How to Make Paper With Seeds

Homemade seed paper

Making homemade paper is both an ancient art and a resourceful way to recycle. Children and adults alike can enjoy the process of turning old paper scraps into something new. By adding seeds to the project, the paper becomes a creative gift, invitation, card or journal. Paper embedded with seeds can produce a garden of flowers or vegetables when planted in a container or in the ground. Using seeds harvested from your own garden is a wonderful way to share with friends and family.

Things You'll Need

• Variety of paper scraps
• Blender or paper shredder
• Small, flat seeds
• Shallow container or sink
• Mold and deckle (store-bought or homemade)
• Turkey baster
• Absorbent cloths
• Sponge

Instructions

1. 

   Tear collected paper into 1-inch squares, or run it through a shredder. Brown grocery bags, newsprint, magazines, envelopes, mail and tissue paper can all produce a great end result. Place small pieces into a bowl or bucket of water, and soak for 2 to 12 hours, depending on thickness, until the paper begins to break down.

2. 

   Fill a blender half full with paper, and add enough water to fill to the top. Blend on low to medium until the pulp reaches a smooth, uniform consistency. Add small, flat vegetable or flower seeds, and stir thoroughly.

3. 

   Fill a sink or shallow container with 2 to 4 inches of water. Add the paper pulp. To produce thicker paper, make and add more pulp. Stir to distribute.

4. 

   Slide the frame mold into the water, and move it side to side until the screen is covered evenly in paper pulp. Slowly lift the frame straight out of the water. If the screen shows any uneven areas, place it back into the water, and repeat the steps to accumulate more pulp. Use a turkey baster filled with pulp to easily fill in small bare spots. Remove the mold from the water, and allow it to drain.

5. 

   Carefully lay the deckle over the mold and pulp. Flip the entire unit over onto a firm, flat surface covered with an absorbent cloth. Press a sponge against the screen to begin removing water. Wring the sponge out as needed, and repeat, removing as much water as possible. Replace the cloth underneath as it becomes soaked.

6. 

   Separate the frame gently from the paper. This may take some practice and must be done with care to avoid ripping the paper. More seeds can be added at this time if desired. Sprinkle them over the paper; cover it with a clean, absorbent cloth; and run a rolling pin over the surface to embed the seeds. Allow the paper to air dry on a flat surface or hang on a line. If paper edges begin to curl undesirably, stack pieces on top of each other, and weigh them down with books.

Tips & Warnings

• If the paper tears when you remove the screen, place it back into the blender, and start the process over.

References

• Making Paper