Creating your own natural paper is a wonderful way to recycle paper scraps while making practical, botanical-themed art. Homemade petal paper is a delightful way to share a homemade personal touch to things like gift cards, tags, or table place cards. In an afternoon, you can create a whole bunch of different papers or experiment with different flowers, leaves, and herbs year-round. You can even craft “plantable” paper embedded with seeds!
Scrap paper, such as old newspapers, junk mail, office documents, or tissue paper, can all be used. Any matte paper works well in this project, just avoid glossy papers such as magazine pages as they have heavy inks and oils that do not always work well. You can use fresh or dried flowers and herbs to color or decorate your projects. You may want to keep a journal of what plants worked well for you and the colors they produce. You may be surprised by the outcome. Roses give a lovely dusty pink color, chamomile a pale yellow, but lavender and yarrow both produce a green shade, not the color of their flowers. Each batch of paper is a little surprise. Fresh petals may soften as they dry, while dried petals often keep their color. You can also tint your paper naturally using herbal teas or colored paper scraps.
Materials Needed:
- Scrap paper (newspaper, cardboard, egg cartons, tissue paper, grocery bags, junk mail (avoid glossy papers like magazine pages)
- Hot water
- Blender or food processor (a hand blender also works)
- Fresh or dried flower petals and herb leaves (see list below)
- Cotton towels or dishcloths
- Rolling pin
Herbs and Seeds to Add:
Organic rose petals
Organic lavender flowers
Organic heather flowers
Organic calendula flowers
Butterfly Lover Seeds
Honeybee Lover Seeds
Directions:
- Tear or shred paper into small pieces.
- Place in a bowl and cover with hot water. Let it sit for at least 3-4 hours until the paper is soft and mushy. Stir well.
- Pour the wet paper into blender or food processor and process until the mixture becomes smooth and pulpy, with no paper pieces remaining.
- Pour pulp into a bowl and gently stir in your flower petals and leaves. If you are making “plantable” paper, you may also stir in flower and herb seeds.
- Strain mixture into a clean bowl and squeeze out most of the excess water. You should be left with a wet, spongy pulp.
- Lay a piece of parchment paper down on a flat surface and spread the pulp evenly on top. Cover with another piece of parchment paper and gently roll with a rolling pin until the paper is thin and even.
- Leave your paper to partially dry on the parchment paper and then carefully transfer towel to dry the rest of the way.
- Create simple designs and patterns with your petals. Turn your paper occasionally as it dries. This can take a few days. Once completely dry, trim paper to any size or shape you like.
Pro Tips: This is a craft that requires some practice. For some, it takes a couple of tries to get it right.
Drying Tips:
For best results, allow your paper to dry slowly and naturally. Air drying at room temperature works best. Avoid direct heat, which can cause curling or uneven drying. Turn your paper every few hours to help it dry evenly. To flatten sheets of dried paper, place them between clean towels or parchment paper and weigh down with a few heavy books for a few hours or overnight.
Using Your Paper:
Your flower petal paper is perfect for more than just notecards and tags. Try crafting small images such as butterflies, birds, or hearts to tuck into flower arrangements or top gift packages. You can even make your own paper flowers. Because of its soft, matte texture, petal paper makes a wonderful surface for art projects. Use it in collage, watercolor, or naturalink projects. You can also paint it with turmeric ink and place your paper in the sun to create fun eco-friendly sun prints. If you like to make plantable paper, simply add flower or herb seeds after blending the pulp. Once planted your paper will break down naturally and bloom again bringing your garden full circle.
*This blog and recipe are adapted from Beautiful Roses by Janice Cox (Ogden Publishing, 2025)
Want More Fun Craft Ideas from Janice Cox?
Check Out Her Newest Book, Beautiful Roses!
You May Also Be Interested In:
