My Creative Workbook

Christine de Beer - effortless floral craftsman

Hanging Twig Line-Up

Carefully bend a twig to make it more pliable

Carefully bend a twig to make it more pliable so that you can manipulate it.

See the Tutorial below for more detailed instructions on how to manipulate twigs.

Cushion the twig with your finger to cure it rather than bend it at a sharp angle

Cushion the twig with your finger to curve it rather than bend it at a sharp angle

Carefully curve it more and more

Carefully curve it more and more...

Until you can roll it into a double loop

... until you can roll it into a double loop.

Hold the two ends together with your finger

Hold the two ends together with your finger...

Secure the loops with a willow stem

.. and secure the loops with a willow stem

Wrap the willow around the loops

Wrap the willow around the loops.

Secure by weaving the stem into the wrapped loop

Secure by weaving the stem into the wrapped loop.

Cut the stems for the spine of the hanging design.

Cut the stems for the spine of the hanging design. You can cut the stems to any length. To add visual interest I varied the stems to combine in a bundle.

Place the stems together on a flat working surface

Place the stems together on a flat working surface.

Secure the stems with a willow knot

Secure the stems with a willow knot.

Push the first horizontal stem through the twig bundle

Push the first horizontal stem through the twig bundle.

Move down the armature and add as many horizontal twigs as you require

Move down the armature and add as many horizontal twigs as you require.

Add two more twigs to every horizontal twig

Add two more twigs to every horizontal twig. One over the middle twig bundle and one under.

Secure the twigs with raffia or willow

Secure the twigs with raffia.

This create a pretty view from all sides if the design spins

This creates a pretty view from all sides if the design spins.

Hang the armature from the top loop

Hang the armature from the top loop.

Glue in water tubes for the fresh plant material to sty hydrated

Glue in water tubes for the fresh plant material to remain hydrated

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

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

Tutorials

19 February 2013 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...

4 January 2011 Drinking straw "test tubes"

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

22 May 2012 Bite and snap a sturdy twig

Break the sturdy twig on the scribe line.

18 January 2017 Chain-link string and twig armature

By removing every other twig you open up space for larger flowers to nestle in

17 February 2016 Stack a Twig Enclosure

Loop and tie a few stacked twigs to create an enclosed floral armature

30 April 2015 Willow twig Corsage Platform

To create a layered look for a corsage tie a foundation of twigs with fresh willow stems

11 June 2014 Horizontal twig disk

Wire a few twigs to create a disk armature

14 August 2013 Haphazard twig Rectangle

Glue a few twigs into a rectangular shape to hang as a space or room devider

Related Designs

25 April 2018 Get in line!

Line up a few pussy willow twigs for a hanging armature

22 January 2020 Spacer

Armatures are great (budget friendly) spacers for creating large floral designs without using an enormous amount of your resources.

28 February 2024 When the Super-duper is taking it Easy-peasy

Easy does it design that hints at but is not yet as intensive as the fun basket weaving and crafting that comes with Spring designing.

18 January 2017 Look at you!

Tie twigs to shape a hanging armature

17 February 2016 Where would you put it!?!

Tie a twig armature enclosure for fresh flowers

25 March 2015 Pulling some Strings

Braid a twig blind armature

11 June 2014 To

Make a quick and easy twig disk armature

14 August 2013 Something Like This

Stack and glue a large twig rectangle to hang as room divider

13 October 2011 Direct Contrasts

I have always been fascinated, as a designer, by the idea that there is a point when extremes or direct contrasts flip into its opposite.