Together by Design is a monthly collaboration where a small group of designers all create with products from the same featured brand. Each of us chooses a favorite product and puts our own creative spin on it, showing just how many different ways one brand can inspire. Follow along, explore every project, and discover new designers and new favorites along the way.

This month’s featured brand:  Altenew

Here is a list of designers participating this month:

Jessica:  www.lovenotesbyjess.com/blog;  @jessica.vasher

Jean:   www.studio-jd.com;  @jean.studiojd <-you are here

Maggie: @teacher11494

Tracy:  https://redsas.co;  @redsas

This month my Together by Design project started with a color combination that refused to cooperate in the best possible way. I tried sketching a few different ideas, but everything kept circling back to these coral florals and soft greens. Eventually, I stopped pretending I had another plan and decided to see how far I could take it.

As it turns out, one idea can stretch quite a bit if you let it.

The first card came together in that rare, slightly suspicious way where nothing needs adjusting. I tucked the florals into the corner, let them drift inward just enough, and then left the rest of the card alone. There’s always a moment where I consider adding something else, and this time I didn’t. The open space felt like part of the design rather than something that needed to be filled.

The second card took the same pieces and went in a completely different direction. I added the black panel mostly out of curiosity, just to see what would happen, and it immediately shifted the tone. Everything felt a little more grounded, a little more defined. It’s the same floral cluster, but it carries more weight against that darker background, which made the whole card feel more intentional without actually adding anything new.

The tag was the last piece, and by that point I knew I didn’t want to overcomplicate it. Working smaller has a way of keeping things honest. There isn’t much room to wander, so the decisions come a little faster. I kept the same floral look, added the twine, and stopped before I had the chance to rethink it into something else.

I like when a set ends up feeling connected without looking like it came off an assembly line. This one feels like it holds together, but each piece still has its own personality—and that’s usually the point where I’m willing to call it finished.