Let’s be honest: most recent grads want cash gifts more than anything else. But, money isn’t a fun gift to give. Here’s a way to make your graduation gift more exciting. Make these mini graduation caps as a holder for cash or gift cards. You’ll win points for creativity and the graduate will get what they really want.

Materials: Black cardstock, ruler, bone folder, glue, scissors, pencil, mini circle punch, thread

Step 1: Cut out a 2” by 11” strip of paper and a 1.75” by 11” strip of paper. On both strips, draw a line .5” from the edge of the long sides.
Step 2: Using a bone folder, score and fold each strip along the drawn lines.
Step 3: Cut tabs to the scored line (each tab should be about .25” wide.)
Step 4: Roll your 2” strip into a cylinder and glue it closed (overlap the paper by about .5”). Once the glue has dried, roll the 1.75” strip around the 2” strip of paper and glue it closed – make sure this one is slightly larger than the other so they fit snugly together.
Step 5: Use the smaller cylinder to trace a circle (it will be about 3.25” in diameter) and cut it out. Glue this to the bottom of the 2″ cylinder (on top of the folded tabs.) This will become the bottom of the box. Let dry (you may need to place an object like scissors on top of the circle so that it dries flat.)
Step 6: Cut out a 5” by 5” square of paper. Glue this on top of the tabs on the 1.75″ cylinder. Let dry (you may need to place an object like scissors on top of the circle so that it dries flat.)
Step 7: Use your thread to make a tassel (there’s a great tutorial here.) Attach it to the top of your cap by gluing it under a small circle of black paper (we used a circle punch to do this.)
Step 8: Fill with treats or money and give away!