Graduate Money Gift Idea – Make Your Own Grad Badge!

This DIY Grad Badge is a fun way to gift cash to your favorite graduate and it's so easy to make! Find out how to make it here.

Graduation Money Gift Idea

We know that cash is always appreciated as a gift – especially by graduates! But, if you're wanting to gift cash in a creative, tactful way – this DIY gift is just the ticket. This is a graduation money gift idea we know your favorite grad will love, and you'll love making. Plus, you might be surprised at just how easy it is to make! 

Here's how to make it:

Supplies needed for this DIY Grad Badge

• 4 cash bills (I went with four 10s, but you can choose any amout)
• Clear tape
• Cardstock (I loved this glittery sheet I found at the craft store but you can choose any colors)
• Hot glue gun
• 2-inch wide ribbon of your choice
• Embellishments (stickers, jewels, etc)
• Optional: metal badge pin so your grad can actually wear their badge

Looking for more ideas? Here are 4 ways to gift cash to grads!

How to make a Grad Badge

Start by lining up your bills and taping together at the ends (one small piece of tape where all the 10s meet).

Next, fold the bills into a fan. You'll want about 4 folds per bill to keep it even.

Next, pinch and hold in the middle to create a fan.

Next, pull the side edges to where they meet each other and tape with a small piece of tape to hold it together.

Repeat on the other side.

Once the fan is complete, cut a circle from your sparkly cardstock to create a center. I used a can of corn to trace a circle and cut.

Attach the cardstock circle to your money using your hot glue gun. (You don't need a ton of glue for this – a dot about the size of a dime in the center of the circle will do.

You can attach any special, fun embellishment to celebrate your grad. I found these adorable pop-up stickers in the scrapbook section to add. You could also just attach a small rectangle that says “Grad” or something similar. 

Note: I attached another small circle of white cardstock to the front so that the stickers would really stand out against the glitter. This is optional.

For the back, I used plain black cardstock and cut a smaller circle. Attach to the back with hot glue like you did on the front.

Next, cut a length of ribbon approximately 16 inches in length, fold it in half, and hot glue it to the paper circle on the back.

If you want to attach a pin for the graduate to wear, you can glue it right above the ribbon.

And that's it! Your Grad Badge is done and ready to be presented to the happy graduate!

Looking for some other cash-inspired Grad gifts? Check these out:

DIY Graduation Gift with Money – Pizza Box

Graduation Candy Gift

Picture Frame Money Gift

For non-money Gifts – check out this post with Graduation Gift Ideas for Pretty Much Every Graduate!

Note from Laurie: this DIY was inspired by my friend Julie from the Less than Perfect Life of Bliss blog. If you haven't met her before, Julie is my online blog crush . . . every time I visit her site or take a peek at her kitchen table on Instagram I'm inspired to love on my home just a wee bit more.  Don't miss her mini boxwood wreath tutorial (I totally want to try this out myself!) Thanks so much Julie for sharing this darling DIY Grad Badge! Here's Julie's version: