Moneygami: Dollar Bill Origami as Gift Card Inserts

The next time you want to give cash money as a gift, make the gesture even more special by folding the dollar bill into a cool origami shape called "moneygami." Dollar bill origami is a creative, and free, way to add something special to your cash money gifts. Diagrams and instructions for almost any shape of dollar bill origami can be found through Internet searches.

Traditional origami diagrams often specify a specific size and shape of origami paper to begin the craft. However, the dollar bill is already a specific shape and size, which limits the types of shapes available for money origami diagrams. After you have learned to make some basic moneygami designs, like a heart, Japanese fan or dollar bill butterfly, move on to the more intricate designs with sophisticated folds.

Eventually, you can join the ranks of moneygami fans who create their own dollar origami designs and share them in on-line communities. For existing moneygami designs to begin learning check out http://members.cox.net/crandall11/money/ which has several links to other dollar origami designers.

Once you've learned a few moneygami shapes, you'll be surprised at all the places you can use them. Give a waiter a smile by folding his $5 bill tip into a spider or snake. Or if you have a crush on a cute waitress, leave her dollar bill tip as a moneygami flower or heart. Fold your staff's Christmas cash bonuses into origami Christmas trees.

Gift cards have become a risky gift choice with many businesses filing sudden bankruptcy and no longer honoring pre-purchased cards. Also, every year customers report losing money of gift cards which expired or become lost because they rarely shopped at the store. Yet every Christmas and birthday, gift givers continue to give cards because they feel cash is too boring. Spice up that cash gift by folding it into a fun origami shape. It works for any age gift recipient.

Even children get a kick out of receiving a simple dollar bill folded into a ring, T-shirt or bird. In fact, children are more likely to save their cash presents when they are folded into fun shapes. If you have a favorite niece, nephew, cousin, son or daughter, play a game. Give them cash gifts folded as a different animal and challenge them to collect them all. Your favorite kid will soon have a menagerie of fun animals without wasting all that birthday money.

If you are a Christian or spiritual person, keep a selection of dollar bill origami crosses to give as tips, hand-outs for pan-handlers and homeless people. You will brighten their day while having a simple chance to witness as a Christian. Or do the same thing with the Star of David for the Jewish faith.

The moneygami heart is one of the easiest origami shapes to begin learning. Lay the dollar bill flat and fold it in half. Fold the strip in half again so it is about one-half inch wide. Pull the ends of the dollar bill strip together so you have a circle. Poke one end of the dollar strip into the folds of the opposite end. The dollar bill is not in a circle which should stay together without you holding it.

Where the dollar bill's ends overlap, make a crease in the dollar circle pointing out. This will be bottom of the heart. Now make a crease in the opposite side of the circle pointing inside. Use your fingers to shape the top curves of the heart and the pointy slopes of the bottom. Keep playing with it until you are happy with your moneygami heart.