My Creative Workbook

Christine de Beer - effortless floral craftsman

Guacamole Green Coiled Grass Chameleon

For the head:

Roll a blade of grass around a thin dowel.

Roll a blade of grass around a thin dowel, pencil or straw to start the coil. Secure with a tiny drop of glue.

Coil the grass.

Coil the grass around the loop. Spiral the coil out as the blade of grass gets thicker. Secure with a drop of glue.

Loosely coil the grass to shape the head.

Loosely coil the grass to shape the head.

Glue the end of the blade of grass flat.

Glue the end of the blade of grass flat.

For the tail:

Curl the tapered end of a blade of grass.

Tightly curl the tapered end of a blade of grass around a wooden skewer. Stretch the grass slightly to secure the curl.

Carefully unwind the grass from the skewer.

Carefully unwind the grass from the skewer without releasing the curl

Tail curl.

The tail curl will also unwind slightly while you make the rest of the chameleon

Fold the blade of grass over.

With the curl facing up, fold the blade of grass over and secure the fold with glue.

Fold the blade of grass under.

In the middle point of the first fold, fold the blade of grass under and secure the second fold with glue

Roll the grass to cover the fold.

Roll the grass to cover the fold lines. Secure the coil with glue.

For the body:

Coil the grass to shape the body of the chameleon.

Coil the grass to shape the body of the chameleon.

Press the firm stem part of the grass through the coil.jpg

Press the firm stem part of the grass through the coil. This creates a support for the tail to prevent it from wilting as the grass dries.

Add another blade of grass and continue to shape the body

Add another blade of grass and continue to shape the body

Glue the tapered end of a new blade of grass over the support tail stem.

Glue the tapered end of a new blade of grass over the support tail stem.

Wrap this blade of grass over the coiled body.

Wrap this blade of grass over the coiled body to create a second layer of coils.

Coiled grass chameleon body.

Tuck the end piece of the grass in to the body and secure with glue

Glue the head to the body.

Glue the head to the body.

For the eyes:

Coil a blade of grass tightly around a wooden skewer.

Coil a blade of grass tightly around a wooden skewer.

Secure the end with glue.

Secure the end with glue.

Pull the skewer out.

Carefully pull the skewer out.

Roll a second eye.

Roll a second eye.

Glue the eyes.

Glue the eyes.

For the legs:

Cut for thicker grass stems.

Cut four pieces of grass from the stem side.

Give the stem a knee fold and then a foot fold.

Give the stem a knee fold and then a foot fold. I found it easiest to add a tiny drop of glue inside the bend crease to secure the fold exactly how I want it.

Fold two more stems for front legs.

Fold two more stems for front legs.

Split the stem.

Split the stems at the foot section to create claws

Glue the legs to the Guacamole Green Coiled Grass Chameleon.

Glue the legs to the Guacamole Green Coiled Grass Chameleon.

For the tongue:

Coil a thin blade of grass tightly around a wooden skewer.

Coil a thin blade of grass tightly around a wooden skewer. Stretch the grass slightly as you roll. This will set the curl in the grass.

Green Chameleon admiring the arum lilies .

Glue the tongue and roll it out slightly.

Place the cameleon in the design .

The grass will dry in place and the chameleon will actually get more character as it matures.

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

Tutorials

30 August 2011 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.

5 January 2011 Palm leaf Hopper-flies (grasshoppers and butterflies)

Weave grasshoppers or butterflies (or fireflies) from palm leaves

29 September 2011 Twig and skeleton leaf Stick Insect

Made from dried cherry twigs and a skeleton leaf.

1 February 2012 Love Bug

Heart shaped rosery vine and pine love bug

8 June 2011 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...

Favourite Flowers

Zantedeschia

Calla Lily, Arum Lily

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