Easy Peasy Money Tree Topiary

I like DIY crafts only if the’re easy peasy. So if you’re like me, you’ll love this easy and creative way to give cash as a gift – the money tree topiary!

It’s beautiful, decorative and memorable. Also, unlike a lot of other money gifts, the money tree topiary doesn’t require you to fold or roll any bills. If you can pinch and pin, you can create this DIY money gift in no time!

ITEMS YOU WILL NEED:

• dowel rod (I cut the one I bought down to 14 inches)
• small pot
• foam ball (I used a 5 inch ball)
• foam that fits snugly inside pot (I used floral foam)
• greening pins also called floral pins (They are U-shaped)
• burlap ribbon for the base (You can also use moss, decorative stones or decorative rocks)
• colored ribbon for the dowel rod

INSTRUCTIONS FOR MAKING A MONEY TREE TOPIARY:

1) Insert one end of the dowel rod halfway into the foam ball.

2) Insert the second foam snugly into the pot. Insert the other end of the dowel rod into the foam and all the way to the bottom of the pot so it’s secure.

3) Gently pinch a dollar bill in the center so that the ends point upwards. It should look like this:

Use a pin to stick the pinched part of the dollar bill to the ball. Take a second dollar bill and pin it near the first one.

This photo show what a floral pin looks like and how a bill should be attached to the styrofoam ball using a floral pin.

Repeat until the entire ball is covered. (It took me $48 worth of $1 bills to cover my 5 inch ball.)
TIP: Fluff and arrange the ends of the dollar bills as you go to make sure no parts of the styrofoam can be seen.

4) Use burlap ribbon to cover the foam inside the pot.

5) Tie a bow with cute ribbon around the middle of the dowel rod.

Now you have yourself a beautiful money tree topiary for one very lucky gift recipient!

You’ve also made an eye-catching table centerpiece for a graduation party or birthday party.

Depending on how much cash you want to give, you can scale this gift up or down by using larger or smaller styrofoam balls. For a group gift that needs to hold lots of cash, you could create a tiered topiary with two or three styrofoam balls. It’s up to you!

Who says money doesn’t grow on trees?