PLANTABLE SEED PAPER
Have you seen the lovely seed paper popping up on Pinterest these days? I couldn't believe it when I saw it... Paper embedded with tiny seeds that actually grow when you plant it! I had to give it a try.
I am not lying when I say it was a bit of work. It's not too bad after you do it once though.
Let's get started!
You will need paper that you tear into one inch squares. I used scrapbook paper for the colors, but you can use whatever you have, including newspaper.
You will need a screen with a frame around it. I found all sorts of tutorials describing how to make one of your own, but I thought it would be faster (and cheaper) to just buy a window. I got mine for $6.50 at Home Depot. A package of screen was also $6.50. The only benefit to buying the roll of screen, is that you can wrap it around cookie cutters, and make things in different sizes.
You will need a BIG stack of towels!
And of course, some seeds. I looked for the pack with the most for the money. I got mine for around $4 at Home Depot. I chose larkspur, because I love it's beautiful flowers in the spring time, and it is a Utah native, that easily reseeds.
Place your torn up paper in your food processor or blender.
Fill with water to where it just covers the paper.
Turn on your food processor. I am not going to lie, this was a mess! I don't know how, but the wet paper managed to escape from the food processor and leak everywhere. Just make sure to have some dry towels on hand.
When it is finished mixing, it should look like this. Now it's time to add the seeds.
Place your screen over a cookie sheet full of water, and dump the pulp on top.
The water beneath will help you spread it out as evenly as you can on the screen.
Looks about right.
Lift the pulp up out of the water, and let as much water drain out as you can. Place the whole screen on top of a towel. I had my towel on an upside down cookie sheet.
Cover with a thin cloth, like cheese cloth.
Take your rolling pen, and roll over the top, squeezing out as much water as you can.
Flip your screen over onto another towel covered in cheese cloth. At this point, you can place another piece of cheese cloth over the top, and go over it with the rolling pen again, or you can leave it if you think it is dry enough. I ended up doing it twice. I didn't want my seeds to sprout!
Turn the paper over onto a cookie sheet to dry.
You want to make sure you will be able to get it off when you have finished.
It will be stiff and hard when it's dry.
This next part is showing a sweet little gift you can make using your seed paper.
Buy the small plantable seed boxes. I got mine at Wal-mart, and paid around $2 for 40 of them!
Cut them apart.
Cover the bottoms with tape, so the dirt won't spill out before they are planted.
Cut hearts or whatever shapes you want out of your seed paper.
I attached the hearts to sucker sticks, and put them in the dirt filled container with a sign that reads, "Plant Me!"
These will be used for an LDS Enrichment night about Family History. The sister's will each be able to take one home, and plant it in her yard, or in a pot.
Have a Happy and Creative Day!
Risa
