Money is often given as a present in greeting cards or small envelopes. It can also be hung on a money, or blessing, tree. On a money tree, bills of any denomination are folded and affixed to the branches and/or base of a real or fake tree. They are sometimes used for showers, family functions or mitzvahs. There are a number of ways you can fold money into a money tree. Choose a shape and practice. It may take a few attempts to fold it to your satisfaction. Read further to find out how to fold money for a money tree.
Steps
Money Pine Tree
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Choose the amount of money you would like to use. You can make many shapes out of smaller bills, or fold a larger denomination into 1 shape. Ask the bank for crisp bills or iron your bills so that they are crisp and easier to fold.
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Sit at a table or another hard surface. You may want to use a straight edge or bone folder to make the edges of your shape crisp. Every time you make a fold, run the straight edge against it to form a crease.
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Face down, fold the bill in half cross-wise. Crease and open again.
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Take the right side and fold inward. The top left of the fold should be at the mid-point crease you just made. The top right corner should hit the bottom edge of the bill at an angle.
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Fold the left side in a similar fashion. Line the top of the left side with the right side, forming an arrow-like figure.
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Tuck in the bottom flaps to create a triangle.
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Turn over the bill face up.
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Take another bill. Fold in half cross-wise. Fold the right side down similar to what you did in step 4, instead with the top right corner slightly past the bottom edge of the bill.
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Mirror the left side. This will help create a slightly larger triangle.
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Tuck in the excess flaps and turn over.
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Take another bill. Fold in half cross-wise. Fold the right side till the top edge aligns with the middle crease.
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Repeat with the left side. This will create the largest triangle.
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Tuck in the excess flaps and turn over.
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Insert the largest triangle slightly into the open bottom of the medium triangle. Insert the medium triangle into the small triangle in similar fashion.
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Take another bill and fold it 1/2 inch in on the side. Continue folding it until you have a 1/2 inch roll of the entire width of the bill. Unroll it and refold into a box using the creases that were just made.
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Insert the the rolled bill into the opening of the largest triangle. Done!
Alternate Money Pine Tree
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Fold your first bill in half lengthwise.
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Take the right edge and fold inward. The top edge of the fold should be at the mid-point lengthwise. The fold should create a 45 degree angle, and the rest of the right length should go downward at an angle. Fold the left side in, in a similar fashion. There should be a triangle and the two flaps going toward the center at an angle.
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Fold the triangle down so that the point comes between the 2 flaps.
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Fold the corner of the left flap half. Fit the flap inside the triangle, through the opening.
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Fold the right flap around the top of the triangle. Tuck the extra into the opening on the side. You should have your first, smallest triangle neatly folded.
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Take another bill. Fold it down 2/3 of the way lengthwise. This will help you to make a slightly larger triangle. Repeat the same instructions to fold the triangle as the previous bill.
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Take another bill. Fold it 1/4 the way down lengthwise. This will form your largest triangle. Repeat the same triangle folding instructions as with the previous bill.
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Take another bill and fold it 1/2 inch in on the side. Continue folding it until you have a 1/2 inch roll of the entire width of the bill. Unroll it and refold into a box using the creases that were just made.
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Place the stand inside the point of the largest triangle. Insert the large triangle into the bottom edge of the medium-sized triangle. Insert the top into the smallest triangle to create your pine tree.
Create a Money Tree Leaf
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Fold your bill in half lengthwise and crease it. Unfold it. This will serve as a guideline.
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Fold each of the corners in slightly, 1 by 1, just until the corner reaches the center line.
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Fold each corner in again toward the center line, until the outside corner abuts the center line. It should look like a very wide diamond when you have finished all 4 corners.
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Wrap 1 pointed end of the folded bill around a pencil. Continue to roll it until you get to the other end. Hold it tightly wrapped for 30 seconds to 1 minute.
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Unroll it and affix the leaf to a money tree with a paper clip. Tie a piece of ribbon to each paper clip for extra decoration.
- Repeat with other bills if you want to place many leaves on your money tree.
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Finished.
Tips
- Place a gold star at the top of your pine tree to create a Christmas tree.
- Consult an origami book or money origami website for more elaborate ways to decorate a money tree.
Warnings
- These money tree folding instructions are for American bills. Other currencies may have different dimensions and need to be folded differently.
Things You'll Need
- Iron
- Bills
- Table
- Straight edge or bone folder
- Pencil
- Paper clips