You’ve might have seen seed paper recently. It is homemade paper with flower seeds in it. When it is planted in the ground and given lots of TLC it will bloom into beautiful flowers you can enjoy. Here is a tutorial for a project using seed paper.
First, you need to make the paper.
Use paper you have around your house. This is a great way to recycle old scraps. Tear them up into small pieces and place in a blender. Add enough water in the blender so the paper is covered and blend.
When your paper is nice and evenly blended you can add your seeds. Unplug your blender and use a wooden spoon to gently stir the seeds into the paper mush. Do not blend them!
Now it is ready to be shaped. Place a colander in the sink and pour the paper mush into it. If you have large holes in your colander like I do, go ahead and place a towel in it to catch the pulp, but not the water.
Place a towel on the counter and if you have a piece of felt, place the felt on top of the towel. Then gently pour your seeds and paper pulp on the felt and spread evenly out.
Take another towel and press it down on the paper pulp to help dry the excess water. You can now blow dry the paper or let it sit out overnight to dry.
When your paper is dry, cut it out into a flower shape. Make a simple card with cardstock and glue the flower to your card. Feel free to get creative here and draw, stamp, or cut out a stem. If you don’t like flowers, make a cute butterfly or tree. The options are endless and no matter what shape you choose–it will be a hit with the recipient of the card.
Make sure you add a message somewhere on your card to let the recipient know they can plant it!
Little Birdie Secrets are regular contributors to Make and Takes and was born from the crafting obsession of three friends living in the Pacific Northwest. Our mission is to share the wealth of fun projects and helpful tips we find in books, on the Internet, and sometimes in our own imaginations. Come visit us at www.littlebirdiesecrets.com.
Written by Little Birdie Secrets
Little Birdie Secrets are a regular contributor to M&T and was born from the crafting obsession of friends living in the Pacific Northwest. From quilting to card making to baking, they love sharing tips, tricks, and tutorials to make crafting fun and easy. Visit them at www.littlebirdiesecrets.com. Read other posts by Little Birdies
{ 49 comments… read them below or add one }
What a great idea. Love it!
Awesome!!!
What a fun project. I’ve never made paper. My kids will love this! And I’ve got just the person to give this card too.
I. LoVe. ThIs!!
I love it! I want to send them to everyone now! Thank you!
I’m pretty excited about this project. What a fun spring time card. I can think of a handful of people who would love to get this card (myself included). Plus it’ll be a fun project to have my kids help with. Thanks for the fantastic idea!!!
Wow, I can’t wait to do this project! Thanks! :)
This is a great idea. I know just what card will now accompany my sister’s birthday gifts this year! Are there any particular types of flower seeds that work better than others for this project?
I’ve seen some cards like this before and wondered how it was done – now it seems so obvious! Clear instructions and good photos make this a very doable project. Very cute – thanks!
Awesome! Thanks for sharing the idea and giving the steps. It’s a perfect almost-Spring time project!
I am going to try this; it looks like a lot of fun and not too hard…!!
I have a daycare so i really excited to have them do this craft, and
give their cards to their parents.
I stumbled upon this site and was so smitten with this project! I work in administration at a private school and we’re close to Mother’s Day projects. GREAT PROJECT!
I have seen this and was thinking about doing it. It such a neat idea and perfect for family and friends far away. Thanks for the great tutorial.
These are so cute! I’ve posted them in a diy thank you note roundup on my blog, The Handmade Experiment – http://emilyflippinmaruna.wordpress.com/2010/03/09/thank-you/.
Thanks!
Emily
Wonderful idea. Thanks for sharing itl
Wooh! My momma’s birthday is coming up, and I’m really excited about this!
What a great idea!! Thank you so much:) xoxo
Be sure to let you recipient know how deep they should plant their greeting card (and seeds). Most seeds don’t go deeper than 1/2 inch, but a lot of seeds are planted at 1/4 or 1/8 of an inch.
I (14) made this for my mother for Mother’s Day, just this morning with no prior experience of making paper. She loved it. I dried it using a hairdryer and a blow heater, on a homemade stand. The drying took an hour that way. I also coloured the paper using food dye, but this will likely ruin the towel you are using to dry it on. Thank you very much!
What a great idea for people who have a green thumb. I’ll definitely be sharing this with my readers!
Such a great gift idea! I posted a link to it on my blog: http://ificould-ificould.blogspot.com/2010/03/bloomin-handmade-cards.html
Missy (SHS)
What a wonderful idea! I’m going to try this!
Amazing! thanks for share
Cool idea, my daughter will be excited to try such a project.
luv it~!!!!
has anyone actually seen this grow into blooms?
Does wetting the seed in the paper not cause it to germinate too soon?
Great Idea !! I already saw it in some shop…but didn’t know I could make it myself too !
I love it! I am adding this to my crafts round up.
Stumbled Upon….No Way! This Is So Cool. :) Can’t Wait To Try It.
I love plantable cards! My husband and I gave out plantable favors at our wedding last year, but then when planting season came around this year I forgot to put any in the ground! oops! I think I’ll try a few this weekend and see if anything comes of it :)
so you just stick the whole piece of homemade paper in the ground?
honest question: isn’t the paper bad to plant?
that is incredible, I love it
it’d be nice to see pictures of bloomed flowers
I love it. My 4 year old will have so much fun doing this. Thanks.
Great!! .. kool and kreative :)
I love this! I might try it myself on my next day off. If i do, may i post it on my blog
? peachytease.blogspot.com. I’m new to this and find blogging very relaxing.
Have you had any problems with the seed sprouting from the moisture in the paper? Can you use any type of seed?
How eco-fabulous! love it!
What an awesome gift idea!!! I have purchased seed cards and will now have to make my own! Thanks!
I love the idea.
And even better you share this
with a great tutorial.
Thanks!!!!
Aanee xxxx
My fiance and I have been trying to find the perfect wedding favors. I came across this site and I am so glad I did. We will definately be making these for favors. Thanks!
I love this idea! Those are beautifulinvitations. Im going to make them for my son’s 3rd birthday party! Thanks for the great tip!
Idea gradevole,facile e romantica.I semi sono vita e regalare un inizio di vita è bellissimo.Ciao-Chicchina
Wow! Just in time for Mother’s Day! I hope to make many of these and give them to all my family and friends who are moms. Maybe my daughter will help, also. Reading the comments also inspired me. People want to use these as wedding favors, party invitations, day care projects, teen projects, etc. How cool!
For friends who are not moms, I can make “Thinking of You” cards. This is such a great, simple, thoughtful project. Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!
You could probably start your own store @ http://www.zahoomi.com/stores and sell them online….
I bought a neat looking seed card at a farmers market in Washington state. The entire card had seeds in it (not just a portion glued to the card stock). My friend planted the card but only one small flower made it up ) : Later I wondered if they may have transplanted it from somewhere else to make me feel better ( :
I just recently purchased some handmade plantable paper for favors I’m making. (didn’t think of making it myself…) Now I’m trying to cut them into shapes using hole punches and having the hardest time… I’m wondering what was used to cut out flower shape. Any help would be greatly appreciated… I’m on my 3 hole punch! :)
AMAZING! Thank you!!!!