Abstract: A package comprising a sheet of self-supporting material. The sheet has at least one opening therein. The opening is spaced from the edges of the sheet and is filled with a plug. In specific embodiments, the plug may be of a permeable material to which an item such as an electronic component may be adhered by its pins or may be adhered or the plug may be the item to be shipped itself. In other specific embodiments, the plug and item to be shipped may extend from the sheet in one direction or in both directions. A flexible film layer is overlayed the item and sheet and is secured both to the sheet and to the plug. In a specific embodiment, the sheet is then placed within a carton. The plug either spaces the sheet from the exterior of the carton or overlays the exterior of the carton. The sheet spans the item from the exterior of the carton. The carton may include a plurality of sheets.