This Picture Frame Money Gift Is Perfect for Grads (And Great for a LAST MINUTE Gift!)

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This Picture Frame Money Gift for Graduates is Quick and Easy!

College (and even high school!) graduations are RIGHT around the corner, and there’s NOTHING a graduate likes more than cash for a gift 🙂

This DIY graduation gift is the perfect way to gift money that is memorable, fun, and crazy easy to make. You can make this picture frame money gift in about 15 minutes, and it makes such an impression on your favorite grad and their family. Plus, as a fun bonus, you can use this as part of your décor if you’re hosting a graduation party this year!

Here’s how to make this Graduation Picture Frame Money Gift:

Materials needed:

Inexpensive 8×10 photo frame (this is from the Dollar Tree)
Wrapping paper or cardstock (I found this fun, sparkly cardstock in one of the school colors)
Scissors
Double-sided tape
Cash – you’ll need about ten bills but have some extra on hand, just in case (whatever dollar amount you’re wanting to gift total)

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

How to make a picture frame money gift for a graduate:

Start by removing the glass and backing from your frame. Trace the shape of the cardboard backing onto your paper and cut out the rectangle. Using strips of double-sided tape, attach the paper to the backing.

Next, you’re going to do some origami! 😉 You’ll be folding bills into the shape of the letters “U DID IT!”.

Note: I picked U DID IT, but you could change up the phrase to CONGRATS, the grad’s name, etc.

To fold the U, start by folding a dollar bill into thirds.

You’ll want to basically frame George Washington’s face on the front. Fold upwards with one of the ends, creating a line at the bottom.

Repeat on the other side, folding the end upwards until you get the U shape.

To fold the D, you’ll want to repeat the steps for making a U, but leave more space across the bottom and shorter lines upwards. Then, fold a bill into small rectangle to complete the letter.

Use small pieces of double-sided tape to hold the folds of the letters together, and to adhere to the cardstock. I completed this with an exclamation point using a quarter!

Finally, put your finished product into the glass and close up the frame. This also helps to keep the bills from shifting around.

Cash is always a welcomed gift so you know you’ll be the hit of the party!

My friend Jamie created her own version for her son’s graduation party recently – I just LOVE how it looks on the table! (How fun are the beaded necklaces??)