Flower Box and Seed Strip Planting Kit

This 3-in-1 Craft Makes a Perfect Gift for Mom or any Gardener

This is a great craft for the kids to make for Mom with a little adult supervision. It's truly three gifts in one.

You can also make just the seed strips for immediate planting or to tuck into a note or greeting card.

Flower Box Materials

• Paper mache box or chest
• Small wood knob or furniture peg
• White acrylic paint
• Medium size paint brush
• Tissue paper in color(s) of your choice
• Old card or print relating to flowers or the outdoors
• Mod Podge
• Decorative ribbon - enough to go around your box and make a bow
• Decorative scissors

Flower Box Assembly Instructions

Paint the outside of the box with white paint. Let dry and add a second coat.

Decoupage the inside of the box with colored tissue paper. You can do just one layer for a more transparent look or add a second layer when the first is dry for more intense color.

Cut the card front or print with decorative edge scissors to fit the top of the box.

Decoupage the image in place.

Paint the knob white and glue it to the lid front.

Cover the entire box with two coats of Mod Podge letting it dry completely between coats.

Glue the ribbon around the box and tie a bow on the front.

Seed Strip Supplies

• Blank newsprint paper - buy in sheets or cut strips from the bottom, top and edges of a newspaper where there isn't any printing
• Flower seeds (save the packets)
• Elmer's glue or any water soluble glue

Making the Seed Strip

Cut 6 strips of the plain newsprint 12 inches long.

On three of the strips of paper write the name of the seeds you are using. Lay the strips face down on a protected work surface and run a bead of Elmer's glue along the center.

Sprinkle the seeds over the glued area and cover each seed-covered strip with a blank strip. Lightly press the strips of paper together and let the three seed strips dry.

When the seed strips are dry you can roll them up to place inside the box later or if spring planting time has arrived in your area, go right outside and plant.

Just lay the strips in a furrow of the proper depth (per the packet instructions) and cover with soil. Your plants will come up in lovely straight rows and be easier to thin and weed.

Seed strips also make very thoughtful greeting card enclosures.

Planting Instruction Card Supplies

• Seed packets you saved above
• Decorative scissors
• Double sided tape
• Small pieces of cardstock

Planting Instruction Card Instructions

Cut a piece of cardstock with the decorative scissors just large enough to fit the seed planting directions.

Cut the directions from the packets and use double sided tape to place them on the card. Add some decorative stamps or stencil designs to the card.

Fold or roll the card and place it in the box.

You can also add a little trinket to the box like a key chain with a watering can on it or a garden themed charm bracelet.

Makes a perfect Mother's Day gift which the kids can have a hand in making and then perhaps in planting the garden as well.