Papertrey March Blog Hop Challenge - Sequin Vase

My first attempt to make a card with sequins, for today's sequin-themed Papertrey Ink March blog hop challenge on Nichole's Capture the Moment blog.  This card is lovely in real life, but it wasn't easy for me to capture as an image.  Lots of shiny reflections and shimmery sparkle!  A silvery gray vase and bright silver threads complement the theme.

Technique:  My flower stems are hand-drawn.  Here's how I do that.

• Place the flower shapes (die cuts or, in today's card, sequins!) as desired on the card base, without adhesive.  
• Mark a tiny dot on the card base for the center of each flower.  Super-easy with the sequin holes!  
• Remove the flower shapes.  
• Draw stem lines between the vase and the tiny dots, including some curves and branching for a natural effect.  I usually start with the outermost lines, then the tallest lines, to avoid criss-crossing.  
• Adhere the flower shapes. 

Card details:

• Card stock is Papertrey Ink (PTI) aqua mist, silver shimmer, and bitty dot print from aqua mist pattern pack.
• Flower stems are drawn with Copic turquoise and cool gray 0.3 multiliners.  The turquoise ink looked too bright on its own, so I added cool gray over/ beside it.
• Flowers are silver, aqua, and turquoise 3/8" sequins.  Thank you again, Emily! 
• Adhesive note:  In the end, I used Scor Tape to adhere the sequins.   At first I tried Glossy Accents, which typically works well for me, but when it was dry, the sequins easily popped off the paper.
• Dies are PTI mega gracious vases and cover plate: twist (used for the embossing).  
• The vase is popped up on foam tape.  
• Thread is DMC argent (silver) metallic. 
• Sentiment "Thinking of you today" is computer-printed in turquoise with Handwriting Dakota font, expanded spacing.

Almost all my cards are created for Operation Write Home, "supporting our nation's armed forces by sending blank handmade greeting cards to write home on, as well as cards of gratitude to encourage them."   But I'm not sure how mailable this card will be.  So to be sure everything stays in one piece, I'll do a test mailing before I use sequins for OWH.   (270)