Green Christmas: Make Your Own Blooming Christmas Cards

Millions of Christmas cards are bought and sent each Christmas season. The Greeting Card Association (GCA) has reported that the industry sold 641 million Christmas card during the 2007 Christmas season. That is a ton of trees being cut down to accommodate the demand of cards and envelops.

With great focus being put on going "green", you may be looking for your own way to save the environment this Christmas season. What better way to start then making your own Christmas cards.

Blooming Christmas cards saves the environment in two different ways. For one, you are recycling and using your own paper. Secondly, the cards will have something special ingrained in them so that they can be planted by the recipient to grow into greenery.

For this project, you will need:

• Paper

• A blender

• Water

• Fine mesh screen (an old window screen works fine)

• Seeds of your choice

To start this project, go around the house and collect old and unused paper. This can be printer paper, newspaper or whatever types of paper that you would just throw away anyway. This is an excellent way to recycle some old cards that are crowding up your junk closet.

Cut or shred the paper into small pieces. If you have a shredder at home, this is a prime opportunity to empty it out. Place the cut paper into the blender with water. Blend it until it is a slushy lump. Pour the contents of the blender out onto the mesh screen.

Using the palms of your hands, press the paper to push out as much water as possible. You can also use a rolling pin for this. Sit it to the side so that it can begin drying. Check on it regularly since you don't want it to be completely dry before adding the seeds.

When the paper is semi-moist, add the seeds. Use your fingers to push the seeds into the paper. Place the still moist paper in between two towels or paper towels and roll again with the rolling pin. This will squeeze out the last of the water.

Decorate your recycled paper any way you want and write your Christmas message. On the back of it, inform the recipient that they are to plant the card after the holiday season. Also, inform them of the type of plant that will grow from planting the card.

If you are not the crafty type and still want to do your part for the environment this Christmas season, Bloomin' Flower Cards sells holiday cards similar to those that are made in this article. Visit them at www.bloomin.com.