Saving seeds is a time-honored tradition. It saves you money on next year’s garden since you won’t have to purchase more seeds. Plus, seeds make great personalized gifts for friends or family! Seeds are more than just small little rocks that become foods and flowers. They come with stories of their own. There’s lots of ways that you can keep your seeds safe for future years, but a little creativity can go a long way to lending a personal touch. Especially if you’re planning on trading or giving your seeds away for holidays or seed swap events. Origami seed packets are a simple, easy way to add a little something extra.
Each of the below origami seed packets use a 6″x6″ square of paper, but you can use any size you like. You don’t even need to purchase any particularly pretty paper. Old seed magazines make great paper for origami seed packets. Plus, if you choose a section in the magazine just right, it can have the added benefit of showcasing the kind of seeds inside your seed packet!
Rectangular Origami Seed Packet
This is a pretty simple origami template for saving seeds. Using a 6″x6″ square of paper, you can make these 1″x3″ little folios to store your seeds securely.
How to Fold This Packet
- Fold your square of paper into a triangle by uniting two of the opposite corners. If your paper has two different sides, fold it so the less interesting pattern is inside.
- Place the 90 degree angle at the top of your desk and fold over the right acute angle corner so it folds the triangle by about a third.
- Do the same with the left acute angle corner so it overlaps on the right corner.
- Tuck the right corner into the fold of the left corner so the left corner envelops the right corner securely.
- Add your seeds.
- Fold the sides of the top triangle over so the seeds are secure inside.
- Fold the top triangle over the bottom so that a little bit of the top triangle drapes over the bottom of the packet.
- Fold the top triangle so it can fold neatly inside the pocket at the bottom of your seed packet.
The small size of this origami seed packet is a little limiting. There’s not much real estate inside to hold larger seeds like zucchini or pumpkin seeds. But sometimes, you don’t need that much space. Plus, the small size of these seed packets makes them ideal to store bunches of seed packets like these in a small space or box.
Rectangular Origami Seed Packet with Tab
This version is a lot like the previous rectangular origami seed packet with a twist. By making a couple small adjustments, you add on a little decorative spot for the envelope tab to stick into. This little diamond shape is a really neat place to put a sticker or write the year that you saved the seeds. Plus, this seed packet stands up really well so it looks great on a shelf or table.
How to Fold This Packet
- Fold your square of paper into a triangle by uniting two of the opposite corners. If your paper has two different sides, fold it so the less interesting pattern is inside.
- Place the 90 degree angle at the top of your desk and fold down only the paper on top so that the top meets the bottom of the triangle.
- Fold over the right acute angle corner so it folds the triangle by about a third.
- Do the same with the left acute angle corner so it overlaps on the right corner.
- Grab the top acute angle you just folded in your thumb and forefinger and smooth out the bottom fold while moving the corner left over the center of your seed packet. Flatten it out and crease the paper so it makes a square in the center.
- Add your seeds.
- Fold down the top of your seed packet so its top corner fits neatly into the square tab.
There’s one thing to note about this rectangular origami seed packet. It’s not as secure as the previous rectangular version. So, maybe don’t use this version if you’re trying to save extremely small seeds like mint or coleus bush seeds.
Trapezoid Origami Seed Packet
This is the easiest origami seed packet you can make. With just a few simple folds, you can make a beautiful seed packet worthy of sharing with friends, family, or at seed swaps. It’s hard to believe your seeds can stay safe with only four little folds, but it’s true!
How to Fold This Packet
- Fold your square of paper into a triangle by uniting two of the opposite corners. If your paper has two different sides, fold it so the less interesting pattern is inside.
- Place the 90 degree angle at the top of your desk and fold the right acute angle corner so it meets the middle of the top left side. It’s best if the top of the fold is parallel with the bottom of the seed packet.
- Do the same with the left acute angle corner so it overlaps on the right corner.
- Add your seeds.
- Fold the top triangle over the bottom and insert the corners into the pocket made by the left fold.
This origami seed packet is great for small quantities of larger seeds. Even folded from a 6″x6″ sheet of paper, it can easily hold more than a dozen pumpkin seeds. Tiny seeds might get a little lost in the main envelope. But folding both sides together into the outer flap means that they’ll be secure inside the packet and aren’t likely to escape.
Hexagon Origami Seed Packet
From easiest to hardest. We’ve saved the hardest for last! This origami seed packet version starts as a rectangle rather than a triangle. It takes a few more steps to fold, but its unique shape is worthy of being included here!
How to Fold This Packet
- Fold the square so that the edge doesn’t quite make it to the top, leaving about half an inch of the bottom to overhang. If your paper has two different sides, fold it so the less interesting pattern is inside.
- Fold that overhanging half an inch over the top of the top layer.
- Flip the paper over.
- Fold the top right corner down so it makes a triangle.
- Fold the bottom right corner up so it makes another triangle.
- Slip the bottom triangle into the pocket on top triangle made by the overhanging paper. (There will be a small triangle left over at the bottom. You can fold this piece under so it doesn’t show.)
- Add your seeds on the open left end.
- Repeat steps 5 & 6 with the left sides, slipping the bottom triangle into the pocket on the top triangle.
- Flip the seed packet over. The back has plenty of space to write what seeds are inside.
The cool thing about this version is that it’s perfect for extremely small seeds. Because of the multiple folds, there’s no way any seeds can slip through, no matter how small they are. However, without a handy tab at the top, it also doesn’t open up as nicely. You practically have to undo half of the origami to get at the seeds. Not a deal breaker, but something to keep in mind!
Don’t Stop There!
There’s lots of ways you can spruce up these four origami seed packets. You can add washi tape, stickers, or extra information about your seeds. Add a paperclip and some ribbon or string and make an ornament to hang on your holiday tree. The possibilities are endless and limited only by your own imagination and creativity!
