Valentine’s Seed Hearts

By Sam Burbach, Education & Programming Coordinator – 2/03/2020

JUMP TO INSTRUCTIONS

Valentine’s Day is just around the corner and a great way to show your love is with homemade Valentine’s! An even better way to show your love is to share flower seeds so your Valentine can watch your love grow, literally! Why not combine the two!? Last summer we made DIY Plantable Seed Paper, which can easily be made into the shape of a heart and added to a Valentine’s Day card to send or give to a loved one. See how to make the DIY Plantable Seed Paper here: http://klehm.org/plantable-seed-paper/

If you’re looking for an even easier way to create a plantable seed heart, try making these tissue paper seed hearts. This method is similar to the method we used to create seed tape, but uses colorful tissue paper and is cut into shapes rather than a long strip.

Here’s how you can try it at home!

Here’s what you’ll need:

Tissue paper
Seeds – smaller seeds are better
Non-toxic glue
Water
Small cup or bowl
Brush or sponge brush
Wax paper
Scissors
Paper or pre-made cards
Markers, crayons, colored pencils, etc. for decorating

Step 1

Begin by laying out a sheet of tissue paper on a piece of wax paper (to protect your work surface). If your tissue paper has a design or pattern, you will want this facing down so that it becomes the outside. You can cut the tissue paper into smaller sections to make it easier to work with.

Step 2

Mix together some water and non-toxic glue in a small cup or bowl to thin the glue. About 2 parts water to 1 part glue should do the trick, but no need to measure exactly.

Step 3

Using a brush or sponge brush, paint the glue mixture carefully onto one side of the tissue paper. Try not to use too much glue at once so you don’t tear the tissue paper.

Step 4

Sprinkle some seeds onto the wet portion of the tissue paper.

Step 5

Paint the other half of the tissue paper with the glue mixture, and gently fold it over to cover the seeds.

Step 6

Gently press down on the tissue paper to enclose the seeds.

Step 7

Allow to dry.

Step 8

Cut the dried tissue seed paper into hearts or any other shapes, trying to avoid cutting right through or next to any seeds.

Create a Valentine’s Day card and enclose a plantable seed heart or attach it to the card using a small dot of glue.

When giving your seed heart to your Valentine, be sure to include some care instructions so they know what type of seeds they are planting, what conditions the seeds need to grow and how to care for that plant! Feel free to use our printable care cards to include with your plantable seed hearts. Happy Valentine’s Day!