Ramadan is a time for peace, love, and kindness. So this Ramadan I wanted to create a craft for my kids that was kind to the earth and also something they could gift family members. Along with being eco-friendly, it also reminds kids that giving feels just as good as receiving. I’ve noticed seed favors at weddings and birthdays and always thought they were so sweet, but I’ll be honest, I was so afraid to attempt it myself.

Supplies Needed:

• Clean unused tissue paper, toilet paper, or napkins (ours were extra napkins from takeout dinner)
• Clean water
• Bowl to mix the paper and food coloring
• Spoon for mixing
• Cookie-cutter of choice
• Newspaper or protective covering for the table
• Drying Space (Hard felt fabric or an old stained towel or an old screen or large piece of cardboard)
• Flower seeds (dark colors will pop on white paper)
• Bonus: If you make the accompanying card, I recommend buying these blank cards! Though it’s more eco-friendly to cut scrap cardstock.

Seed Paper Instructions:

1. Tear up clean tissues into small pieces.
2. Wet the torn tissues with clean water.
3. Use a spoon or your hands to mix the tissue until its a watery, mushy consistency (wet but not falling apart.)
4. Mix with hands or spoon
5. Lay an absorbent towel on a firm work surface.
6. Set the cookie cutter down on your fabric.
7. Sprinkle a few flower seeds inside the cookie cutter.
8. Pick up small pieces of paper and place them inside the cookie cutter. Using a cookie cutter, spoon one to one and a half tablespoons of the pulp mixture into the cookie cutter.
9. Press down gently with your fingertips to release some extra water.
10. Add a few more flower seeds and a few pinches of paper pulp.
11. Press down with your palm to remove any last drops of water so the paper will be thinner and dry quicker.
12. Remove the cookie cutter while the paper is still wet.
13. After an hour, gently move the seed craft to a fresh, dry towel or drying track. I use a spatula to do this. Place the seed craft and towel on a drying rack in a well-ventilated area to dry for 24 hours or more. If you have a fan on, even better.
14. If you’re air-drying, try to dry the seed crafts as quickly as possible. This will ensure that the paper doesn’t mildew and that the seeds don’t begin to germinate.
15. Once they are completely dry, you can cut a slit into cardstock paper or a blank card to present your gift.

As Ramadan is in the spring this year, this really turned out to be the perfect craft! If you make these favors, please tag me on Instagram or Facebook! I would love to see what you made.

Peace and Salam,

Natasha