You’ve finished a successful season in the garden, and now you have a drawer or box full of old empty seed packets. It feels wrong to just throw them away, doesn’t it? Before you recycle them, consider giving these colorful paper packets a second life. What to you do with old empty seed packets is a common question for thrifty gardeners, and the answer is full of creative potential.
Those little envelopes hold memories of your garden’s bounty and are a free craft supply waiting to be used. Their beautiful artwork, plant names, and growing notes can be repurposed in so many clever ways. Let’s look at some of the best ideas to upcycle them around your home and garden.
What to You Do with Old Empty Seed Packets
This collection of projects ranges from simple to slightly more involved. You’ll likely find something that fits your skill level and needs. Gather your packets, some basic craft supplies like glue and scissors, and let’s get started.
Garden & Planning Projects
Keep the gardening spirit alive by using your packets for practical tasks next season.
- Customized Plant Markers: Cut the front of the packet off, laminate it or cover it with clear packing tape for weatherproofing, and glue it to a craft stick or small garden stake. It’s the perfect marker for remembering what you planted where.
- Seed Organizer System: Use your empty packets to hold seeds you’ve collected yourself. Simply refill them with your saved seeds, note the new year and any details, and seal them with a bit of tape. They stack neatly in a box.
- Garden Journal Decor: Glue the packets onto the cover of a plain notebook to create a personalized garden journal. You can also use them to decorate the pages inside, using them as borders or to illustrate your planting notes.
- Quick-Reference Growing Guide: Punch a hole in the corner of related packets (like all tomatoes or herbs) and bind them with a ring. Hang this handy guide in your shed for a fast reminder on spacing and days to germination.
Home Decor & Gift Ideas
Bring a touch of the garden indoors with these charming decorative projects.
- Decoupage Decor: Tear or cut the packets into interesting pieces. Use decoupage glue to apply them to a picture frame, a flower pot, or a wooden tray. Seal with a top coat for a durable, garden-themed finish.
- Unique Gift Tags: Cut the packets into small rectangles or shapes. Punch a hole, add some twine or ribbon, and you have a beautiful, thematic tag for garden gifts, homemade jams, or bouquets from your yard.
- Custom Coasters: Glue flattened packets onto plain cork or wooden coasters. Cover them with several layers of a clear, waterproof resin or use glass tiles with sealed edges to protect them from moisture.
- Framed Artwork: Arrange a collection of your favorite packet designs in a shadow box or picture frame. Group by color, plant type, or vintage for a piece of art that tells the story of your garden.
Fun & Functional Crafts
These ideas are great for using lots of packets at once and are perfect for a rainy day activity.
- Seed Packet Garland: Cut packets into triangles, flags, or simple squares. Use a hole punch to make two holes at the top and string them together with jute twine or colorful yarn. Hang it in your kitchen or on a porch.
- Bookmarks: This is one of the simplest projects. Just laminate the entire packet or cover it with clear tape. Trim the edges neatly, and you have a durable, pretty bookmark for your gardening books.
- Patchwork Style Cards: Create one-of-a-kind greeting cards by making a collage of seed packet fragments on the front of a blank card. It’s perfect for a thank you note to a gardening friend or an invitation to a summer party.
- Drawer Liners: Use mod podge or a simple glue stick to adhere flattened packets to the bottom of a tool drawer, a jewelry box, or a kitchen cabinet. It adds a surprise pop of color everytime you open it.
Tips for Preparing Your Packets
Before you start crafting, prep your materials. Carefully open any sealed flaps with a craft knife to avoid tearing. Flatten them under a heavy book overnight. If the packets are stained or dirty, gently wipe them with a slightly damp cloth and let them dry completely. Having them flat and clean makes every project easier.
Involving the Whole Family
These crafts aren’t just for adults. Kids can help with simpler tasks like sorting packets by color, applying glue, or punching holes. Making bookmarks or simple collages is a wonderful way to share your love of gardening with the next generation and teach them about reusing materials. It’s a fun afternoon project that yields real results.
FAQ: Your Seed Packet Upcycling Questions
Can I use seed packets that are torn or damaged?
Absolutely! Even damaged packets have usable parts. Cut around the tear to salvage the artwork, or use the pieces for decoupage where imperfections add character.
What if my packets aren’t very colorful or pretty?
Focus on the text and graphics. Simple packets with clean typography can look very stylish in a minimalist frame or as a bookmark. You can also dye them with tea for a vintage look.
How do I make projects weatherproof for outdoor use?
For items like plant markers, lamination is best. For decoupaged items, use an outdoor-rated sealant or spar urethane over the finished project to protect it from sun and rain.
Is it better to keep the packet whole or cut it up?
It depends on the project. For reference guides or framing, keep them whole. For most crafts, cutting allows you to use the most attractive elements and fit them to your design. Don’t be afraid to cut them, it’s part of the creative process.
As you can see, the possibilities are nearly endless. The next time you finish a packet, don’t see it as trash. See it as a tiny piece of potential. With a little imagination, you can turn those memories of last seasons harvest into useful, beautiful items that keep you connected to your garden all year long. So, save those packets and try a project or two—you might be surprised at how satisfying it is.