Make your own money gifts

How do I make my own money gifts?

Money gifts are always a great gift idea. There's no need to resort to slipping a note in a birthday card – you don't need much to make great money gifts for any occasion.

An Easter bunny can bring your money gift for Easter. Make your own bunny using construction paper and buttons for the eyes, nose and mouth. Brush with glue and sprinkle with glitter. When it's dry, attach a bank note 'bow tie' to its neck with double-sided tape.

An upcoming holiday is a great reason for a money gift and is a chance to help the happy travellers out. Fill a 15-20cm diameter bowl with white bird sand. Set up a 'hammock' using two straws and a piece of string. Hang your notes on the 'hammock' and scatter coins on the sand. You can also use holiday straws with palm trees or suns available from specialty stores.

Money gifts are always welcome birthday presents. Give the birthday girl or boy a particularly valuable cake: Wrap five bills of equal value around five brightly coloured candles (not to close to the top, so they don't burn). Finally, secure with a piece of twine or ribbon and stick in a cake – and your original money gift is finished! If you don't want to bake a cake yourself, you can also use a candle holder or candelabra. You can use as many or as few candles as you like.

money gifts are also a popular Christmas gift – but the usual Christmas card with money is one tradition that should stop now! How about particularly valuable tea light holders? Take four identical tea light holders or plain glasses and attach to a silver-coloured or stainless steel plate using double-sided tape or craft glue. Then, roll a note around the outside of each glass. Double-sided tape can help to keep the note in place. Finally, place tea lights in the glasses. You've never seen a money gift in a better light!

For a Christmas-themed money gift for children, make a 'sack' by tying a piece of string around a note, close to the top. Tape to a Santa Claus from a serviette, card, or which you have drawn yourself and your gift is ready to give!

Have fun making and creating!