We all know the best gift for a graduate is cash, but it can feel boring to just hand over an envelope. In today’s easy graduation gift idea, the dollar bills get rolled up and tied with ribbon so they look like little diplomas, then tucked into a mason jar that’s topped with a graduation cap. This is a cute way to gift money that won’t take long to make!
Related: Money Bouquet, Money Cake
Supplies
Here’s what you need to put together this mason jar grad gift:
- Mason Jar: I used a quart size jar with a standard size lid (not wide mouth). You can also use a pint jar.
- Dollar Bills: Use whatever bills you’d like to give! A quart size jar holds about 40 bills and a pint size jar holds about 20 bills.
- Black Cardstock: You’ll need one sheet of black cardstock; either 12×12 or 8.5×11.
- Embroidery Floss: Used to make a tassel.
- Clear Rubber Bands: Used to secure the bills in rolls.
- Narrow Ribbon: Used to tie up the dollar bills and make them look like diplomas.
- Metal Brad: Used to attach the tassel to the graduation cap.
- Optional – Curly ribbon or paper shred to place in the bottom of the jar – this can help fill up the jar some if you don’t want to use as many bills.
Slide pencil out of the bill, then slide a clear rubber band over it to secure it in a roll. Repeat with all the dollar bills, then tie a narrow ribbon around each rolled bill. I found it easiest to cut 6 inch lengths of narrow ribbon, tie them around the bills, then trim the ribbon slightly. This makes the dollar bills look like little diplomas.
Make a Graduation Cap
I made a grad cap from cardstock that can sit over the lid of the major jar. I did not glue the grad cap to the jar because that makes it harder to screw the lid on and off the jar. Instead, the cap just sits on top of the lid and can easily be removed.
Begin by cutting the following pieces from black cardstock:
- 4.5 x 4.5 inch square (for the top of the grad cap)
- 10 x 1.5 inch rectangle (for the circle part of the grad cap)
- 2 x 4.5 inch rectangle (used in making the tassel)
Make a Tassel
You’ll use the 2 inch wide piece of cardstock and embroidery floss to make a tassel.
- Wrap embroidery floss around the cardstock about 25 times.
- Cut a 12 inch piece of floss and slide it under the wrapped floss.
- Tie the 12 inch piece into a tight knot, then slide the floss off the cardstock.
- Cut a 6 inch piece of embroidery floss and tie it around the tassel just below where you tied the longer piece (see last photo below).
Decide how long you’d like the tassel to be, then tie a knot in it and trim, then slide it over the brad so it hangs over the top of the graduation cap.
Mason Jar Graduation Gift
Supplies
- Mason Jar quart or pint size with standard lid (not wide mouth)
- 1 sheet Black Cardstock
- Embroidery Floss
- Narrow Ribbon
- Clear Rubber Bands
- Metal Brad
- Dollar Bills
- Curly Ribbon or Paper Shred optional
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Instructions
- Use a pencil to roll up each dollar bill.
- Secure the rolled bill with a clear rubber band, then tie a narrow ribbon around it. Repeat with all the bills.
- Cute black cardstock as shown.
- Poke the brad through the center of the cardstock square, then open it up on the underside to secure. Wrap the long rectangle into a circle that’s slightly larger than the jar lid and hot glue the cardstock to itself to secure in a circle.
- Glue the cardstock circle to the underside of the cardstock square to make a graduation cap.
- Make a tassel from embroidery floss (detailed instructions in the post).
- Tie a knot in the top of the tassel and hang it over the brad in the cap. Then assemble the gift by placing curly ribbon (optional) and the rolled bills in the jar, then topping with the graduation cap.
Amy says
Oh now I love this cute idea! Very doable!