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How to Make Seed Paper

Make a special gift at home with this creative way to recycle paper. Use this recipe to make cards, invitations, place cards, sketchpads, and mini journals. Once you're finished, you can write or draw anything you want...even instructions for more seed paper. And once you're ready for flowers, just follow the planting instructions below for your new garden!

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Supplies Needed:

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  • Paper

  • Water

  • Large bowl

  • Seed packet

  • Towels

  • Blending device

  • Mesh screen

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Shred or cut as much paper as you need into thin strips. Any non-glossy paper should work (newspaper, construction paper, printer paper, worksheets, etc.). Feel free to use fun colors to get colored seed paper!

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Mix water and shredded paper in a 2:1 ratio. Leave the paper to soak for a few hours before blending.

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Blend the mixture until it turns into a consistent pulp. You can use a nonfood blender, immersion blender, or mortar and pestle. 

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Sprinkle a seed packet over the mixture and gently stir to combine. You can also add pressed flowers, dried leaves, and other natural elements to personalize your paper.

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Place some form of a mesh surface on top of a towel. I used the corner of a window screen. Alternatives include mesh in an embroidery hoop or a papermaking deckle.

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​Pour or scoop out a small handful of the mixture and spread it on a mesh surface into a rectangular paper shape. Make sure to spread it evenly and not too thick. You can also use cookie cutters to make uniquely shaped paper.

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Carefully press down on the paper with another towel or your hands to squeeze out the excess water. Leave the mixture to dry overnight on the screen.

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Once dry, carefully peel the paper off the screen.  

Keep the seed paper in a cool, dry place until ready to plant.

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Planting Instructions:

Plant the seed paper in either fall after the first one or two winter frosts (so the seeds can overwinter and don’t accidentally start sprouting) OR early spring while temperatures are still cold. Soak the paper for about an hour before planting. Spread about ⅛ inch of soil on top of the paper. If planting in spring, water regularly and seeds should sprout within a week. 

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Notes:

  • It’s not advised to use a food blender because we will be blending paper, which can be hard to clean and may contaminate food. 

  • Dry the seed paper mixture quickly so that the seeds don’t start sprouting. 

  • You can use this seed paper for anything! Cards, bookmarks, placeholders, journal pages, sketch pads–whatever you use it for, seed paper makes a wonderful gift for your friends and family.

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