Cherry Blossom die cut card

I have just returned home from a little over 2 weeks of vacation. I am exhausted, yet inspired and will be creating like crazy in the coming weeks. This is a card I created with the new Susan Tierney Cockburn, Flowering Quince die set, from Sizzix.

I started with some Smoothie cardstock and patterned paper from retired Lucy paper pack. The flower petals were cut from Blush cardstock; the stamen from White Daisy; and the branch from Saddle cardstock. 

You can't really see the branch too well, but I discovered how to make a very realistic branch. I took a 1" x 6" piece of Saddle cardstock and crumpled it up; then opened it up; then crumpled it up again. I did this until it was fairly soft and well wrinkled. Then I started twisting it upon itself from one corner, until it was like a twisted strip that I folded into a "V" shape. It was ready for flowers to be glued upon it.

I coloured the tips of the stamen with a yellow marker before rolling it up and glueing it inside the flower. I forgot to colour the base of each petal and did a messy job of that after the flower was together.

I added a Sweet Leaf border with a background and sentiment stamp from a retired set. Then I added Silver Shimmer Trim ribbon and some Opaque Pearls to complete the card.

All supplies are Close To My Heart, unless noted.
Patterned paper: Lucy
Cardstock: White Daisy; Smoothie; Blush; Sweet Leaf; Saddle
Ink: Sweet Leaf; Black
Embellishments: Silver Shimmer Trim; Pearl Opaques; Liquid Glass
Other: Susan Tierney Cockburn Flowering Quince Die; Copic Markers