How to Make a Graduation Money Lei— The Easy Way

Learn how to make a graduation money lei the easy way— a beautiful, budget-friendly DIY graduation gift that works for every age and every budget.

This is one of my favorite DIY graduation gifts to make. It looks really impressive, but once you get the hang of it, it’s actually pretty simple. It just takes a little time.

DIY money leis are a more thoughtful way to give money as a gift, and it makes the whole moment of celebrating your grad feel a little more special. Plus, it works for grads of all ages, from kindergarten all the way through college.

What You’ll Need

• Dollar bills in the amount you want to gift
• Tape
• An artificial flower lei

That’s it! You can find artificial flower leis at the dollar store, a party supply store, or online. They come in tons of colors, so you can even match your grad’s school colors if you want that extra personal touch.

One thing to keep in mind, this project does require a trip to the bank to get the right combination of bills, so planning ahead is key. Otherwise you might end up finishing it in the car on the way to the graduation like I did. (Mine was an hour and a half drive, so I made it work, but I definitely don’t recommend it! lol)

A Common Misconception About Money Leis

Before we get into the steps, I want to clear something up: you don’t have to give a large amount of money to make this work.

This gift truly fits every budget. You can add money flowers in just some of the spaces instead of filling the whole lei, and the artificial flowers will help it look full and beautiful regardless. That’s honestly one of the best things about this project, the flowers do a lot of the work for you.

How to Make a Graduation Money Lei

Step 1: Decide How Much You Want to Gift

Start here. Once you know your total, everything else falls into place.

Step 2: Count the Spaces in Your Lei

Look at your lei: between each flower, you’ll notice small plastic dividers. Each of those is a spot where you can place a money flower.

You don’t have to fill every single one. I usually alternate, putting a money flower in every other space and leaving one empty. It saves time, uses fewer bills, and honestly still looks great once it’s all together.

Once you decide whether you’re filling every space or alternating, count how many spots you’ll actually use. That’s how many money flowers you need to make.

Step 3: Figure Out Your Bill Combination

This is where it gets a little math-y, but nothing a calculator can’t solve. (Or honestly, just ask Claude or your AI of choice — it makes this part so much easier.)

You need to figure out which combination of bills adds up to your gift amount using exactly the number of flowers you’re making.

A couple of examples:

• 30 spaces, $30 gift → 30 one-dollar bills
• 30 spaces, $50 gift → 25 one-dollar bills and 5 five-dollar bills

If the numbers don’t work out perfectly evenly, don’t stress. You can always skip one extra space or squeeze in an extra bill — you really won’t notice once it’s all put together.

Step 4: Fold Your Money Flowers

Now for the fun part!

1. Fold your bill in half three times (hamburger style) to create 6 equal sections.

2. Use those folds as guides and fold accordion-style, back and forth like a fan.

3.Fold the whole thing in half so both ends meet.

4. Use a small piece of tape to hold one end together, then wrap the other end around a plastic divider in your lei and secure it with another piece of tape.

That’s one money flower! Once you’ve made a few, it goes really quickly.

Step 5: Repeat Until Your Lei Is Full

Keep folding and attaching until you’ve filled all your spots. Put on a good playlist and enjoy the process. It’s actually a really relaxing craft once you get into a rhythm.

Check out our video instructions for folding your bills if you’re a visual learner!

A Few Extra Tips

• Use crisp bills, they’re so much easier to fold. Your bank can usually swap out worn bills for fresh ones if you ask.
• Match your lei color to school colors for a personalized touch,
• Give yourself at least an hour the first time, especially if you’re filling a lot of spaces.

Final Thoughts

A graduation money lei is one of those gifts that always gets a reaction. It’s practical, it’s personal, and it shows you actually put effort into it, which makes all the difference.

Whether you’re celebrating a kindergarten grad or a college senior, this is a gift they’ll love.

If you want more inspiration for graduation season, check out other Easy DIY Graduation Gifts!