My Creative Workbook

Christine de Beer - effortless floral craftsman

Turning the sellotape over the vase trick up-side-down for a sticky side out frog

Make a start shaped grid over the vase using magic tape.

Make a star shaped grid over the vase using magic tape.

Tape from the inside out so that the sticky side faces up

Tape from the inside out so that the sticky side faces up

Bring the tape over the vase

Bring the tape over the vase

And secure it inside the vase.

... And secure it inside the vase on the opposite end.

Tape another strip

Tape another strip

And tape another strip

And tape another strip...

Add strips until the opening is covered

Add strips until the opening is covered

Fill the vase with water

Fill the vase with water

Option 1:

Insert the chrysanthemum in an opening in the tape

Insert the chrysanthemum in an opening in the tape

Carefully place petals to radiate out from the chrysanthemum

Carefully place petals to radiate out from the chrysanthemum

Place a the petals neatly

Place a the petals neatly

All facing the same direction

... all facing the same direction

Add the petals one by one

Add the petals one by one

Covering the taped surface as you go along

Covering the taped surface as you go along

Keep following the same direction all the way around

Keep following the same direction all the way around

Add a few rosary vine leaves

Add a few rosary vine leaves...

And a few twigs

... and a few twigs...

To finish the design

... to finish the design

Option 2:

Roll a few willow tips

Roll a few willow tips

Set the willow on the tape grid

Set the willow on the tape grid. Secure with a short willow twig that stick to the tape

Continue to add twigs to create a spiral.

Continue to add twigs to create a spiral.

Add snippets of moss as you go along

Add snippets of moss as you go along

Fill the container with water and insert the flowering stem through the grid

Fill the container with water and insert the flowering stem through the grid

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

Favourite Flowers

Ceropegia woodii

Rosary vine, Chain of Hearts, Collar of hearts and String of hearts

Chrysanthemum

Chrysanthemum or "mums"

Related Designs

2 April 2014 Apricity

Turning a stand-by floral technique sticky side out

6 April 2016 Take it for a Spin

Make a clear grid to suspend plant material on

1 February 2017 Not yet Spring, Spring but a spring

Coil wire and grass to create a spring

22 February 2017 Perfect!

Tulips are so perfect just as they are all that is needed is to simply drape their graceful leaves around the flowers

7 June 2017 Dream, Job

Create a grid to rest some plant material so that it floats and some with their stems to rest in the water below

13 September 2017 Around again

Tape a grid at the edge of a container

1 May 2019 Can you see the tiny hint of Sunshine on the tips of the grass?

I left the grass to mature so that the tips mirror the sun bleached yellow of the orchids.

15 April 2020 Helping Spring Stick Around

Blossom petals drop so quickly! Here's a way to make them last just that little bit longer.

2 December 2020 Have yourself a Merry Cellulose Fibre Christmas: Lost and Found Snow Mittens

...ok not really that fancy- it’s made from paper pulp. A cardboard box snow mittens… really. In the spirit of 2020- I am inspired by the endless stream of cardboard boxes being...

19 May 2021 In the little gap

Use the petals of your flower to cleverly keep all the other floral details of your design firmly in place.

30 June 2021 Into a Puddle!

Heat proof floral design for summer.

23 March 2022 Chockablock!

Luxuriously filled design... filled with flowers... filled with grass. But most fun, for us as designers filled with hidden techniques

2 November 2022 bonfire

A final rosy burst of fiery autumn colour.

31 May 2023 Notice That?/!

Light and airy... like a wonderful breeze on a hot summer day grass and erigeron display.

22 November 2023 Gentle transition

There's no need to rush the seasons. Take it slow and enjoy the plant material that are still available even if you are excited about what is to come...