Do you enjoy the look or smell of flowers? Do you want to encourage bee populations? Do you know someone who does?

Seed bombs are a fantastic, inexpensive gift idea for all occasions.

Depending on what color paper you use, you can make it themed for a sport team color, school colors, wedding colors, or a baby shower. You can also get creative with what type of seeds you put inside, and tailor it to your recipient's favorites, shade to sun level, or gardening zone.

This is also a great project for kids, because it is fun to get hands on mushy paper! And it will also teach them about how seeds grow into entire plants, that then can create more seeds. Just be sure there is supervision for the part involving a blender.

Supplies

Paper
Water
Blender
Seeds
Optional: silicone mold

Step 1: Tear and Soak the Paper, Then Blend It Up

This is the part that kids tend to really enjoy!

Get a bunch of old paper you no longer need, and tear it up into small pieces. You can use newspaper, printer paper, or any thin paper like junk mail. Avoid glossy paper, photo paper, or any paper with a plastic or foil finish. If you want your finished product to be a certain color, use paper of that color or with that color ink.

This is an excellent way to use up old mailers and ads.

Then put all the paper in a bowl of water to cover, and let it soak a while. At least 10-20 minutes, or a whole day.

Dump the whole thing into a blender, and blend it on high for a minute or two. You want the paper reduced to a complete pulp. Don't worry about how much water is in there, you're about to strain it out.

Step 2: Strain, Add Seeds, and Shape Your Finished Product

Now to strain your paper pulp. You can use a strainer if it is fine mesh, or cheesecloth if you have it. But truly, any clean cloth will do! You can use an old t-shirt, or sock, or dish towel.

Place your strainer over a funnel and/or a bowl, and slowly pour everything out of the blender. The water should run through, and the pulp will remain. Use your hands or a clean spoon to press out as much of the water as you can.

Take the seeds, or seed mix, you want to use, and pour them into the paper pulp.

Now, you can get fancy if you want. If you have silicone molds, you can press the goop into them, and then let it dry. Once fully dry, you should be able to pop out your little seed delivery items.

If you don't have a mold, your best bet is a simple circle. Take small pieces of cheesecloth or fabric, put a tablespoon ball of paper and seeds in it, and twirl to squeeze out the excess water. Leave it out to dry, in a sunny windowsill if you can, for at least 24 hours.

Then go forth and plant flowers!