Starting 2026 With a Clean Slate and Using Up Leftovers

Hi Altenew friends and fans! It's a brand-new year and it's Erica on the blog today. I have an idea of using up some leftover bits and pieces from last year to start this year with a clean slate, and in anticipation of the new release that hits the shop in just FOUR days!

You might be one of those crafters that I aspire to be, you know the ones who only cut and create the pieces needed for your card and that's it. How do you do it? Please teach me your ways, I always end up with lots of leftovers. No matter how disciplined I try and be, I always create more than I need, and they end up in the leftover box. It's equally helpful at times when I need something quickly, and equally frustrating that I can't stop adding to it. 

A while back I had an idea of using up my leftover scraps of Crafty Necessities Colored Cardstock, I have a little leftover box of those too because I am unable to throw away any scrap of cardstock. I know.. I have issues. Anyway, these scraps came in handy with the idea I had of cutting out lots and lots AND LOTS of circles using the Nesting Circles Die Set.

I just so happened... (or was it another thing I couldn't let go off?) to have a panel of white cardstock from which I had cut out some white circles too. Ok, ok, it's another leftover piece. As soon as I finished cutting out the circles from the cardstock, I had an idea, and what can I say? I couldn't throw it away. That is the one I decided to use as a base for this card. See? Even the most useless looking piece of leftover can come in super handy!! Am I tooting my own horn? Maybe I am, a little bit. 

I layered a lot of different colored circles on top of each other to create a very textured look. I think this turned out so cool, and I really like how the colors complement each other. 

Because this panel turned out so colorful and textured, I thought keeping it simple sentiment wise and went with a 'Happy birthday'. I also added some Satin Pearls in Matte Gold. 

For the second card I had a bunch of already die cut flowers leftover from quite a while ago. I think it might even be as long ago as almost a full year... So, I definitely need to make LESS leftovers or simply use them more often to make more cards. The set is called Fresh Flowers Die Set and it's lovely. I used some very bright and happy colors, so the flowers are happy little pops of color. 

In my box of leftover backgrounds... yes, I have one of those too. I keep tell you I have problems, don't I? Right, so the background I picked out is splattered with silver metallic color from the Metallic Watercolor 14 Pan Set. It gives a very subtle and gorgeous shimmer, but when does metallic not look fab? 

I also happened to have a Mega Thanks Die cut out of white cardstock. With the background, the mega thanks and the fresh flowers it was pretty quick to put the card together. The brightness of the flowers really pop, and the background as well as the thanks take a backseat, which is just how I envisioned it. 

To make the process of adding the flowers to the card easier, I used some Press'n Seal to pick them up and add the liquid glue to the backside of them. 

I thought about adding some sparkle and bling to this card too, but I surprisingly decided not to. 

The last two cards are done with the super fun Elegant Bows set. It has a 3D embossing folder, a layering stencil set to add colors and there is also a coordinating die cut. 

The panels have been embossed with the 3D embossing folder, and then both of them have had colors added to them with the layering stencils. Only very different colors and coverage. That's one of the fun things about layering stencils. You can get such different results, and I adore this! 

I also had a bunch of labels in neutral colors and little word die cuts ready in my little leftover box, some in black card stock and some in gold. I think choosing the gold ones was the right choice. I also found a frame cut out of Citrine Glitter Cardstock. 

These have been layered up in a pretty simple fashion, no fuss or mush. I did wrap a little bit of gold twine around the white and pink one, but that as about it. All the other bits and pieces for both of these cards were all from my various leftover boxes, if you can believe it! 

Well, four cards all done with bits and pieces from my various leftover boxes is not too shabby, is it? If like me, you are a bit of a hoarder and someone who keeps every single little bit, I hope this 'use your leftovers' post has been inspiring and fueled your creativity. Don't hold back, have a bit of a New Years leftover clean-out before treating yourself to new stuff. You have two days before the first release of 2026 hits the shop so go on, use up your leftovers in the next few days and then you can shop without any remorse or guilt, LOL. 

Ok, so I am going to stop jibber-jabbering now and let you get on with your day but if you do get a chance to watch the YouTube video too (where you will see a LOT more leftovers) I'd be ever so grateful for some comments and feedback. Is this sort of using up your leftovers and bits and pieces post and content something you have enjoyed, or do you prefer having a few products in focus? I am genuinely very curious as I want to give you content that keeps you entertained, inspired and give you ideas that have you rushing to your craft room absolutely itching to get creative! 

Thanks again for stopping by today and spending some time with me, I really appreciate it. See you soon for the new release, as well as my next post! 

Lots of love, sparkle and creativity from Erica