10 Fun Ways to Wrap the Gift of Cash

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Cash in a card for Christmas is acceptable, but, let's be honest, it's not very creative. This year, make your loved ones work hard for their money by presenting their cash gifts in exciting and intricate ways. Take a look at these fun ways to wrap the gift of cash that are sure to bring a smile to everyone's face. (See also: 5 Ways to Gift Cash)

1. Stuff the Cash in Balloons

The occasion of this post from She's Crafty was a birthday, but it transfers to the holidays just as well. Grab a few balloons — preferably red, green, and white to make it more festive — stuff a dollar bill (or a high dollar amount if you're a big spender) into each balloon, and blow them up. Stuff the balloons in a box, wrap it, and enjoy the merriment of watching the recipient pop his or her way to riches.

2. Craft a Festive Money Tree

We can all agree that life would be much better if money grew on trees, but since that's not likely, the next best thing might be this money tree made from actual money. And unlike the dying spruce in your living room, this tree is truly evergreen. (See also: 15 Cheap and Clever Ways to Save on Gift Wrapping)

3. Weave a Tropical-Inspired Money Lei

Can't afford to send your favorite nephew on an all-expenses paid trip to Hawaii? At least you can help him get into the tropical spirit and facilitate saving for the trip with this money lei. It only takes a few supplies to put this together — about 30 to 35 bills (printing paper in the color of your choice), glue spots, a hot glue gun and sticks, and ribbon — and the post includes instructions on how to fold the bills into lei-like "flowers."

4. Attach a Money Rosette to a Wrapped Package

Thinking of giving a cash gift in addition to a packaged gift to a recipient this year? Make the present really pop by attaching a money rosette. This project may take a bit of dedication — there's lots of precision folding involved — but there are step-by-step instructions available that will walk your through the process. (See also: 10 Gifts You Can Make With Paper)

5. Slip a Money Ring on His Finger

If diamonds are a girl's best friend, bling made out of a Benjamin might just be a guy's. Instructables has easy directions on how to turn money into a fashion-forward accessory using an origami technique. To present it, place it in a nice ring box and wrap.

6. Design a Money Book

The recipient won't have to work as hard to get the money out of this gift presentation as they do with the previous suggestions on this list, but it's a cute idea nonetheless. While there aren't any detailed instructions how to create this money book, it seems fairly simple. Find a money-sized photo album at a craft store, remove the insides and replace with bills. The crafter hot glued the bills together so they stayed put but also so they can be torn off one by one like pages from a notebook.

7. Deliver a Bucket O' Bucks

I like this bucket o' bucks idea because it can serve as two gifts in one for an outdoorsy person in your life, and it's super easy to put together. First, find an appropriate vessel in which to put the money — it could be a bucket, a cooler, a lunch box, whatever container is useful and that you think the recipient would like. When you have the container, fill it with rolled-up dollar bills held together by ribbon, string, or even rubber bands. This gift also makes for a nice surprise because the recipient will probably expect to open an empty container, but then, whoop, there it is! (See also: Stress-Free Holiday Gift Giving)

8. Hang a Money-Filled Ornament From the Tree

For this idea, you'll need a clear glass globe ornament, ribbon, bills, and decorating pens/paint. First, decorate the outside of the ornament with decorating pens or paint; you'll want to do this first so you can start with a new ornament if you mess up. You can write the recipient's name and add other festive features. Next, remove the aluminum cover from the top of the ornament and stuff in rolled dollar bills tied with ribbon. Replace the aluminum cap and attach a ribbon at the top of the ornament for decoration and string a thin ribbon through the hanging hole so you can hang the ornament on the tree.

Unfortunately this is not a keepsake ornament as the recipient will have to break the ornament unless they plan to spend most of the day fishing out the bills with a pair of tweezers, but the thoughtfulness of the presentation will go a long way.

9. Freeze Cold Hard Cash in a Jar

I saw this idea on Pinterest, and it's really cool. In a large jar, add a layer of coins and add just enough water to cover the coins. Freeze the jar. While the previous layer is still frozen, repeat these steps with different colored water until the jar is full. It's a tedious process, and it will make the recipient work a bit harder than they may want to, but it's at least a little bit funny — so long as the recipient has a good sense of humor, of course.

10. Replace a Few Chocolates in a Box With Money

This money-gift presentation couldn't be easier. Pick up a nice box of chocolates — there are plenty available this time of year — and remove a few piece of chocolate from inside. In their place, put folded bills in the paper wrappers. Voila, instant double gift! This also is a pleasant surprise for you, too, since you get to eat the pieces of chocolate that you remove. Just don't go overboard!

Do you have other ideas on how to present a money gift in a fun, fresh way? Let me know in the comments below.

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