Money Flower Lei Tutorial
Perfect for graduations, weddings or birthdays, this money lei is sure to make your guest of honor feel special.
To start making your money flower lei, first gather the necessary materials. Next, measure and cut the string to your desired length. Then, fold each bill accordion style on the creases.
Materials
Money flowers are a fun way to gift someone cash and are great for graduations, weddings, birthdays, or any other special occasion! This tutorial shows you how to make a beautiful flower money lei from dollar bills. This is a very easy craft project that you can do with your friends and family!
To create your money flower, start by folding the dollar bill length-wise to make a crease. Then, flatten it out again. Repeat this process with all of the dollar bills you want to use for your money lei.
When you’re finished, your money flowers should look like this:
Tie the flower to a piece of ribbon to secure it. Then, add paper flowers in between the money flowers to fill out the lei. You can also add other decorations such as a tassel and silk flowers if desired.
If you don’t have any ribbon, you can use a pipe cleaner instead. Just be sure to use a length that’s long enough to go around the graduate’s neck. If you’re using a pipe cleaner, be sure to thread it through the middle of each flower so that it doesn’t slip off. You can also use glue dots instead of ribbon if you prefer.
Step 1: Fold the Bills
While a money lei can be made with any denomination of bill, most are created using dollar bills because they’re easy to come by and are widely accepted. The first step is to fold the bills. This can be done in several ways, depending on how long you want the lei to be and how much money you have available.
One option is to make roses out of the bills. To do this, start with a crisp bill and make a 1/2-inch fold across one of the short edges. Then, flip the bill over and repeat the process. Continue to do this for the rest of the bill, creating an accordion-style folding pattern.
You can also make a simple flower by folding the bills into petals. This requires three bills because each bill makes two of the petals. To do this, begin with a clean bill and fold it lengthwise so that the long edge is near the center of the paper.
Finally, you can create butterflies out of the bills. This is a cute way to show your graduate that they’re loved and will be able to fly high in their new life. To do this, fold the bill into a triangle and then fold each of the corners in to match up evenly. This will create a base for each of the butterflies.
Step 2: Tie the Bills Together
Money flowers make a fun and unique gift for graduations, weddings or other special occasions. This simple tutorial shows you how to fold the bills into little flowers and tie them together to create a beautiful money lei. You can use any amount of money you want and even paper flower motifs instead of real ones.
To start, fold all the bills length-wise and flatten them out again. Then, using a small piece of ribbon, thread the ribbon through each bill near the crease where you taped it earlier.
Repeat this step with all the bills until you have a long string of flowers. You may want to have a friend help you with this project as it can be time consuming. Make sure you have plenty of ribbon so you can tie each flower to the necklace.
If you don’t have ribbon, you can also use a piece of string or a strand of beads to tie the flowers together. You could even add a few paper flowers or a fresh kukui nut to the lei for extra decoration and to make the recipient feel even more special. The kukui nut is the national tree of Hawaii and a symbol of strength, wisdom, good health and good luck.
Step 3: Tie the Bills to the Necklace
Traditionally a Hawaiian lei is given as a gift to celebrate the occasion of graduation, weddings and other special events. Using money instead of flowers creates a fun and unique way to present cash to the graduate. This money flower is easy to make and will be a lasting reminder of their achievements.
Start by folding a dollar bill accordion style. Once you have the desired number of folds, choose one side and tape the edges together. This will create a circle and will help the bill maintain its shape when strung around the neck.
Repeat the process for each bill in the bouquet. When all the bills are ready, string them together with ribbon long enough to stretch around the graduates neck. Once the ribbon is strung, tie a double knot and trim any excess.
If you’d like to add more decoration, you can also tie pom poms or silk flowers intermittently in between the bills. You can even include small childhood mementos like baby toys, jewelry or ticket stubs to add a personal touch to the gift. Lastly, you can even add inspirational messages or words of wisdom to create an extra special keepsake.
Step 4: Attach the Paper Flowers
This adorable craft is perfect for a graduation party, birthday party or any other special occasion. It’s a fun way to celebrate the achievements of someone you love and it will definitely make them smile.
Use your ruler and hobby knife to cut 24 strips of tissue paper into 2-inch-wide strips. You can also use scissors if you don’t have a hobby knife or cutting mat, but using a precision blade is best to get the cleanest cuts.
Make a few different colored flowers in slightly varying sizes to add visual interest to your lei. Try adding fringed details or colorful pompom centers to the flowers, if desired. You can also mix and match the colors to create a colorful floral pattern, or stick with one color for a monochromatic look.
Once you have made all of your flower money leis, string them together to create the necklace. When you’re finished, be sure to test out the lei by wearing it. This way, you can be certain that all of the flowers are positioned properly and aren’t poking around your neck.
If you’d like to give your lei an extra pop of color, fold a few green pieces of paper into leaf shapes and add them to the necklace along with the flower money leis. The result is a beautiful and colorful money lei that’s sure to delight your graduate.
Step 5: Attach the Silk Leaves
Whether it’s a graduation party or an end-of-year celebration, this money flower lei tutorial is the perfect way to honor your graduate. It’s easy to make and will be a gift they’ll cherish for years to come.
To make this money flower lei, you’ll need crisp dollar bills in your choice of denomination. You’ll also need a few silk leaves to use for decoration, which you can find at most craft stores. Determine how many flowers you want to make and how much money you’d like to give, then choose the appropriate amount of bills.
The great thing about this method is that it allows you to make a money lei that’s more comfortable for the wearer than traditional ones, since the bills lay flat rather than stacking up on each other. This is especially true if you make your flowers from smaller denominations, which are less bulky than larger ones.
Another bonus of this money lei is that it’s easier to take to the store than a traditional one because you can keep all the bills together, instead of having to separate them each time you need something. You can even add a coordinating ribbon to the back of the lei for an extra touch of flair.
Step 6: Fasten the Money Flower
After tying the money flowers to the ribbon lei, it’s time to fasten them. Using a pipe cleaner, twist it tightly around the base of each flower to keep them in place. Make sure to leave enough room for the graduated to tie the lei around their neck.
The giving of a lei is a traditional Hawaiian tradition for graduations and other special occasions. It’s a great way to show your graduate how proud you are of them and it’s also much more fun than just giving them money in an envelope. With a little bit of effort, you can create a beautiful and unique gift that your graduate will always remember. To know more about money flower lei just click on the below link: how to fold a dollar into a flower
