DIY: Seed Paper
Materials & Supplies :
Your choice of (non-invasive!) plant seed packets; the smaller they are, the better they will spread (into your pulp and also later into the ground). Remember to consider similar growing requirements if creating your own seed mixture!
Any *non-glossy* paper you have on hand (1 cup of paper scraps = about 1 small card)
An old blender or food processor
Two large basins: one for soaking your paper shreds in and another for pouring your pulped shreds out into
A framed/sturdy metal mesh screen (I combined bamboo sticks and wire mesh to create a few 8.5”x11” framed screens with wood glue/a few binder clips, but hot glue works too)
Wax Paper and/or a large spoon for pressing out excess water
A thick towel, Swedish dishtowels, or roll of reusable paper towels
Enough cardboard to lay out all of your seed paper sheets separately
Instructions :
Step 1 : Using any old/extra paper you’d like (for this project, I combined some old craft paper, tissue paper scraps, and leftover printer paper, but any non-glossy paper will do), tear/cut it all into roughly one-inch strips, and combine in a large basin with hot water, allowing to soak for at least an hour or until all your paper shreds are sopping wet; the longer you soak them, the smoother your surface will turn out and the easier it will be for your blender/food processor to pulp it.
Step 2 : Add small handfuls of the soaked paper scraps to your blending machine with enough water to create a slurry, being careful not to overload the motor with too much paper at once (pulsing the motor also helps), and empty the small batches of pulp into the second basin. Once all of your shreds have been blended into a pulp, carefully stir in your seeds of choice (and you may also add a bit of cornstarch at this stage to give your paper more strength/cohesion, but I chose not to this time). At this point you should have a bowl full of wet seed pudding.
Step 3 : Place your framed screen over the first basin (this is where the excess water will drain) and begin spooning the pulp onto your screen, keeping in mind the thickness of the paper you’re creating. (Tip: you can also spoon your pulp into jello molds to create some fun/unique shapes! Once you’ve spooned in enough to reach the desired paper thickness, press down gently but firmly before turning them out onto your screen to ensure they hold together)
Step 3.5 (optional) : Once your preferred amount of wet pulp is laid out on the screen, you may like to add some dried/pressed flowers to the surface of your paper for an added touch at this stage.
Step 4 : Carefully press/flatten the pulp down into the screen to remove the excess moisture and condense your mixture; I recommend laying a sheet of wax paper over the entire surface and carefully smoothing it out with your hands/a spoon then slowly peeling back the wax paper, careful not to remove any seeds as you pull it away.
Step 5 : Lay out your cardboard near a window or fan to ensure good air circulation and prepare your absorbent cloth of choice before turning your pressed seed paper out onto it and carefully laying it out on your prepared cardboard surface. Allow your pages to dry completely (which takes about 24 hours or so), to avoid overhandling and cracking in the meantime, and cut into your preferred size/shape.
