Let love bloom! Turn recycled paper and leftover seeds into adorable DIY seed paper! Attach them onto a greeting card and you’re all set for the next wedding or baby shower you attend! The lucky person receiving the card will remember you each time they look all the pretty blooming flowers in their garden. Plus, these are so easy to plant: just place the paper seed pieces in sunlight and keep moist to help them grow. Your little flowers will soon be sprouting!
Eco-friendly craft projects are always great, and this one has the added bonus of being pretty too! ;) Do this project with kids and they’ll learn the traditional technique of handmade paper and how to plant seeds to grow flowers and herbs just by throwing them into your garden or yard!
what you need:
- Printable card template
- Printable flower and leaf templates
- Newspaper
- Seeds
- Blender
- Water
- Cotton cloth
- Food coloring
- Crepe paper
- Needle
- Embroidery thick cotton thread
- Thumbtack
- Glue stick
- Scissors
- Pencil
how-to:
Step 1
Shred your recycled paper and soak in warm water. Place this soggy, wet paper in the blender and add water – about one part shredded paper to 2 parts water. Blend to make it into a pulp. Divide the pulp into small bowls and add food coloring.
Step 2
Drain off excess of water by patting the pulp with the cotton cloth. To add your seeds, sprinkle them onto the pulp and press lightly. Roll the pulp into large and small balls and leaves, and then flatten them. Let the paper pulp dry thoroughly for about a day or two.
Step 3
Download the printable templates containing the card, flower and leaf shapes. Transfer the printable flower and leaf templates onto crepe/tissue paper. Cut circles from layered tissue paper, fold in half and then cut tiny slits into the curved edge, following the templates.
Print out copies of the cards on plain sturdy paper. Layout the paper flowers, leaves and the plantable seed paper pieces onto the printed cards and then use the needle to poke holes through seed paper pieces.
Step 4
Thread a needle with thick cotton floss and start stitching all the seed paper pieces to the printed card. Work cross stitches to hold the bigger seed paper pieces and pass the needle through the pre-punched holes. Tie knots at the backside of the cards to secure.
Step 5
Combine the plantable seed paper with crepe paper leaves. Glue crepe paper leaves to the card as shown.
And voilà! Happy sprouting!