Weaving a pod shape from ripped foliage
Weaving a pod shape from ripped foliage
Weave a pod shape armature
Glue a Sisal Fiber Bubble
Glue a Sisal Fiber Bubble
Mix Sisal fibers and glue to make a bubble
Covering corsage magnets with florist tape
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Covering corsage magnets with florist tape
Weaving a Straight Edged Strip
Weaving a Straight Edged Strip
A beautiful woven strip that is quite easy to make
Macramé hanging vases
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Macramé hanging vases
Knot wool to create a catch to hang tiny bud vases from
Skeleton Leaf Flameless Candle Cocoon
Skeleton Leaf Flameless Candle Cocoon
Cover a balloon with skeleton leaves to create a cocoon
Twin Leaf Weave
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Twin Leaf Weave
Weave two palm leaves together to create a floral grid
Bird's Nest Lattice
Bird's Nest Lattice
Cherry stems and ripped flax makes a perfect natural lattice to suspend floral material from
Rolling leaf tubes
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Rolling leaf tubes
Roll foliage to create tubes
Magnetic Twig Foundation for a handbag corsage
Magnetic Twig Foundation for a handbag corsage
A twig platform for a handbag corsage that wont damage the bag
Fold a Palm Cross
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Fold a Palm Cross
This is a traditional Palm Sunday or Easter craft
Grass shelter for a glass bubble vase
Grass shelter for a glass bubble vase
Weave a shelter around a glass vase
Clover Knot
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Clover Knot
Fold a Shamrock or Clover knot for St. Patrick's Day
Radiating twig and wool collared Bridal Bouquet
Radiating twig and wool collared Bridal Bouquet
Use wool and twigs to create a bridal bouquet
Ripped Foliage Mesh
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Ripped Foliage Mesh
Create a delicate mesh over the design
Manipulating stems: Snapping at an angle, Bending, Spiraling, Curling and Straightening
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.
Petal Hearts
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Petal Hearts
Cover heart shapes with petals
Sealing floral foam shapes with candle wax to make them water tight
Sealing floral foam shapes with candle wax to make them water tight
A thin layer of melted wax creates a watertight layer for floral foam
Casting wet cement to have surface cracks
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Casting wet cement to have surface cracks
The goal is to cast the cement in such a way that the surface of the cement dries faster than the sub-surface cement. As the water from the wet cement at the bottom rises it pushes through the dried surface, causing beautiful cracks.
Fold a Foliage Fish
Fold a Foliage Fish
Fold and weave a fish from two blades of grass
Funnel shaped pick-up-sticks armature
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Funnel shaped pick-up-sticks armature
By making a very secure armature, it is possible to stack and suspend loose twigs on top of it building on the stable foundation
Twig liners for floral cupcakes
Twig liners for floral cupcakes
Wire a few twigs around wire spirals to cover the test tubes for tiny floral cups
Weaving ribbon through a twig structure
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Weaving ribbon through a twig structure
A great way to dress up baskets or other twig structures
Bark Veneer Cardboard Cake stands
Bark Veneer Cardboard Cake stands
A quick and easy way to make a cardboard cake stand
Sharp Edged Arc Armature
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Sharp Edged Arc Armature
A bark chip veneer is a great way to create a precise shape that looks natural but can't be found in nature.
Bark Veneer Cardboard Floral Cake
Bark Veneer Cardboard Floral Cake
Glue a stack of cardboard circles to create a log-like floral cake
Floral Ice Cream Cones
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Floral Ice Cream Cones
Weave a few cones and add orchids to make the floral ice cream cones
Bark and paper covered Styrofoam stand for ice cream cones
Bark and paper covered Styrofoam stand for ice cream cones
Press a wooden skewer into the Styrofoam to help the cones stand upright when displayed
Midelino Cane Coil Globe Cup
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Midelino Cane Coil Globe Cup
Weave a loose, round floral art armature
Knot a Cordyline Catcher
Knot a Cordyline Catcher
Create a rigid grid to place over a glass vase to keep flower material in place
Tiny Twig Christmas Treasure Trunk
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Tiny Twig Christmas Treasure Trunk
Wire a small twig gift-box for Christmas presents
Pine Cone Roses
Pine Cone Roses
Cut pine cones smaller to look like roses
Fill hollow bark with test tubes
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Fill hollow bark with test tubes
Glue tiny sections of pipe to the bark to fill as a water source for the fresh flower material
Wire hooks for baubles
Wire hooks for baubles
Bend thin decorative wire to create hooks to hang baubles or design details
Dress up candy cane favors with boxwood, ribbon and beads
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Dress up candy cane favors with boxwood, ribbon and beads
A quick and easy way to decorate a few candy canes for Christmas flower club favors
Eucalyptus Snow Flakes
Eucalyptus Snow Flakes
Glue seeded eucalyptus snow flakes
Piled Pine Needle Tabletop Wreath
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Piled Pine Needle Tabletop Wreath
Use wood glue to make a light as air table top wreath from pine needles
Moss and Wire Baubles
Moss and Wire Baubles
Roll bits of moss and wire to make neat little baubles
Twig Lanterns
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Twig Lanterns
Wire short twigs around wire rings to create rustic flameless tea-light lanterns
Single strand pine needle chain-link garland
Single strand pine needle chain-link garland
A glue-less all natural way to make a garland
Fluff cotton wool for snow
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Fluff cotton wool for snow
Cotton balls can be unrolled and fluffed to create long garlands of "snow"
Winter Woodland Chandelier
Winter Woodland Chandelier
Twisted hazel branches and willow stems, eucalyptus and Dendrobium orchids woven together to create a decorative Christmas chandelier
Green Trick Floral Wings
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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
Autumn Leaf Rosette
Autumn Leaf Rosette
Great way to use all the autumn leaves you collect on walks during the season. Slowly build up the leaf rosette and let the leaves dry before adding a few more.
Ripped Grass Frame
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Ripped Grass Frame
Create a sheltered or veiled design by framing the outer edge of your armature (in this case thick cardboard) with long strands of grass
Stalk and Husk Scarecrow
Stalk and Husk Scarecrow
Use husks or dried leaves to make a scarecrow or doll
Midelino Harvest Moon Basket
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Midelino Harvest Moon Basket
This is a great flat and open basket to take outside when “harvesting” your fall leaves, pods and flowers. Who knows, you might even find a ghost pumpkin or three…
Wire spider legs for tiny glass test tubes
Wire spider legs for tiny glass test tubes
Give small test tubes long legs to stand on
Fighting Botrytis
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Fighting Botrytis
If drops of water gets sprayed onto cut flower heads (like here on these Pasque Flower seed heads) it can get trapped deep between the petals and create the ideal environment for Botrytis spores to germinate causing premature spoiling of the flowers
Taco-shaped twig armature
Taco-shaped twig armature
Make a half-moon shaped armature to fill with flowers
Leafy Autumn Pumpkins
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Leafy Autumn Pumpkins
Glue fall leaves to sticks to make small pumpkins
Fresh vine display tray
Fresh vine display tray
Fresh passion fruit vines are coiled to create a tray.
Mikado Reed Line-up
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Mikado Reed Line-up
Creating a good quality armature makes it effortless for you to replace flowers, as they fade, with fresh blooms for an ever changing and long lasting floral design.
Weaving a ball shaped Dew-drop Catcher from grass
Weaving a ball shaped Dew-drop Catcher from grass
Weave a sphere from grass
Skeleton Leaves
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Skeleton Leaves
Remove the pulp from leaves so that only the vain framework remain
Stiffen and set skeletonized leaves into a whirl
Stiffen and set skeletonized leaves into a whirl
Skeletonized leaves can be shaped while wet to create shapes
Stir-stick Sunburst
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Stir-stick Sunburst
Glue a radiating armature from stir-sticks.
T- Pin blades of grass
T- Pin blades of grass
Make a small grass "propeller" by pinning blades of grass into the design
Wrap a gift test tube with ribbon
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Wrap a gift test tube with ribbon
Use this technique to gift ribbon wrap a single stem or cover the stems of a bouquet with ribbon
Infinity fold for storing ribbon
Infinity fold for storing ribbon
Neatly roll you ribbon to store flat in a drawer
Braid a Celtic heart knot
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Braid a Celtic heart knot
Braid or knot a traditional Celtic heart with foliage
Hook for Kyogi paper
Hook for Kyogi paper
Add a simple hook to the top of the Kyogi paper strips to easily hook it in place
The Three legged trick for Upright Constructions
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The Three legged trick for Upright Constructions
When in doubt, always give your armature three legs. Two legs are simply not enough and four legs will wobble if it is even slightly off balance.
Hanging flowers rightside-upside-downside
Hanging flowers rightside-upside-downside
I love hanging flowers to loosely dangle and move in a design
Curling Kyogi Paper
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Curling Kyogi Paper
Kyogi paper can be curled if you work with it wet.
Spiked Wire test tube catchers
Spiked Wire test tube catchers
Create a spiral to catch a test tube
Driftwood on Stilts
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Driftwood on Stilts
Give a piece of driftwood legs to stand on
Banding a bundle of twigs
Banding a bundle of twigs
Create a decorative accent for the design by wrapping the twigs with pink wire to create a small bundle.
Up-cycle CD base for driftwood
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Up-cycle CD base for driftwood
Stack and glue a few used CD's to create a secure base for a simple piece of driftwood
Rooting Succulents in a design
Rooting Succulents in a design
Rooting succulents in Rainbow Oasis pebbles creates not only a long lasting design but also an ever changing design as you remove rooted plants to grow in pots and add those leaves or long shoots that you want to propagate back into the design.
Driftwood beavers lodge
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Driftwood beavers lodge
Stack and glue driftwood to rest on bottles to create a frog to keep thin blades of grass neatly in place
Wool Wire
Wool Wire
Create a rigid but fuzzy wool covered wire
Fuzzy Wool bottle detail
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Fuzzy Wool bottle detail
Wood glue not only glues the wool to the bottle but it also makes the wool makes the wool inflexible.
Wool finish Styrofoam base
Wool finish Styrofoam base
Fast and easy way to create a base to rest a few vases or bottles on.
Midelino cane coil basket
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Midelino cane coil basket
Weave a hand basket from Midelino cane coils
Pine scale wreath
Pine scale wreath
Break pine scales from the cone and glue on a wreath frame to create a continuous pine scale wreath
Peel a Pine cone
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Peel a Pine cone
It is easier to peel a pine cone from the flat side than to try and break the scales from the top
Twist your own Wire Wreath frame
Twist your own Wire Wreath frame
Make a wire wreath frame with wire and cover it with growth mesium or moss to design on
Stringing wool and Spanish moss
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Stringing wool and Spanish moss
Create veil of wool and Spanish moss
Delicate twig and rosary vine garland
Delicate twig and rosary vine garland
Spiral stems around a Ceropegia woodii or Rosary vine.
Cherry stem Masquerade Masque
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Cherry stem Masquerade Masque
Glue cherry stems to create a mask
Blow away hot glue strands
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.
Stacked Twig Roundabout
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Stacked Twig Roundabout
This is a great way to use all those bits of twigs and sticks in your design room to make a floral armature
Guacamole Green Coiled Grass Chameleon
Guacamole Green Coiled Grass Chameleon
My Chameleon is mono-botanical. Made from coiled grass
Prevent scratches, rust and water stains on display surfaces
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Prevent scratches, rust and water stains on display surfaces
This is a great, non permanent way to protect surfaces from damage
Arum lily roll down
Arum lily roll down
Open an arum lily up by rolling the funnel shaped spathe (petal) over
Bark covered heart
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Bark covered heart
Cover cardboard with bark to create a heart shaped log
Stabilizing sticks for dried or fresh flowers
Stabilizing sticks for dried or fresh flowers
Create a full design without the weight by stabilizing the flowers with glued sticks. This is a great alternative to floral foam.
Longer stems for dried flowers
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Longer stems for dried flowers
Give dried hydrangeas (or other dried flowers) a longer stem to make it easier to work with.
Smooth dried hydrangea flowers in the palm of your hand
Smooth dried hydrangea flowers in the palm of your hand
Hold a dried hydrangea flower in the palm of your hand to smooth out the folds
Whisper butterflies
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Whisper butterflies
Acetate is the clear plastic mostly used for packaging design. It is thicker than cellophane and holds its shape much better.
Twig mushroom
Twig mushroom
Stack and wire a twig mushroom armature
Driftwood precariously perched on the edge of a pebble
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Driftwood precariously perched on the edge of a pebble
Wire and glue the driftwood at an angle to balance on a pebble
Berry dye for sisal fibers
Berry dye for sisal fibers
Soak sisal fibres in strawberry and black berry juice to stain it purple
Tapping away Tulip pollen
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Tapping away Tulip pollen
Tap away most of the pollen from a fully opened tulip
Up-cycle Styrofoam packaging to create a low pave design
Up-cycle Styrofoam packaging to create a low pave design
Polystyrene or Styrofoam makers ideal shapes to pin or glue plant material to.
Delicate Decorative Barbed Wire
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Delicate Decorative Barbed Wire
Very thin barbed wire to add contrast to a soft and fluffy design
Sticky Shooting Star
Sticky Shooting Star
Glue gypsophila sticks, flowers and dandelion seeds into a star shape
Making the Bug Box
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Making the Bug Box
The tiny bug box is perfect to carry wedding rings in by a dapper Ring Bearer
Making the Butterfly Net
Making the Butterfly Net
A woven butterfly net to carry scatter petals in for a small flower girl
Unravel Bind-Wire
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Unravel Bind-Wire
Unravelling bind-wire from the inside out, keeps it from tangling.
Plaiting a palm thorn garland
Plaiting a palm thorn garland
This is the basic technique used in traditional Easter crafts to plait a crown of thorns.
Drying Hydrangeas: Fast, Flat or Natural
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Drying Hydrangeas: Fast, Flat or Natural
Use all three methods to dry hydrangeas to get three very different textures to use in design work.
Spiral twig frog
Spiral twig frog
Multiple tiny twigs create a flower frog to keep the delicate buds and leaves in the exact spot you want.
Filling a vase with water without disturbing the design details
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Filling a vase with water without disturbing the design details
Break the water flow when you fill a vase with details in that can move with the stream of water
Harvesting cyclamen flowers and foliage
Harvesting cyclamen flowers and foliage
Cyclamen stems are so close together that it is easy to damage the plant when cutting stems.
Bite and snap a sturdy twig
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Bite and snap a sturdy twig
Break the sturdy twig on the scribe line.
Stringing pearls
Stringing pearls
Long blades of thin grass or ripped flax are ideal for stringing decorative beads
Mikado Reed drop shaped nest
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Mikado Reed drop shaped nest
A sturdy shape made by binding Mikado reeds keeps the thin strands of flax in place.
Nestled grass pebble
Nestled grass pebble
Weave a grass pebble for flowers to nestle in
Cinderella Spiral Pumpkin from Midelino Cane Coils
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Cinderella Spiral Pumpkin from Midelino Cane Coils
Tie Midelino Cane coils to make a spiral armature
A plait, a braid or a French knot grass collar
A plait, a braid or a French knot grass collar
"Plaid" and "braid" are synonyms, and where you are from will most likely dictate whether you use plait (British) or braid (American or Celtic). Some people also refer to cornrows as braids or refer to pinned up plaits as braids. A French braid is a braiding technique.
Floral Fridge magnet in a nutshell
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Floral Fridge magnet in a nutshell
Tuck one half of a corsage magnet in a nutshell before designing to create a floral fridge magnet
Staining Midelino cane Coils
Staining Midelino cane Coils
White Midelino cane is easy to stain in any colour
Drying Mushrooms for Floral Art
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Drying Mushrooms for Floral Art
I use edible mushrooms in my designs. To preserve them I press a tiny stake into the base and let them air-dry.
A secret trick to conditioning new growth
A secret trick to conditioning new growth
Conditioning new growth and sprouts are difficult because the little sprouts have not had time to fully develop its cellular structure to survive being cut and taking up water on its own. The cells will collapse within hours from severing and the beautiful new growth will wilt looking limp in your design. But new growth looks so fantastic and it is always tempting to try to include it.
Just Hatched Papier Mache Easter Eggs
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Just Hatched Papier Mache Easter Eggs
Glue newsprint paper to balloons to make large egg shaped containers to design in
A Neighbor friendly way to deflate a balloon
A Neighbor friendly way to deflate a balloon
Apart from avoiding the noise popping a balloon makes this is also a less violent way to deflate a balloon when you make Papier Mache items
Paste and cut Wooden Feathers
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Paste and cut Wooden Feathers
Wood glue makes wood veneer or Kyogi paper soft and playable to make feathers with
Foam pin holder drying rack
Foam pin holder drying rack
This is a convenient way to keep flowers perfectly upright while you wait for glue to dry.
Chrysanthemum spongy stem spacers for a floral lariat necklace
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Chrysanthemum spongy stem spacers for a floral lariat necklace
The inside of Chrysanthemum stems are spongy and easy to thread as stem spacers for a floral lariat necklace
Pompon Chrysanthemum, bud and eucalyptus pom-poms
Pompon Chrysanthemum, bud and eucalyptus pom-poms
Pompon Chrysanthemums make perfect floral pom-pom beads
Wire hairpin needle for threading flowers
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Wire hairpin needle for threading flowers
Hairpin wire needle to pierce flowers.
Keep pod shaped flowers in bud for longer
Keep pod shaped flowers in bud for longer
Sometimes you want to keep flowers in tight bud for as long as possible to suit your design
Moss Camouflage
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Moss Camouflage
Sometimes you need a pot or vase to look more natural or completely disappear in a design. The easiest way is to cover it with moss or natural growth medium.
Use a Boutbuddy corsage magnet to hang test tubes
Use a Boutbuddy corsage magnet to hang test tubes
This is a fast and easy way to hang test tubes in a design
Cover test tubes with moss
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Cover test tubes with moss
Make test tubes look a bit less obvious and more natural by covering them with moss.
Drying Physalis sepals
Drying Physalis sepals
Every Autumn we see the beautiful Physalis pods everywhere but they are easy to dry and preserve to use year round.
Curl Equisetum shoots into a snail shell spiral
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Curl Equisetum shoots into a snail shell spiral
Equisetum is hollow and jointed resembling miniature bamboo but it can be shaped into spirals by wiring the shoots
Twig lattice to cover a basket
Twig lattice to cover a basket
Make a lattice or grid cover for a basket by pressing sticks through the basket
Where to cut Tulips to condition
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Where to cut Tulips to condition
Here is a trick to make sure your tulips will condition thoroughly
Boutbuddy corsage magnet as stabilizing weight for light accessories
Boutbuddy corsage magnet as stabilizing weight for light accessories
Sometimes tiny accessories can be too light to neatly place in a design and needs a bit of weight to stabilize it.
Paper log stack
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Paper log stack
I made this log stack from cardboard covered with bark
Salty Playdough
Salty Playdough
Playdough is heavy, pliable, easy to mix, sticky, inexpensive and dries overnight. Perfect for floral art accessories!
Permanent Mossy Stick tree
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Permanent Mossy Stick tree
Create a twig tree by using clay to secure twigs and sticks into a pot
Kyogi paper wood veneer
Kyogi paper wood veneer
I wanted to create extremely light weight wooden blocks for my design. The easiest way is to cover Styrofoam with a Kyogi paper veneer.
Glue a round stacked twig platter
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Glue a round stacked twig platter
Stack and glue tiny twigs to create a round platter
Party Balloon water source for flowers
Party Balloon water source for flowers
A water balloon can be a flexible and durable water source for plant material
Coiled Grass Armature
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Coiled Grass Armature
Connect grass covered wire rings with short reed sections to create a natural looking Floral Art armature
Gladiolus Composite
Gladiolus Composite
This looks spectacular but it is the easiest composite flower to make
Wire and bend foliage
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Wire and bend foliage
Wire and bend foliage in any shape
Moss Heart
Moss Heart
Biodegradable copper mesh makes the perfect shape to fill with moss to grow tiny stem plants
Love Bug
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Love Bug
Heart shaped rosery vine and pine love bug
Weaving a diagonal green grass basket
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.
Weaving Willow spheres
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Weaving Willow spheres
I build up the spheres by weaving willow wreaths and then use those to shape the ball
Butterfly feeler hooks for swinging test tubes
Butterfly feeler hooks for swinging test tubes
I don't always want to wire my test tubes into the design. I like to create a bit of movement by simply hooking the tubes to gently swing.
Butterfly hairclip claws to hold twigs in place while glue dries
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Butterfly hairclip claws to hold twigs in place while glue dries
Butterfly hair clips are the perfect little claws to help you hold tiny items in place while you wait for glue to dry
Mossy Twig handbag
Mossy Twig handbag
Radiate short twigs in a circle to make a moss and twig handbag
Cellophane wrap cracked ice
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Cellophane wrap cracked ice
Cellophane and plastic wrap in a clear vase, filled with water, creates a cracked ice effect
Bubble raft to float flowers
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.
Large wax snowflakes that float
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Large wax snowflakes that float
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"
Macramé inspired hanging test tubes
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 fishing line knots at the sides also protect them against bumps
Weaving a gift box with a lid from palm leaves
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Weaving a gift box with a lid from palm leaves
A great all natural gift decorating alternative
Sugar Frosted flowers, fruit or foliage
Sugar Frosted flowers, fruit or foliage
Egg white and sugar creates a natural frost effect
Spiral wire support pressed into a candle
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Spiral wire support pressed into a candle
The wire spirals are supported on wire sections pressed into the wax
Measure the height of a table design from elbow to duck beak.
Measure the height of a table design from elbow to duck beak.
This is an easy and quick way to make sure your table design is the right hight
Twist a twisting Wire Angel
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Twist a twisting Wire Angel
Just a few twists are required to make this Wire Angel
Encouraging Moss and Lichen to grow on a design
Encouraging Moss and Lichen to grow on a design
This time of year is best for starting a moss garden. It needs to be cool and wet. Lichen and moss becomes dormant when it is too hot and dry.
Hang a wreath on a door without knocking nails into the door face
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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.
Glue a forest filigree twig wreath
Glue a forest filigree twig wreath
This wreath is not woven but glued to create a see-through forest filigree
Messy wire lace
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Messy wire lace
I call this “lace” because I use pins to guide the wire sections together- almost like you do when making lace.
Assembling a Mobile on a twig top bar
Assembling a Mobile on a twig top bar
Here are the two secrets to assembling a well balanced hanging sculpture: First: Let gravity do the work. Do not fight it. And Secondly: Start from the bottom of your design and work your way up. Each piece has a balance point. Find that and connect it to the piece above
Twig and glue Angel
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Twig and glue Angel
Cut short sections of twigs to glue into an Angel shape
Making the waist corsage using the Boutbuddy Magnet Stix
Making the waist corsage using the Boutbuddy Magnet Stix
The Boutbuddy “stick” is the backbone of the design, strengthening the narrow heart shape and adding support and balance.
Adding Beads into a posy
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Adding Beads into a posy
I wanted my beads to softly float above my snowball posy. If I glued the beads to some of the flowers it would just disappear in the mass of twigs and flowers.
Curve a flower around the design with a T-wire
Curve a flower around the design with a T-wire
Gently bend and secure the Alstroemeria flower head into the twig design
Gypsophila snowball posy
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Gypsophila snowball posy
A Posy made of Gypsophila flowers can look flat. I use a dried Hydrangea twig as a flower frog to puff it out
Weaving a twig wreath
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
Suspend flowers and candy on an acetate and wire garland
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Suspend flowers and candy on an acetate and wire garland
Drape an acetate garland around the pumpkin, on the wires, to create a halo
Acetate Garland
Acetate Garland
Acetate is the clear plastic mostly used for packaging design. It is thicker than cellophane and holds its shape much better.
Straightening wire
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Straightening wire
Wire is always sold in a roll and it can be very frustrating to try to remove bends, kinks and curls.
Making a parasol
Making a parasol
I glued wooden slats into a frame and then wove flax string to create the floral parasol
Hana-Kubari chopsticks
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Hana-Kubari chopsticks
Splitting the chopsticks or a wooden branch, such as a willow twig creates a natural (and glue-less!) clamp.
Prevent teeth marks on soft wire when you bend it with pliers
Prevent teeth marks on soft wire when you bend it with pliers
Even long nose pliers without grooves still damage soft aluminum wire. Pad the pliers with a plaster.
Spiral Wire Cages
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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.
Pumpkin lid
Pumpkin lid
Create an off-centre, slightly away from the pumpkin, lid with the stem section.
Pumpkin legs
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Pumpkin legs
I wanted my pumpkin to lift its head slightly so that it is easy to see the beautiful sepals inside. Making tiny legs also prevent the pumpkin from rolling.
Remove the berry from a Physalis pod without ripping the sepal
Remove the berry from a Physalis pod without ripping the sepal
Cut the sepal from the fruit
Roll spiral blossoms
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Roll spiral blossoms
Cut leaves and petals and roll a spiral blossom
Twig and skeleton leaf Stick Insect
Twig and skeleton leaf Stick Insect
Made from dried cherry twigs and a skeleton leaf.
Inserting leaves into slim slats
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Inserting leaves into slim slats
Guide the fall leaves into the slats with the long length of a needle
Weaving with tufts of grass
Weaving with tufts of grass
The fine sections of grass are securely woven and interwoven and resting on the wooden slats. It looks very fragile but is secure enough to use.
Birch wood coffee stir sticks fan
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Birch wood coffee stir sticks fan
I wanted to make a thin and delicate fan with open spaced slats for weaving plant material through.
Making the lily grass harness
Making the lily grass harness
Loops and straight sections of lily grass connected into a grass harness
Looping the lily grass shape
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Looping the lily grass shape
Loop lily grass around a basic structure or shape made from paper.
Autumn leaf Composite Flower
Autumn leaf Composite Flower
Glue a round Autumn leaf Composite Flower.
Twig collar
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Twig collar
Create a light and transparent collar-base for the large composite flower to nestle into.
T-Wiring
T-Wiring
A t-wire create a stem to insert grass or twigs to shadow a design without laying flat
Autumn leaf Roses
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Autumn leaf Roses
I used to make baskets full of these when I was a little girl. We had a big Acasia thorn tree and I used to spear my “roses” onto the tree pretending I was the fairy responsible for bringing blossoms.
Removing Oasis Floral Adhesive glue spills
Removing Oasis Floral Adhesive glue spills
The finish of every design should be flawless. Make sure there are no bits of glue visible in your design by carefully removing all traces of spills.
Suspending and positioning a Phalaenopsis orchid under water
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Suspending and positioning a Phalaenopsis orchid under water
Flowers naturally float and you will need some kind of sinker to keep them suspended under water.
Curving Calla Lilies
Curving Calla Lilies
Follow the flower's natural curve but you can also curve only sections to create an elegant crescent or a curve at the tip of the stem
Placing orchids in test tubes
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Placing orchids in test tubes
Cut the Phalaenopsis orchid with a bit of green stem attached. This will make them last longer.
Stain wooden skewers with natural dye
Stain wooden skewers with natural dye
Using fruit, berries, flowers, leaves and grasses to naturally stain design details for floral art relies on the same techniques as using paint or any other dye.
Oasis Receptacle
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Oasis Receptacle
I rarely use Oasis as a water source. But I love to use it as a sculptural medium to carve re-usable shapes for my floral art
Cut spiked flower stems into short sections
Cut spiked flower stems into short sections
Orchids grow in long flower spikes. It is great to use the entire stem but sometimes you need shorter section. There is a trick to cutting the stems without leaving a visible blunt stem.
Fast way to fill a lot of test tubes in awkward places
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Fast way to fill a lot of test tubes in awkward places
I do not believe in arranging flowers without a water source of some kind. I want my flowers to remain as beautiful for as long as possible and I often get quite creative to ensure a water source for even finer stems and blossoms.
Twig cocoon
Twig cocoon
Cherry twig frame for my cocoon design
Free standing basket
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Free standing basket
I tied the strong inside veins of the 5 Aspidistra leaves (that I used to make the garland with) to make my basket armature.
Foliage Pleat Garland
Foliage Pleat Garland
Folding a garland from strips of a Aspidistra leaf
Alliums
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Alliums "breath freshener"
Lessen the smell of Garlic and Onion related flowers
Curl Allium stems while conditioning
Curl Allium stems while conditioning
Allium stems twist and turn and follow sunlight
Corsage Magnets
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Corsage Magnets
Most contemporary corsages and boutonnieres are now fixed with magnets and no longer pins that could damage fabric
Weaving a heart from shaved wood strips
Weaving a heart from shaved wood strips
I wove my basic heart shape from shaven wood strips but you can use flax, grape vine, willow or any other flexible plant material
Copper Wire Ring
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Copper Wire Ring
Bend and curl a adjustable copper wire ring
Wire Tendrils
Wire Tendrils
Curl the wire at irregular intervals to create a natural wire tendril similar to that of a passion fruit plant
Create a flat base to glue small florets securely
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Create a flat base to glue small florets securely
Make a small loop the size of your ring to create a flat surface to glue your tiny plant material on.
Weaving a fan basket
Weaving a fan basket
Dark and dramatic burgundy lilies are tucked in low to line a fan shaped basket that unravels into an unruly nest
Weaving a bird
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Weaving a bird
I wove my bird from shaved wood but you can also use flax, coconut palm (more traditional) or paper or ribbon
Paper Foundation for Kyogi paper wood curls
Paper Foundation for Kyogi paper wood curls
Gently curl and tuck strips of Kyogi paper to form a tangle of curls and scatter a few orchids to create the impression that a gust of wind just blew it that way
Tie an Iris leaf tassel
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Tie an Iris leaf tassel
A tassel (also called a tuft) consist of: A suspending cord, the body, a fringed or ornamental skirt
Cover the drinking straw test tube with bark
Cover the drinking straw test tube with bark
I made about 100 rose stem test tubes for my Zipper Design
Twig Zipper
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Twig Zipper
I wanted my Zipper to be "edgy" rather than "peaceful", so using bamboo or reeds or willow would not be appropriate.
Making wire roots for the
Making wire roots for the "fabric" at the back of the design
I wanted a delicate, yet rough "fabric" to back my edgy Zipper. Something that will stand up to the thorns and rose twigs but not over power them. It definitely had to predominantly plant material: I chose roots and bullion wire.
Foliage Weaving
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Foliage Weaving
For this tutorial I focus on a simple weave pattern that does not require you to soften or prepare the leaves to be more durable or flexible. This is the starting point in weaving techniques. You can build on this technique to make floral handbags, gift boxes, and baskets, sew it into a curve or wrap it around a vase or cover a test tube.
Papier Mache
Papier Mache
I save all the thin tissue paper or un-printed newsprint papers that are wrapped around the flowers that are delivered to me to make batches of Papier Mache with. These sheets make fantastic Papier Mache because it is designed to be super absorbent and colour fast.
Lining containers to make them waterproof
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Lining containers to make them waterproof
If you use Papier Mache, terracotta or clay or any precious container that might scratch, rust, or discolour or disintegrate when it's in prolonged contact with water it is best to line the container with plastic before you add wet foam.
Wire apples and seal the insertion point
Wire apples and seal the insertion point
Adding whole apples to a hand-tied or wired design is easier if each apple is wired to craft stems that can bend and twist into place. For an arrangement I would recommend using picks or sticks instead of wires
Slow down tulip growth, after the stems have been severed from the bulbs
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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.
Unravel wire from a copper pot scrubber
Unravel wire from a copper pot scrubber
Up-cycle a pot scrubber to get a huge roll of very pretty copper wire
Wire Tiara
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Wire Tiara
Bend and wrap the Tiara out of wire.
Wire baubles
Wire baubles
Make baubles from wire
Wire curls
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Wire curls
curl wire to add to designs
Add flowers to the Copper wire Tiara
Add flowers to the Copper wire Tiara
Decorate the wire tiara with florets, curls and baubles
Weave a willow twig blind
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Weave a willow twig blind
Weave twigs in parallel to create a twig blind with strong but natural horizontal lines.
Natural stem hook to hang plant material from
Natural stem hook to hang plant material from
Side stems of branches can be used as hooks to hang floral material in a design.
Test tube on a stick
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Test tube on a stick
Include a single floret (such as an orchid) or bundle a few weaker stems (such as lily of the valley) into an arrangement or hand tie by wiring a test tube to a stick.
Make the Wrist Corsage bracelet
Make the Wrist Corsage bracelet
Cut the plastic, sand and wrap with ribbon
Decorate the wrist corsage
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Decorate the wrist corsage
Glue rosette shaped succulents onto the wrist corsage
Wind Spinner
Wind Spinner
My inspiration for my Harnessing the Wind design was a wind spinner.
Bark covered Wreath
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Bark covered Wreath
Keep in mind that in order to make a realistic looking fantasy design element, such as the wreath, you must focus on how this item would grow in nature.
Mud balls
Mud balls
How to cover Styrofoam, plastic, oasis and fibreglass balls with mud.
Anchoring Mushrooms onto the design with a mud putty
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Anchoring Mushrooms onto the design with a mud putty
How to make a sticky putty out of mud
Wired Monkey Vine
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
Mud Bricks
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Mud Bricks
Made in a similar way to larger bricks used to build with
Spinning a Hot Glue Spider Web or silk for a Floral Cocoon
Spinning a Hot Glue Spider Web or silk for a Floral Cocoon
How to spin (and remove) hot glue spider web or floral cocoon
Condition Epiphyte Orchids
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Condition Epiphyte Orchids
How to condition Orchids to use as plants in an arrangement without placing the roots in a growth medium
Mud Pie baskets
Mud Pie baskets
I made the baskets from plastic cupcake cups.
Tiny Note books
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Tiny Note books
Binding books with a paper band
Serviette rings
Serviette rings
Create a serviette ring from fall leaves, acorns, wire and tissue paper
Butterfly Net
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Butterfly Net
You will need wire, a short stick, twig, dowel or bamboo and net.
Melting Wax for Floral Art
Melting Wax for Floral Art
For Floral Art the temperature of the wax rarely exceeds the minimum melting point.
Reed Hourglass
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Reed Hourglass
Glue small sections of Mikado Reeds into a hour glass shape
The Floral Hourglass Wax Foundation
The Floral Hourglass Wax Foundation
Pour a foundation from cardboard and wax
Patina Copper
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Patina Copper
The colour and the effect will vary due to application, temperature and humidity.
Made to fit carrier to transport the wax shape foundation
Made to fit carrier to transport the wax shape foundation
Although the wax is strong it is also soft and can easily be damaged. I make carriers for my wax shapes so that it doesn't damage in transit.
Making a Wax bowl using a mould
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Making a Wax bowl using a mould
Dip shapes into wax to create a bowl
Wire and bend Equisetum
Wire and bend Equisetum
Create lasting shapes by wiring Equisetum
Hot Glue nest
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Hot Glue nest
Place a plate under your hot glue gun to catch drips when you work. You can use these drops of dried glue later in designs
Cover fruit with wax
Cover fruit with wax
Dipping red grapes in pale wax creates a cloudy layer that is not only anti-bacterial (prevents fruit from spoiling and releasing the ethylene gas) but also gives depth and instantly attracts attention.
Reflex Tulip Petals
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Reflex Tulip Petals
Tulip petals can be opened or reflexed to create a fuller bloom
Wax Disk
Wax Disk
I loved how peaceful this smooth wax looked when combined with the tulip and tendrils. Like a lily floating on a pond.
Paper covered Wire
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Paper covered Wire
Cover the wire with the raffia
Paper flowers
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.
Relaxing Lavender Salt Spa Bath
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Relaxing Lavender Salt Spa Bath
Made from crushed Lavender and Salt
Types of Oasis
Types of Oasis
Dry foam (normally a grey block) used for dried or artificial flower arrangements, wet foam (normally a green block) for fresh flower arrangements and decorative Rainbow Oasis (foam or powder).
Soaking Oasis
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Soaking Oasis
Each block of foam holds forty times its own weight in water. One brick holds two litres of water
Pebbles
Pebbles
Cut and smooth pebbles out of Rainbow Oasis
Rainbow Oasis rocks!
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Rainbow Oasis rocks!
Trying all kinds of floral foam to get the best results when carving
Cover plastic test tubes with Oasis Rainbow Foam powder
Cover plastic test tubes with Oasis Rainbow Foam powder
Covering test tubes with foam make them completely disappear in a design
Hanging Jars
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Hanging Jars
Add a handle to jars to hang in a design
How to use Rainbow Oasis in Powder form
How to use Rainbow Oasis in Powder form
Create colourful designs with Powdered Rainbow Oasis
Hanging Jar tea light lantern
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Hanging Jar tea light lantern
Set candles into the soaked powder
Rainbow Oasis Hearts
Rainbow Oasis Hearts
Cut heart shapes out of Rainbow Oasis
Using Oasis to weigh down an underwater garland
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Using Oasis to weigh down an underwater garland
Soaked Oasis is heavy and can be used as weights to hold design details under water
Cut Rainbow Oasis shapes to make multi-coloured designs
Cut Rainbow Oasis shapes to make multi-coloured designs
Mix and match Rainbow Oasis colours to create patterns
Felt
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Felt
How to tangle wool into felt and make pebbles, felt strips and test tube covers
Brick on a stick
Brick on a stick
Create simple but effective stands for Floral Art
Broken chips of ground
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Broken chips of ground
Add chips of soil as accessories to your Floral Design
Melt plastic Soda Bottles into the
Melt plastic Soda Bottles into the "water" shapes
Heat makes the plastic distort creating fantastic shapes
Ripping Flax
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Ripping Flax
Flax can be ripped into fibres creating long and versatile strips
Beaded wire
Beaded wire
Thread thin wire with tiny beads
Palm leaf Hopper-flies (grasshoppers and butterflies)
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Palm leaf Hopper-flies (grasshoppers and butterflies)
Weave grasshoppers or butterflies (or fireflies) from palm leaves
Peel a Protea flower
Peel a Protea flower
Peel away the tepals and bracts from a Protea flower hear to make a large composite flower orb
Drinking straw
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Drinking straw "test tubes"
When you need to keep a tiny stem hydrated this is just what you need.
Syringe with tube
Syringe with tube
Easy way to fill test tubes and easiest way to remove water from a vase
Lilies
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Lilies
How to keep Lilies in bud for longer. Removing the pollen. Stringing a Lily Garland.
Sisal Stars
Sisal Stars
Paper towel cardboard tubes create the basic shape of my stars
Equisetum
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Equisetum
Create a natural flower "test tube" or a light with Equisetum
Test tubes
Test tubes
To prevent bacterial growth that diminishes the vase life of your flowers wash your test tubes after every use.

About me

This is my ongoing creative workbook to research and capture design projects and techniques. You will mostly find ideas for floral art but I will also include some other projects such as gift packaging, cards and even cake decorating with a few lifestyle projects arranged in between.

Everything you see in this workbook was designed, made and photographed by me, unless specific credit is given to another designer.

Getting Creative with Boutstix Magnet Stix: Succulent and Air Plant Boutonniere ...

Hana , Kubari and Kenzan . Watch them as they follow your mouse hoping you will feed them by clicking the surface of the water.
Thank you http://abowman.com/