Making my own seed packets started with my fascination with Shaker gardens. The Shakers were a religious sect that produced a large part of their income from growing and selling seeds for other gardeners.
Considering this took place in the late 1700s and early 1800s, those seed packets were filled with heirloom seeds – the only way to produce true-to-type plants at that time. Although hybridization had been researched since the late 1600s, it wasn’t until 1930 they first became available.
Once the vegetables were grown and the seeds prepared, the need for seed packets came into play. Originally, seed packets weren’t much more than brown paper, but eventually became the printed packets we know today.
Since my goal is to grow and save as many heirloom vegetable seeds a possible, I am finding that handmade seed packets come in handy. Some of my seeds are stored in jars, but I found that space for them was limited. So the search was on to make my own.
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Have Fun with Seed Packets
Seed Packets are a fun way to store your seeds, whether you purchase them in bulk or save them from your heirloom plants. A handful added to a gift basket for your favorite gardener just adds icing to the cake!
It doesn’t take a lot of supplies to make your own seed packets. And the beauty of making them yourself is that you can be as simple or creative as you would like. You can use plain white #10 envelopes and store them in a file box. You can use the smaller envelopes usually used for keys, or you can get creative and design your own.
I am a creative sort, so I headed off to Amazon and the craft stores to see what I could find. I wanted simple craft paper that wasn’t too busy, but still appropriate to use as seed packets. From there, I couldn’t resist the stamp and sticker aisle, and finally found everything I needed. I think I had as much fun choosing what to use as I did making the seed packets!
Supplies for your Seed Packets
Craft, Scrapbook, or Heavy Butcher Paper (not Card Stock)
Scissors
Glue Stick
Markers, Stamps, Stickers and/or Embellishments of your choice
Seed packet template (Download your copy HERE!)
Directions:
Once you have downloaded the template for your seeds packets, check to make sure the size is appropriate. I had to enlarge mine in order to fit the canning jar stamp – if it wasn’t for the size of my stamp, the original size of the template would have been just fine.
Cut along the solid lines. From here, you may want to make a template out of heavier paper, such as poster board, in order to trace the template on craft paper. To use craft paper, turn the paper face down and line your template up against one corner. This way you will be able to get more than one template per page (depending on the size of your template).
Trace around the edges of your template. Cut around your lines. Fold along the dotted lines of your template to make the envelope. Begin with the bottom flap, then fold in the short side, then the larger side.
Once folded, open back up and put glue on the outside bottom flap. Fold in the short side and secure on the glue. Put glue on the folded short side and fold in the larger side. Make sure not to get glue on the inside of your envelope – otherwise it won’t open properly.
Flip your seeds packet envelope over and get creative. Use your stamps, stickers or personal drawings, making sure to leave enough room to write in the type of seed that will be stored in your envelope.
Either use artwork very sparingly or not at all on the back of your envelopes. This is where you will add the planting and growing instructions. If you use art paper that is too dark or busy, put the growing/planting information on a plain white shipping label and adhere to the back of the packet.
I hope this has given all of you some great inspiration. Let me know how you do with your seeds packets. If you’d like to share pictures of your finished project, do so in the Comments. I’d love to see the artistic side of my readers!
