Seed Painting

Learn this beautiful craft with these free instructions.

Making pictures, lovely ones that may be framed and hung in any room, out of different kinds of seeds is a most unusual, but a very fascinating craft. It is something that can be enjoyed by anyone who has time, patience and a variety of seeds.

Making seed pictures is not expensive, because the seeds may be gathered from the roadsides, fields and gardens. There is no end to the different combinations that may be worked up in forming flower, leaves and baskets with the seeds.

The pictures may be made in this manner: select a clean piece of sandpaper for the background. The paper should be larger than the design used, so the picture will not look crowded when framed. The reason sandpaper is suggested for the background is because it is strong, durable and will hold the glue better than a smooth surface or paper.

Don't begin with a large and elaborate design, but get the feel of making a seed picture by practice, and later larger ones and more intricate designs may be worked out easily.

Just think of it this way, instead of using threads as in embroidering, or paints as in painting, you are going to use entirely different materials "seeds". Transfer your pattern onto sandpaper with carbon paper just as you would a design to be embroidered. If you are able to raw your pattern without tracing it, so much the better.

Before applying any glue or cement, arrange some of your seeds on the pattern and see how they look, because you will be sure to want to change them two or three ties, trying out other combinations.

Use a good grade of glue or cement, and use enough to hold each seed in a secure manner. After glue has had time to dry thoroughly, coat each seed and the entire background with clear varnish. This gives a pretty finish. Frame, without glass, and you will have a very attractive picture, and one that is sure to win many compliments. Note: You may also use a shadowbox for framing which will better preserve your picture.

In the seed picture shown above, which is 8 x 10 inches, more than forty different kinds of seeds were used, and of course several of each variety. Included were: yellow, striped and white corn; strawberry popcorn; turnip; white clover; wheat; bluebonnet; balsam; lily of the valley; pokeberry; hollyhock; gourd; soybean; persimmon; squash, and several other kinds of seeds. The basket was made of oats and oat straw, and looks very much like it were made of wicker.

No artificial coloring is used, and yet the picture will result very colorful in tones of rich browns and tans, yellow, red, black, purple and cream.

For the person who likes attempting something new, here is a real challenge. Enjoy!