Introduction: Money Tree Gift Idea
Give the gift of money in the form of a Money Tree!!
This is a simple gift idea that can be done in less than an hour. It is better than a gift card because who doesn't want cash!
The example I have pictured here is one I made for my college student daughter with a major in art (how cliche- a poor college art major) for the holidays.
It is made from push pins, a styrofoam cone, and many one dollar bills ($1) to form the shape of a fir tree.
(DONT ASK FOR ANY MONEY FROM ME. GO GET YOUR OWN MONEY)!!
This is a simple gift idea that can be done in less than an hour. It is better than a gift card because who doesn't want cash!
The example I have pictured here is one I made for my college student daughter with a major in art (how cliche- a poor college art major) for the holidays.
It is made from push pins, a styrofoam cone, and many one dollar bills ($1) to form the shape of a fir tree.
(DONT ASK FOR ANY MONEY FROM ME. GO GET YOUR OWN MONEY)!!
Step 1: Purchase the Material
Go earn that money! Shake those money makers! While you are out there purchase a styrofoam cone and push pins (preferably with round heads). The cone I used has 6-8 inches diameter bottom and tapers to the top at 12 inches tall. To cover this one, it took 100 singles. (If using less money, use a smaller cone or trim the cone to a smaller height).
Step 2: Fold That Money and Pin (bottom Branches)
Hey George!
Fold the dollar bill into shape for the bottom branches:
1. Face the dollar bill with the portrait of the first US President facing up.
2. Grasp a corner and fold it to the adjacent corner on the short side until the edge of the bill covers half of the portrait (middle of the bill) and formes a 45 degree fold. The leading edge of the fold should overlap the longside edge.
3. Grasp the newly formed point and fold it over the previous fold to create another 45 degree fold. The new fold should look like a triangle.
4. Tuck the excess under the fold to hold the fold in place.
5. Pin the money to the styrofoam cone with the push pins while ensuring that the bills and pins overlap. Ensure that the green side faces up.
NOTE: When pinning the corners, the bills will have a tendancy to bend away from the cone.
Fold the dollar bill into shape for the bottom branches:
1. Face the dollar bill with the portrait of the first US President facing up.
2. Grasp a corner and fold it to the adjacent corner on the short side until the edge of the bill covers half of the portrait (middle of the bill) and formes a 45 degree fold. The leading edge of the fold should overlap the longside edge.
3. Grasp the newly formed point and fold it over the previous fold to create another 45 degree fold. The new fold should look like a triangle.
4. Tuck the excess under the fold to hold the fold in place.
5. Pin the money to the styrofoam cone with the push pins while ensuring that the bills and pins overlap. Ensure that the green side faces up.
NOTE: When pinning the corners, the bills will have a tendancy to bend away from the cone.
Step 3: Fold That Money (middle, Upper, and Top Branches)
Fold the dollar bill into shape for the middle branches:
1. Face the dollar bill with the portrait of the first US President facing up.
2. Grasp a corner and fold it to the adjacent corner on the short side until the edge of the bill covers the entire portrait (2/3rds of the bill) and formes a 45 degree fold. The leading edge of the fold should overlap the longside edge roughly one inch.
3. Grasp the newly formed point and fold it over the previous fold to create another 45 degree fold.
4. Align the edges to match. The new fold should look like a triangle and half of the dollar.
5. For the upper branches that are not at the top, add another fold by folding in half width-wise.
6. Pin the money to the styrofoam cone with the push pins while ensuring that the bills and pins overlap.
NOTE: The further up the cone that the bills are pinned the more bills and the pins will overlap.
Fold the dollar bill into shape for the top branches:
1. Repeat the previous steps 1-4.
2. Wrap the corners of the dollar bill around the cone and pin in place.
3. Overlap the bills while pinning the upper braches to the cone.
1. Face the dollar bill with the portrait of the first US President facing up.
2. Grasp a corner and fold it to the adjacent corner on the short side until the edge of the bill covers the entire portrait (2/3rds of the bill) and formes a 45 degree fold. The leading edge of the fold should overlap the longside edge roughly one inch.
3. Grasp the newly formed point and fold it over the previous fold to create another 45 degree fold.
4. Align the edges to match. The new fold should look like a triangle and half of the dollar.
5. For the upper branches that are not at the top, add another fold by folding in half width-wise.
6. Pin the money to the styrofoam cone with the push pins while ensuring that the bills and pins overlap.
NOTE: The further up the cone that the bills are pinned the more bills and the pins will overlap.
Fold the dollar bill into shape for the top branches:
1. Repeat the previous steps 1-4.
2. Wrap the corners of the dollar bill around the cone and pin in place.
3. Overlap the bills while pinning the upper braches to the cone.
Step 4: Add a Star (Optional)
Optional, fold a dollar bill into a star to pin to the top (a similar example can be found on youtube at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=krFk_ltGklY&feature=player_detailpage).
1. Fold the dollar bill along its length in half.
2. Fold the new fold again along the length of the dollar bill.
3. Unfold and refold the dollar bill along the creases like it was a burrito or rug:
a. Fold the long edge along the first inside crease
b. Fold the new fold onto the second crease (the middle of the bill).
c. Fold the next fold onto the third crease (3/4 of the bill).
d. Fold the next fold to mate with the edge.
4. Take one edge and fold into a half knot.
5. Tuck the excess in. The end should look like a pentagram.
6. Wrap the long end around the newly formed pentagram.
7. Tuck the excess in.
8. Press in the middle of the sides of the pentagram toward the center. The pentagram should sort of look like a star.
9. Pin to the tip top pf the tree.
1. Fold the dollar bill along its length in half.
2. Fold the new fold again along the length of the dollar bill.
3. Unfold and refold the dollar bill along the creases like it was a burrito or rug:
a. Fold the long edge along the first inside crease
b. Fold the new fold onto the second crease (the middle of the bill).
c. Fold the next fold onto the third crease (3/4 of the bill).
d. Fold the next fold to mate with the edge.
4. Take one edge and fold into a half knot.
5. Tuck the excess in. The end should look like a pentagram.
6. Wrap the long end around the newly formed pentagram.
7. Tuck the excess in.
8. Press in the middle of the sides of the pentagram toward the center. The pentagram should sort of look like a star.
9. Pin to the tip top pf the tree.
Step 5: Review and Give Away All That Money
Look and admire your creation.
There are probably more ones there than a church offering plate.
I know it may be difficult but now give that hard earned cash away!
Happy Holidays!
There are probably more ones there than a church offering plate.
I know it may be difficult but now give that hard earned cash away!
Happy Holidays!