Hi everyone! Today I have something a little different to share with you. I’m always looking for ways to stretch my supplies, and sometimes the best inspiration comes from the most unexpected places—like the packaging from my latest Altenew order!

If you’ve ordered from Altenew recently, you might have noticed the beautiful postcards they include with their marketing info and QR codes. The floral designs on them are just too pretty to throw away, so I decided to turn one into the focal point for two separate cards.

I started by splitting the decorative panel into two pieces. For the first card, I wanted to keep things really simple and let that gorgeous print do all the work. It’s a sweet little note card that would be perfect to tuck into a gift. All I did was trim it down and use a craft punch on two of the corners. Since the design was already so vibrant, it really didn’t need anything else on top!

For the second card, I used the leftover piece of the panel and got a bit more playful with my dies. I reached for some oval dies from my stash to create a fun, shaped focal point. Now, I did have a little “happy accident” here. My die-cutting machine’s cutting plate is getting a bit old and started leaving some stray impressions on the glossy cardstock that I wasn’t too fond of. To fix it, I decided to lean into the texture and used an older Altenew cover plate to create a more intentional, embossed look over the whole piece. It completely masked the accidental marks and added such a sophisticated touch!

Of course, I couldn’t resist adding one of my signature butterflies to this one. I almost added one to the note card too, but I’m trying to practice a little self-restraint! The “celebrate” sentiment is actually from a very special stamp set that Altenew sent me for their 12th anniversary. They personalized it with “Created by Varada Sharma,” which was just incredibly thoughtful of them.

I’m so happy with how these turned out, and it’s a great reminder to take a second look at your “scraps” before you toss them. I’d love to know—have you ever used packaging in your card-making? Leave a comment below and tell me about your favorite upcycled project!

Hugs!
~Varada