Seed Paper - Making a Valentine’s Day Gift
Winter days have me longing for warm weather and time in the garden. A quick trip to the garden center brought a little joy: seed packets for sale!
It’s a bit early to plant, so I thought, why not make something special with them—seed paper! Perfect for Valentine’s Day gifts or just to brighten someone’s day.
Tools and Materials:
- Old paper or junk mail (avoid glossy or plastic-coated pieces)
- Water
- Seeds (wildflower seeds work great)
- A blender (use an old one if possible)
- A rolling pin
- A sliding window screen or similar mesh
- Wax paper
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What Is Seed Paper?
Seed paper is handmade paper infused with seeds that are perfect little plant starters.
It’s a fun way to recycle paper and give it a second life as something that can bloom and bring beauty.
Does Seed Paper Actually Work?
Yes! When planted in soil and watered properly, the seeds in the paper sprout and grow. The paper itself breaks down, leaving only the plants behind. It’s a creative and eco-friendly way to share the gift of greenery.
How to Make Seed Paper
1. Prepare the Screen
While I was at the store, I picked up a sliding window screen to use for this project.
You need to remove the corner pieces (circled in blue), they just pop off.
By removing them you have two screens to work with.
2. Tear and Soak the Paper
Take your recycled paper and remove any non-paper elements, like plastic windows on envelopes.
Tear the paper into small pieces and soak it in a bowl of water overnight.
3. Blend the Paper
Add the soaked paper and more water to your blender. Blend until the mixture has the consistency of oatmeal. If needed, add more water to keep it smooth.
Alternative Method:
I also experimented using toilet paper:
A) I removed the center cardboard, placed the roll in a bowl and covered it with water. The paper soaks immediately so you can begin blending right away.
B) Next, I placed half of the roll into the blender along with the water and blended it.
C) I stopped blending when the mixture was the consistency of oatmeal
For another twist, I blended the other half of the roll but this time I added glitter before blending.
4. Spread the Pulp
A) Place a 8.5”x11” plan on your work surface.
B) Place one screen on top of the pan
C) Spread your blended paper on top of the screen.
5. Press and Drain
Lay a sheet of wax paper on top of the pulp.
Use a rolling pin to press down, squeezing out excess water.
The water will collect in the pan below.
6. Add Seeds
Once you have a lot of water squeezed out:
A) Lay your blended paper onto a heavy towel and sprinkle on your seeds
B) Lay another sheet of wax paper on top
C) Use a rolling to press the seeds into the paper and to squeeze out more water.
7. Dry the Paper
Place the seeded paper back on the screen to dry completely. This may take a day or two, depending on the humidity.
Once dry, cut the paper into shapes like bookmarks, hearts, or gift tags. Use cookie cutters for precise shapes, or freehand it for a rustic touch. Add a hole and ribbon to make Valentine’s Day gifts or party favors.
How to Plant Seed Paper
- Tear or cut the paper into small pieces (or plant it whole).
- Place it in a pot or directly in the soil.
- Cover lightly with soil and water well.
- Keep the area moist until seeds sprout, then water as needed.
Comments
Join the conversation
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We usually make each other small and cute presents on Valentine's Day. I've already checked the Personal Creations reviews and found several good ideas and deals there. But it would be nice to create such a seed paper gift. Thanks! And I also wonder whether it can be planted in spring :)
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Such a sweet idea. Sooo - not for planting?
Frequently asked questions
Have a question about this project?
Could you plant these in the spring? Plant and add water?
You said to pour the blended paper over the screen which sits over a pan to catch the water, then to roll it with a rolling pen to extract some of the water. My question is, if you pressed on it at all, the screen would collapse. Am I missing something?
I absolutely LOVE this idea!
The instructions for this project seemed cut short. I was waiting to see why seeds were used? I assumed one would plant the bookmarks in the ground?