Apple tree card test piece

I was asked to make a card for a 70th birthday. With a connection to the gift, we decided to make a tree with 70 apples on it. 

I'm always hesitant to stick 'things' onto paper, as I think this can look a little… tacky.

So for this test I cut out just the apples from the cream first, then cut away the tree through the cream and orange. The apples remained in colour and nothing is stuck on. 

This is a great technique for layering colours up. However, an orange shadow at the edged of the cream paper could be seen. I therefor chose not to use this solution for the final card, but submitted to sticking on the apples individually.