My Creative Workbook

Christine de Beer - effortless floral craftsman

Wire Stars

Draw a star shape on cardboard.

Cut out the star.

Wrap the shape with wire.

Soak the wire and cardboard stars in warm water.

When the water is cool to the touch remove the stars...

Pull out the soggy cardboard...

So that you have a puffy star shape to design with.

... to hang in your design.

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Tutorials
Beaded wire Leaf
25 September 2019
Beaded wire Leaf

This week I show you the Tutorial for the wire leaf shown in my book on page 14 ... this time in copper.
Wire curls
5 May 2011
Wire curls

curl wire to add to designs
Wire baubles
5 May 2011
Wire baubles

Make baubles from wire
Beaded wire
14 January 2011
Beaded wire

Thread thin wire with tiny beads
Spiral Wire Cages
13 October 2011
Spiral Wire Cages

The cage spirals to form a basket that wrap around the plump ripe berries (or you can slip in a flower) to hang as connections between the twigs.
Twist a twisting Wire Angel
10 December 2011
Twist a twisting Wire Angel

Just a few twists are required to make this Wire Angel
Sisal Stars
1 January 2011
Sisal Stars

Paper towel cardboard tubes create the basic shape of my stars
Weaving a twig wreath
1 November 2011
Weaving a twig wreath

For my design I wanted the wreath to look wind blown so I added a few loosely woven twigs into the weave. I also wanted to emphasize the autumn colours so I added a twirling copper wire into the weave
Weaving a diagonal green grass basket
1 February 2012
Weaving a diagonal green grass basket

Once you figure out how to do the corners weaving a diagonal shape is actually not that hard to do.
A bark strip and fluffed cotton disk wreath
28 December 2016
A bark strip and fluffed cotton disk wreath

Cover a wreath frame with bark strips and fluffed out cotton
Hang a wreath on a door without knocking nails into the door face
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.
Here it is: the quickest, easiest Christmas wreath… ever!
18 December 2019
Here it is: the quickest, easiest Christmas wreath… ever!

My work is usually so labour intensive... this one came as a wonderful surprise... it really is both quick and easy to craft this wreath!
Twist your own Wire Wreath frame
12 August 2012
Twist your own Wire Wreath frame

Make a wire wreath frame with wire and cover it with growth mesium or moss to design on
Twirling New Year’s wish upon a sparkle star
1 January 2025
Twirling New Year’s wish upon a sparkle star

Craft a birch bark star mobile to celebrate the sparkling New Year
Twig Christmas Star
8 December 2021
Twig Christmas Star

Make your own twig Christmas stars- the easy way.
Green Patina Copper Bells
8 December 2021
Green Patina Copper Bells

Easiest bell DIY. Add a bit more character by chemically treating the bell to have a lovely green patina.
Contactless gift exchange wreath perfect to double as Santa’s Gift Bag for your front door
25 November 2020
Contactless gift exchange wreath perfect to double as Santa’s Gift Bag for your front door

Craft a small pouch into a half-and-half wreath so that you can leave... and receive tiny gifts and cards in true Christmas 2020 style .
Related Designs
Have yourself a Merry Cellulose Fibre Christmas: Yule log
18 November 2020
Have yourself a Merry Cellulose Fibre Christmas: Yule log

...ok not really that fancy- it’s made from paper pulp. A cardboard box Yule log… really. In the spirit of 2020- I am inspired by the endless stream of cardboard boxes being delivered.
Large Open Weave Twig Basket
8 April 2011
Large Open Weave Twig Basket

Easter Basket used in the Durbanville Flower Club Easter Parade Demonstration
A Jingle Cotton Christmas
28 December 2016
A Jingle Cotton Christmas

Cover a wreath frame with bark and cotton for a textured Christmas wreath design
A Happy, Merry, Jolly (easy as that!) Eucalyptus Christmas wreath
18 December 2019
A Happy, Merry, Jolly (easy as that!) Eucalyptus Christmas wreath

Now this is quite a discovery! And it honestly is the easiest and quickest way to go from "I still want to decorate for Christmas" to "... aaand I am done, I made our wreath"
So white
25 November 2015
So white

A dried Baby's breath and fresh orchid wreath
A Candy(cane) Cotton Christmas
14 December 2016
A Candy(cane) Cotton Christmas

A floral cotton candy cane
It's a swell time…
12 December 2012
It's a swell time…

An exceptional moment frozen in time… 12:12:12 12/12/12
The year is so new it… sparkles!
1 January 2025
The year is so new it… sparkles!

A sparkling star design to celebrate the New Year
It’s the most… it’s the most... Jingle Patina Christmas of all!
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 Christmas star wreath.
Have yourself a Merry Cellulose Fibre Christmas: Santa’s gift bag wreath
25 November 2020
Have yourself a Merry Cellulose Fibre Christmas: Santa’s gift bag wreath

...ok not really that fancy- it’s made from paper pulp. A cardboard box gift bag wreath… really. In the spirit of 2020- I am inspired by the endless stream of cardboard boxes being delivered.
Favourite Flowers
Phalaenopsis
Phalaenopsis

Phalaenopsis orchid detail from my Harnessing the Wind design