diff --git a/src/logic-scenes/board/card-board.gd b/src/logic-scenes/board/card-board.gd
index 2008138..a8152df 100644
--- a/src/logic-scenes/board/card-board.gd
+++ b/src/logic-scenes/board/card-board.gd
@@ -317,11 +317,14 @@ func _end_drag(draggable: Draggable) -> void:
 		# Handle exchange result (sticky swapped with card's sticky)
 		if result == Draggable.DropResult.EXCHANGED:
 			_handle_sticky_exchange(draggable, drop_target)
+		# If sticky was dropped on board (not card), reclaim it to panel with animation
+		elif result == Draggable.DropResult.ACCEPTED and draggable is StickyNote and drop_target == self:
+			_reclaim_sticky_to_panel(draggable)
 	elif draggable is StickyNote and not is_in_dropzone(draggable):
-		# Sticky dropped in panel area but no empty panel found - create one
-		add_sticky_note(draggable)
+		# Sticky dropped in panel area but no empty panel found - reclaim to panel
+		_reclaim_sticky_to_panel(draggable)
 	else:
-		# Fallback: use default board drop
+		# Fallback: use default board drop (for cards)
 		handle_drop(draggable)
 
 	# Cleanup and state update
@@ -348,7 +351,7 @@ func _handle_sticky_exchange(new_sticky: StickyNote, card: Card) -> void:
 	old_sticky.scale = Vector2.ONE
 	old_sticky.z_index = 0
 
-	# Exchanged sticky always goes to sticky_note_container
+	# Exchanged sticky always goes to sticky_note_container with smooth animation
 	if new_sticky._came_from_panel and sticky_note_container.get_child_count() > 0:
 		# New sticky came from panel - return old sticky to that panel (swap positions)
 		var target_panel = sticky_note_container.get_child(current_sticky_note_id)
@@ -359,14 +362,60 @@ func _handle_sticky_exchange(new_sticky: StickyNote, card: Card) -> void:
 		# Use reclaim to smoothly animate the sticky back to the panel
 		target_panel.reclaim_sticky_note()
 	else:
-		# New sticky was loose - create new panel for old sticky
-		add_sticky_note(old_sticky)
+		# New sticky was loose - reclaim old sticky to new panel with animation
+		_reclaim_sticky_to_panel(old_sticky)
 
 	# Clean up empty panel if the new sticky came from one
 	if new_sticky._came_from_panel and sticky_note_container.get_child_count() > 0:
 		sticky_note_container.get_child(current_sticky_note_id).clear_if_empty()
 
 
+## Smoothly reclaims a sticky note to a panel (creates one if needed)
+func _reclaim_sticky_to_panel(sticky: StickyNote) -> void:
+	var target_panel: StickyNotePanel = null
+	
+	# Try to find or create an appropriate panel
+	if sticky._came_from_panel and current_sticky_note_id < sticky_note_container.get_child_count():
+		# Try to use the panel the sticky came from
+		var original_panel = sticky_note_container.get_child(current_sticky_note_id)
+		if original_panel is StickyNotePanel and original_panel.is_empty():
+			target_panel = original_panel
+	
+	# If no reusable panel, find any empty one
+	if not target_panel:
+		for panel in sticky_note_container.get_children():
+			if panel is StickyNotePanel and panel.is_empty():
+				target_panel = panel
+				break
+	
+	# Create new panel if needed
+	if not target_panel:
+		target_panel = StickyNotePanel.new()
+		sticky_note_container.add_child(target_panel, true, Node.INTERNAL_MODE_DISABLED)
+		target_panel.set_owner(self)
+	
+	# Ensure sticky is in dropzone temporarily (for smooth animation from board to panel)
+	if sticky.get_parent() != dropzone:
+		sticky.reparent(dropzone)
+	sticky.on_board = true
+	sticky.attached_to = self
+	sticky.current_handle = self
+	
+	# Reset visual state
+	sticky.rotation = 0.0
+	sticky.scale = Vector2.ONE
+	sticky.z_index = 0
+	
+	# Set panel reference and trigger smooth reclaim animation
+	target_panel.attached_sticky_note = sticky
+	target_panel.reclaim_sticky_note()
+	
+	# Clean up other empty panels
+	for panel in sticky_note_container.get_children():
+		if panel is StickyNotePanel and panel != target_panel:
+			panel.clear_if_empty()
+
+
 ## Updates focus and navigation state after a drop
 func _update_focus_after_drop(draggable: Draggable) -> void:
 	# Update focus based on where the item ended up
diff --git a/src/logic-scenes/board/sticky_note_panel.tscn b/src/logic-scenes/board/sticky_note_panel.tscn
index 0795227..9bac12b 100644
--- a/src/logic-scenes/board/sticky_note_panel.tscn
+++ b/src/logic-scenes/board/sticky_note_panel.tscn
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@
 
 [node name="Panel" type="Panel"]
 self_modulate = Color(1, 1, 1, 0)
-custom_minimum_size = Vector2(400, 0)
+custom_minimum_size = Vector2(400, 100)
 offset_right = 400.0
 offset_bottom = 120.0
 mouse_filter = 1