How to Make Plantable Paper

Seeds add both a decorative and useful touch to handmade paper.

You can use plantable paper for gift wrap, greeting cards or decorations at a green-themed party. Each sheet of paper is decorated with viable seeds that really grow when the paper is planted. Use vegetable or flower seeds, depending on your own preference. You can also add other organic embellishments to the paper, such as herb leaves, dried flowers and bits of natural-fiber string.

Things You'll Need

• Window screen material
• Embroidery hoop
• Paper scraps
• Blender
• Seeds
• Dried flowers and other embellishments
• Tub
• Sponge
• Towels

Instructions

1. Cut a piece of metal window screen material to a size slightly larger than your embroidery hoop. Place the mesh in the hoop, then trim the excess screen from around the hoop with wire snips.

2. Tear scrap paper into postage stamp-sized paper. Alternately, run the paper through a paper shredder. Use non-glossy paper only.

3. Fill a blender half-full with the paper pieces. Add warm tap water to the blender until it is filled to the top.

4. Blend the paper and water on low for 10 seconds and on high for approximately 30 seconds. The paper pulp should resemble thin, soupy oatmeal. Blend longer if necessary to achieve this consistency.

5. Add food coloring, if desired, and the seeds to the paper pulp in the blender. Stir by hand to blend.

6. Hold the embroidery hoop over a plastic tub. Pour the paper pulp onto the screen, coating it evenly. Move the screen back and forth to create an even film of pulp. Push additional seeds or dried flowers into the wet pulp at this time, if desired.

7. Turn the screen upside down onto a clean towel so the paper is sandwiched between the towel and paper. Blot the back of the paper through the screen with a sponge, absorbing the excess water from the sheet of paper.

8. Peel the paper off the embroidery hoop so that it is lying on the towel. Cover with a second towel and leave the paper to dry overnight.

Tips & Warnings

• Remember to include the planting instructions for the seeds you included in your paper.

• Do not mix seeds into the pulp with the blender. The blender blades can damage the seeds so they do not germinate.

References

• Park County Master Gardeners: The Sage Gardener
• Exploratorium: Handmade Paper