Saturday, November 1, 2008

Talk about Going Green!!!!




Every year I get greeting cards for my birthday, mother's day, Yule etc. I have a collection of them cause I feel guilty about throwing something away that someone has spent hard earned money on. So, I have a huge pile of cards from many years past.

I found a fantastic site today!!!! Gracegraphics.etsy.com has plantable paper and cards!!!! These are made with a paper that is implanted with various wildflower seeds or tree seeds that the person receiving the card can then plant the card and have beautiful wildflowers pop up next spring! What a wonderful way to keep giving and keep us card pack rats from hoarding the cards cause we feel guilty about disposing of them!

I was blown away with the idea that I can send a card this year and it produces lovely live flowers or trees next year to help mother earth, not to mention make my yard look colorful!

I asked Kala of Gracegraphics.etsy.com about planting the cards.

Kala: My papers are wildflower seeded. I suggest waiting until the spring to plant. They can be started in a pot but do much better if planted directly in the garden. It is IMPORTANT that they are well tended until they grow their first set of true leaves (as with all seeds you grow). They need to be kept evenly moist, allowing them to dry out when they are trying to sprout is the best way to kill them off. Other than that . . you tend to them like any other garden plant. The wildflowers are mostly self sowing annuals, as is with most wildflowers, they are not perennials but reseed themselves generously for years.

Seeds included are: Annual Gaillardia, Baby Blue Eyes, Baby’s Breath, Corn Flower, Catchfly, Chinese Houses, White Yarrow, Blue Eyed Grass and Evening Primrose. Our die cut cards contain plains coreopsis, Bird's Eye, Clarkia, Poppy, & Snap Dragon

My paper starts off as 13 x 19 sheets, I keep most of it cut down to 9 x 6 for my cards.

I do have some larger sheets on the shelf.

The full size sheets are $7.00 each, the 9 x 6 are $1.85 each. It runs well through an ink jet print but not through lasers or phasers (they are too hot and will kill the seeds). They also run well through printing presses, I have not tried them with gocco or letterpress systems (but am dying to try).

I want to purchase paper from GraceGraphics.etsy.com just to plant it and see what pops up! For those of you that make cards for resale you definitely need to check it out! Finally a card that keeps on giving!!!

13 comments:

Tracy said...

Excellent - I love this idea, I think I might have to get hold of some of this paper myself, I often make my own greeting cards - thanks for enlightening me about this great idea!

needle and nest said...

Awesome find! Thanks for sharing! :)

Field Notes said...

LOL - what a surprise to stumble here - I also make plantable paper and sell it on etsy =D

BrighidsForge said...

This is GREAT - http://recycledideas.etsy.com has plantable cards and tags, as well, but I don't think she has holiday cards, yet.. And the card is cute! Thanks for the link - found my cards for the year...

GalleryJuana said...

great idea for cards! I like how you can purchase this seed paper to use in your own crafts.

Maureen said...

I love her cards, her art is so delightful.

I bought a batch of Valentine's cards last year from her and she is SO NICE to work with. She customized them all for no extra charge.

I first learned about her from the great article that Canadian Family magazine did on her last year, what a fun, amazing, talented person she is.

Sheryl Karas said...

Cool! And really cute, too.

Mariana said...

I love this idea! i saw her shop some months ago and i thought they were fantstic!

Unknown said...

That is adorable. I must have one.
Bethany

Jan said...

I LOVE that card!

Marjorie said...

I love the idea of plantable greeting cards and paper!

kimforbeads said...

Love the idea of reusing cards, great idea. love it.

melissa said...

I love that idea!
My son gave me a card that they made in school for Mother's day last year. In it was wildflower seeds. It was beautiful and sweet. thanks for sharing!!