How to Make Handmade Seed Paper

Grow a beautiful flower bed with plantable seed paper.

Although it resembles ordinary handmade paper, seed paper packs quite a surprise. When buried it produces bunches of flowers that serve as a season-long memento, making it quite popular for items like wedding programs, birthday party favors and get-well cards. Seed paper is a way to add a personal touch to a gift, and it can even help you create a flowered landscape in your own yard.

Things You'll Need

• Used paper
• Blender
• Water
• Food coloring (optional)
• Bowl
• Dried flower seeds
• 18 by 16 screen mesh
• Wooden picture frame
• Thumbtacks

Instructions

1. Shred or tear four or five sheets of scrap paper into small pieces no larger than 1 square inch. For a recycled look use several different colors of paper.

2. Place the paper squares in a kitchen blender and add 1/2 cup of water.

3. Blend on the "puree" setting until a smooth pulp forms. Add a few drops of food coloring halfway through the blending process if you want to dye the paper a uniform color.

4. Attach a sheet of thin wire mesh, such as a piece of window screening, to the outside of a 4-by-6-inch wooden picture frame with thumbtacks. This will serve as your paper mold. Set it in a sink or over a dish rack to allow for drainage.

5. Pour the paper pulp mixture from the blender into a small mixing bowl. Slowly stir in two packets of dried flower seeds. A combination of different flower varieties works best.

6. Pour half of your paper and seed mixture into the mesh mold. Set the other half aside in a sealed bowl to use after the first sheet has dried.

7. Pack the mixture down as tightly as possible with your hands, letting any excess moisture drain through the mesh. Let it dry overnight.

8. Remove your paper from the frame by lifting one corner of your sheet, then gently tugging upward until it separates from the mesh. If you have trouble finding a loose corner, use the tip of a butter knife to cut the paper from the edge before lifting it.

Tips & Warnings

• When the paper is dry, carefully print growing instructions on the back, including planting depth, watering instructions and approximate grow times, based on the information on the backs of the flower seed packets.

• Cut finished seed paper into strips and plant it along walkways for a flowery border.

• If you want a uniform shade for your seed paper, start with white paper only and add dye when blending.

• Use any remaining pulp mixture within three days. Flower seeds can rot if left in water too long.