How to Make Paper that Turns into Flowers

This paper makes interesting stationary, note paper, and bookmarks. Seeded paper can also be used to plant grass on bare lawn patches.

Materials
Old paper (junk mail, greeting cards, etc) for recycling
Thin wooden picture frame
Window screen
Stapler
Largesponge
Several cloth dishtowels made flat cloth
Newspaper for drying
Alarge window
Basin big enough to hold the picture frame and deep enough to cover the frame with 2 inches of water
Heavy-duty blender
Variety of small seeds.

Directions
Remove all the backing from the wooden frame. Cut a piece of screen slightly smaller than the outside edge of the frame, stretch it across the flat side and staple in place.

Fill your sink with water. Cut the paper into 1 inch pieces. Use 2-3 sheets of paper for every 1 sheet you plan to make. Put the scraps into the sink and soak for 1 hour.

Pour a cup of water into the blender, and then add a cup of the paper bits and water. Blend on a medium-high setting until no more paper scraps are recognizable. Pour this into the basin, and repeat the process until all the scraps have been turned into pulp and poured in the basin. Add the seeds to the basin and mix well.

Fold a sheet of newspaper so it is just slightly larger than the inside of the frame. Lay your dish towel over this. If large enough, lay only half the towel on the paper with the other half lying to the left. Fold more newspaper, one for every sheet of paper you plan to make. Stack them next to the towel-covered newspaper and a stack of dishtowels.

Take the frame, stapled side down, and slide it into the pulp basin at about a 45° angle. When it is fully submerged, level it out and gently shake it as you raise it up and out. Wipe off any pulp on the wood. Press the pulp gently with wet fingertips to flatten the paper out. Hold it over the basin until it mostly stops dripping. Flip it upside down onto the towel-covered newspaper. Place the sponge on as much of the screen as it will cover. Firmly press down with your hand, expelling air from the sponge. Gently release the pressure so that the sponge draws the water out of the paper. Wring the sponge into the basin or sink and repeat until the whole sheet has been dried this way.

The paper should now easily separate from the screen and onto the towel. If it does not, repeat the sponging. Cover the sheet with the other half of the towel and another stack of newspaper. Place another half towel and repeat until you've made all the sheets you can.

Dry the sheets flat by pressing damp sheets against the window and leaving them to air dry. Plant the sheets by covering with a small amount of soil and watering well.