Reuse Cardboard Drink Holders To Make The Most Effective Seed Paper

Recycling doesn't have to be boring. When you order multiple drinks from places like Starbucks or McDonald's, you may get a cardboard drink holder. Instead of tossing it into the bin, why not put it to good use for a feel-good craft project that's an easy way to make your home more eco-friendly? You may have seen seed paper in the high-end section of the greeting card aisle or when you received the invite to your favorite aunt's earthy wedding. Well, this beautiful, artisan stationery isn't as difficult to create at home as you may imagine. The process involves creating a paper pulp, incorporating the seeds, and shaping the paper.

You probably already have most of what you need to create seed paper lying around the house now. You will need a mixing bowl, blender, splatter screen, clean sponge, about three wash cloths, seeds, something like a cookie cutter to shape your paper, and your old cardboard drink holders. This is also a clever way to repurpose old newspapers or other recyclable paper products, too.

In order to transform your cardboard drink holder into a pulp, you will need to soak it for a few hours or overnight if possible. Use a 2:1 ratio of water to paper for the best results. You'll know the material is ready when a majority of the water is fully absorbed into your cardboard. Now, place your paper slurry into a blender or food processor and pulse for roughly ten to thirty seconds until you get a consistent, lump-free texture. Next, add your seeds. Select smaller seeds, such as local wildflowers or herbs, for the ideal paper consistency. Use your hands or a spoon to mix the seeds into your paper pulp.

Now comes the fun part: Shaping your paper. You can approach this in two different ways. For small stationary or gift tags, you might consider using a cookie cutter. But if you want a larger paper size, it would be best to use a splatter screen or papermaking frame. Either way, start by placing the mesh splatter screen or papermaking frame on top of a dry towel. If you're using a cookie cutter, place it onto the splatter screen and spread an even layer of the pulp inside. For a papermaking frame, place it directly on top of a cloth and fill in the screen with a thin layer of pulp. With a splatter screen, you'll need to hand-shape your paper and cut to size later if necessary. Next, take a dry sponge and stamp down the paper pulp, removing as much water as possible. Place the screen or frame on a new dry cloth and allow it to dry overnight. The next day, you'll wake up to gorgeous, garden-ready seed paper. 

Seed paper is a versatile craft you can keep around the house for a multitude of purposes. Perhaps you can keep a stack in your kitchen to use as grocery list paper. If you're ambitious, create a whole note pad for yourself. Seed paper is also wonderful to use for invitations, gift tags, or greeting cards. Not only is this paper beautiful, but it also helps you cut back on waste.

Whether you're gifting your seed paper or keeping it for yourself, take some time to understand the in's and out's of how to use it. Once the paper has served its purpose, place it directly on soil in your garden or a pot. Cover in roughly ⅛ inch of moist soil and water generously. You should see sprouts start to emerge in about a week. Be mindful of the type of plant seed you're working with as it may only germinate in certain seasons. However, many seeds may grow year round under grow lights if you have those. Be sure to pass along care information to anyone you gift seed paper to so they can help their plant flourish.