from a re-potted Monstera to create a root lace-wreath
14 May 2025
Use dried roots from a re-potted Monstera to create a root lace-wreath

Every repotting season I struggle with what to do with my overgrown Monstera plant. It absolutely loves hanging out in my design room... so... let's design, Monstera!
Summer harvest Vine Swirl
14 September 2022
Summer harvest Vine Swirl

A great way have your vines root and enjoy them too...
Weave a willow wreath around a minimal pumpkin display
13 October 2021
Weave a willow wreath around a minimal pumpkin display

It’s amazing how we sometimes try to complicate a design. I tried adding calla lilies… took them out and loved the willow. Added gerberas. Took them out and loved the willow. Added orchids. Took them out and loved the willow. Added Dahlias… and yes, took them out and loved the willow. So finally I just thought- I really do love the willow.
A quick and easy way to Craft a Twig Basket Using Wire Tendrils
6 October 2021
A quick and easy way to Craft a Twig Basket Using Wire Tendrils

The hardest part of this is actually making the tendrils. From there it's a few twists... and we are done!
Wire wrap for a shallow container to keep a twig arch armature neatly in place
15 September 2021
Wire wrap for a shallow container to keep a twig arch armature neatly in place

Wrap a wire around both ends of a shallow container to keep the twigs in place.
Related Designs
Large Open Weave Twig Basket
8 April 2011
Large Open Weave Twig Basket

Easter Basket used in the Durbanville Flower Club Easter Parade Demonstration
Spider web covering the design with drops of glittering rain
28 March 2011
Spider web covering the design with drops of glittering rain

Weaving hot glue spider webs
There once was a bat called Tequila, a Halloween story
30 October 2019
There once was a bat called Tequila, a Halloween story

An all plant zero waste, levitating, twig (with just a splatter of autumn leaves, a breath of spiderweb and float of roots) Halloween decoration with an eerie bat skeleton made from twigs lurking just over there.
Pick-Up Sticks
29 September 2011
Pick-Up Sticks

A twig and stick design with sweet dumpling pumpkins and rosary vine (Ceropegia woodii). I also made a cherry twig and skeleton leaf Stick Insect
Pick your poison
2 November 2016
Pick your poison

A Fun Halloween design with "poisonous mushrooms" tucked between the moss and petals
On Pumpkin Coloured Days
28 October 2015
On Pumpkin Coloured Days

Create a besom broom to sweep up those Autumn leaves
Prickly
2 October 2013
Prickly

Build a twig porcupine armature for fall flowers
Whipped up in the autumn breeze
4 October 2017
Whipped up in the autumn breeze

Give a loosely woven wreath legs to stand on to hover lightly around a pumpkin
As tendrils tend to do
27 September 2017
As tendrils tend to do

Curl a wreath with tendrils to create a twig-pumpkin
But what’s inside?
3 October 2018
But what’s inside?

This week we are looking at the contents pages of my book... but more specifically at the sweet little pod design on the content page of my book.
Spring Light
14 May 2025
Spring Light

Wrap and weave a lace fine disk.
Overgrown S-Autum-mer Swirl
14 September 2022
Overgrown S-Autum-mer Swirl

Designing for somewhere not still summer not yet autumn weather...
Gratitude
13 October 2021
Gratitude

A minimal Thanks Giving design that is a modern take on a wreath
A good measure of Autumn
6 October 2021
A good measure of Autumn

A wire and twig permanent display basket with tiny water sources for a few fresh flowers that can be replaced as needed.
Blowing this way and that
15 September 2021
Blowing this way and that

Craft an arch armature to display those early autumn treasures.
Magic Spell Number 614: How to make absolutely any task you need to do fun
28 October 2020
Magic Spell Number 614: How to make absolutely any task you need to do fun

A hint of a wreath table top design for pre-Halloween decorating.
Favourite Flowers
Gerbera
Gerbera

Floral art demonstration design with Gerbera and twigs.