How to Make Eco-Friendly Plantable Paper
Looking for a fun, sustainable DIY project for your big day? Creating eco-friendly plantable seed paper is a thoughtful way to incorporate sustainable touches. Whether you use plantable paper for favors, invitations, or place cards, it’s a fun way to create something new.
Why make plantable paper as a DIY project?
DIY weddings are all the rage right now, as are “green” weddings, and this idea combines both into a wonderfully fun seed paper project. I contacted Pulp Art on Etsy, and they were sweet enough to put together this DIY post on plantable paper just for us.
Making seed paper isn’t difficult. You need a few supplies and a bit of time, especially to let the paper dry. The best part is that you get to plant the results and watch lovely flowers grow with this sustainable DIY project.
How to Make DIY Plantable Seed Paper
Plantable paper is one of the newest trends for creating an eco-friendly wedding. It is made from recycled paper plus a mix of flower seeds embedded into handmade paper.
Plantable paper uses no trees and allows you to offer guests an eco-friendly idea. They can take it home to plant and commemorate your wedding. They will think of you every time they look at the gorgeous blooms in their garden.
To make heart-shaped plantable place cards or favors, gather high-quality scraps of paper in the color of your choice. Cardstock and many scrapbooking papers make wonderful handmade paper. They are made of high-quality fibers and have colors that are nicely saturated.
Don’t use newspaper, tissue paper, construction paper, or flimsy, weak paper. If you want to end up with a good-quality piece of handmade paper, you must start with good-quality scraps.
1. Gather your supplies to make plantable paper.
Gather everything you will need:
- blender
- packet of seeds
- heart-shaped cookie cutter
- paper scraps
- mold
A mold is a piece of professional papermaking equipment. It is a screen that is pulled very taught across a wooden frame.
Create your own with an old picture frame without the glass and some screen from the hardware store, or find instructions online, or purchase one from papermaking suppliers. The mold must have a very tight screen so that there are no sags where water might puddle and create uneven thickness in your handmade paper.
2. Tear your paper scraps into small pieces.
Remove staples, plastic windows from envelopes, and any other non-paper materials. Soak them briefly in water to soften the paper, allowing your blender motor to work more efficiently. (Make sure to use a blender dedicated to papermaking.
Because paper is made with chemicals, you will want to buy an inexpensive blender at a yard sale that will never be used for food preparation.)
Toss the scraps into a blender with some water and blend until pulverized. You can make a fine pulp or keep the paper in smaller chunks. Once you are happy with the consistency, add a handful of seeds to the blender. Give it a quick pulse to blend the seeds throughout.
3. Place your cookie cutter on top of the screen and place it in a sink.
Slowly pour the pulp into the cookie cutter. Use your finger to push the pulp into an even layer as the water drains into the sink. When most of the water has drained off, lift the cookie cutter, move to another part of the screen, and repeat.
When your screen is full, place it in a warm location or outside in the sun until it is dry. As the paper dries, the individual fibers begin to lock together, becoming stronger.
To dry the seed paper more quickly and make a stronger paper, put another piece of screen on top of the heart. Then, press the water out with a sponge. Once dry, lift the paper off the screen. Punch a hole in it and thread a piece of string through the hole.
4. Planting your seed paper is the best part!
Remember to give your guests directions on how to plant their paper. Place the paper into raked ground and cover it with a quarter-inch of soil. Then water, and keep moist until germination, about 6 to 8 weeks. Take a look at the last photo to see seedlings popping out of some white plantable paper!
I love this idea, and the little seedlings bursting through with life convince me that this, indeed, is a darling little project. If you love the thought of doing something “green” for your wedding but do not want to tackle a project, be sure to visit Pulp Art and check out what you have for your wedding day.
They make place cards and rectangular hang tags in addition to the heart-shaped ones featured today. Thank you again, Pulp Art, for inspiring us to create our own plant-based paper.
FAQ About Plantable Paper
Can you use construction paper for seed paper?
How do you make seed tissue paper?
Start by tearing tissue paper into small pieces, about 2 inches square. Next, mix equal parts water and flour to create a paste, then add the seeds. Dip each piece of tissue paper into the seed paste, making sure it is fully coated.
Then, place the coated tissue paper onto a drying rack or parchment paper to dry completely. Once dry, you can cut or tear the seed tissue paper into desired shapes and sizes. When you’re ready to plant, bury the seed tissue paper in soil, water it regularly, and watch as your beautiful flowers begin to grow.
Does seed paper really work?
Yes! When you plant seed paper, it breaks down, allowing the seeds to germinate and grow into beautiful plants.
How to make your own seed strips?
Gather biodegradable paper, such as newspaper or toilet paper, and make a water-flour paste. Start by cutting the paper into long, narrow strips, approximately 1 inch wide. Next, apply small dots of the homemade paste along the strip, leaving enough space between each dot for the seeds to grow.
Place a seed on each dot of flour paste, making sure they are evenly spaced. Once it has dried, you can roll up the seed strips for easy storage and use. Next, when you’re ready to plant, unroll the seed strip, place it in the soil, cover it with a thin layer of soil, and water regularly.
This method not only facilitates proper seed spacing but also makes planting seeds a breeze.
Plantable paper is a great idea for green weddings!
Are you planning on having a green wedding? If so, take a peek at our post on making seed pops. Plus, they’re so cute!
This is so cool!
Awesome post! What a truly unique idea. Love this!
I love this idea Jennifer – thanks for sharing it with everyone!
This is such a great idea and they could be made ahead of time to be ready for the big day. Even a great idea for name tags on Christmas gifts… Love it. Thanks for sharing.
Wow, that is insanely cool.
Thanks, ladies!!
This is great! The fun part is all of that paper, while it can’t be run through a traditional printer, can be letterpress printed on just fine! Because it’s thicker than normal paper, it’s the perfect thickness for a lovely impression. That gives new life to a beautiful invitation—once the wedding is over, you can plant the invite for some lovely herbs or flowers!
Thanks for this great idea!
Love this idea, thank you. But do the seeds not start germinating before the paper is dry?
Thanks for sharing. Easier directions than I had seen for a similar project. Thanks for the tip about the blender, too. Good and useful post!
I am an artist and I make this all the time. A note, it’s best not to blend the seeds with the pulp. First, blend the paper into pulp in the blender. Then, pour some pulp into a separate container, like a ketchup bottle, the kind used in hot dog stands. You can get them at the dollar store or use a recycled ketchup bottle from home. Then, add seeds to your pulp, shake only 20 times, and pour onto screen. This lessens the bruising of the seeds and lessens the wet time to the seeds.
♥♥♥! Thank you so much for sharing this! This fixes my dilemma of not being able to find pretty gift tags!!! 🙂
Great idea to send for birthdays too as it is so coslty to send things in the mail
Love the pink hearts so cute!
Great idea!
Great idea for Valentines Day!
Hi there, just wanted to thank you for such a wonderful idea! I have shared to my facebook page and given you credit and linked back to your fab blog, hope thats ok xx
Is there a rule of thumb for how much card stock paper you need to produce one heart?
Thanks!
So cute! I have to make these!
don’t know if it would work or not, try placing a piece of tissue paper on top of the almost dried hearts with the typed info on it and then place the heart instruction side down so the seeds are on top and can rise out of the heart without any obstruction. Yes, I thought about the seeds in the blender. I would say put them in once you have the paper mixed. And a note about seeds being wet. Food dryer, outside on window screens on a warm, breezy day… anything to get them to dry faster. I’d suggest the oven, but I have no clue as to how long, but at the lowest possible temp.
I want to do this in butterfly shape and add milk weed seeds to it for people who want to help Monarchs.
As an art teacher I have done this with kids and it was awesome. Love the hearts idea for V-day. Perfect. Wondered about the seeds – probably mix them in gently right before pouring. Wouldn’t put them in the oven though. Heat might kill the seeds. Keep outside or run a fan over it. Very cool project – and kids will see how to MAKE paper!
I’m making these for my daughters preschool class for valentines day, does anyone know if the seeds will still sprout and grow if the kids wait until spring to plant them? We live in Chicago so they won’t be able to plant them right away.
Brandi, I’m pretty sure that the seeds will remain dormant as long as you keep the papers dry. Thank you for commenting!
How much paper? How much water? What kind of seeds work?
Great idea! Money saving tip: if you have more than one blending jar, you wouldn’t need to have two bases. Either save old jar when you get a new one, or any jar with a broken yard sale blender with the same blade.
However, if this is more than one or two times, do have separate blenders and make sure to use enough water so the motor doesn’t burn out too fast.
Very cute ideas Thanks for sharing
I might just do this with my Daisy Girl Scout Troop!
This is a very great idea for any gathering situation. Family, friends, gifts for seniors etc. Love this.
Love this! I think it would be great to do and give with teacher gifts!
What a great idea and something new to try for the garden!
I’m going to make these for my son’s 15th bEarth Day party! Thanks for the great idea.
This is a really good idea would like to see them it for any type of party not just for weddings thanks
I love this! Inspiring me to make some. Thank you!
Wonderful idea! Thanks for sharing.
I have been purchasing my seed paper to make business cards. So excited to try my hand at making my own!
I have always wanted to know how to do this! It is such a wonderful way to use up scraps and flower seeds. I think it would be great to use the state flower seeds. ours are black eyed susans. thank you so much for sharing!
How long will these last? As in, will they sprout before being planted and if so how long after being made will they sprout?
Those are great questions, Ashley! If they are not left wet, the seeds won’t germinate, and I would consult the seed packets to see what their suggestion is as to how long the seeds will be viable. Thank you for stopping by!
Make sure the seed paper is kept in a dark place and if possible wrap in tinfoil. This will prolong the life of the seeds and keep them from drying out.
Thanks for the great idea! I will use it for my church group.
Love this ! Will be making these for my son’s kindergarten class with simple instructions on how to plant – Great idea for Valentine’s day as we are no longer allowed to have candy! What’s Valentine’s day without candy – flowers of course.
very clean website, clear and modern set out. I love the process and thanks for sharing these instrucitons. Put out the natural love out there. Nuray
This is adorable! You could do it with Christmas cutters too for DIY parties.
Agreed… what a great idea!
I Love This, Jenn…So much Id Marry it; If it Wasn’t for my Husband Frank!! May Jesus bind Our souls Eternally!! <3
Doing this with forget me not seeds for my grandson’s rememberance ceremony.
Interesting idea but the seeds and plants are surrounded by toxic chemicals in the ink and white bleached paper. Isn’t it better using a different material rather than giving the seeds one with toxic chemicals in it? The chemicals are also being planted in the ground in the soil, contaminating them and be in the seedlings and plant. I think it may be better not using paper with those chemicals in but some plant waste paper instead? I.e. grass, onion, garlic, potato?
This looks like a fun project. I noticed you say not to use construction paper news paper, tissue paper or thin paper. You say you can use envelopes without the window covers. However isn’t an envelope less thick than construction paper? I haven’t made paper since high school, and we didn’t use seeds in it. This will be fun for my grandson and I. Thank you
I consulted a paper making expert for the article who gave the advice, but when I was younger, we used just about any paper we could find. I hope you and your grandson have fun. I love that you’ll be doin this project together! 🙂
Wow! This is really cute. What a brilliant way to use recycled papers. Thank you for the guide on how to make one. Truly, I can’t wait to try this. It would be exciting to witness the seeds sprouting.