How to Make an Origami Cash Box

Skip the boring cash-in-card gift this year, and opt for this adorable origami cash box instead. It even has a bottom and lid for storing extra goodies!

By: Keri Sanders

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Photo By: Clara MacLellan

The gift of cash is a whole lot cuter when it's delivered in the form of an origami cash box.

You'll simply need a twenty dollar bill (you can also try this method with other bills) and string or ribbon for embellishment.

Start with the backside of your bill facing up. On both short sides of your bill, fold along the line where the bill turns from light green to dark green.

Now you will fold the bill into thirds as shown here.

Once all three sides look even, press down on both sides to score your lines.

It's best to use your nail or even a coin to run along lines to score them well.

The next step will be to begin folding the bill into ninths. Take one side (one of the three) and fold like a fan to create three even sides.

Once you've folded and scored your lines, the bill should look like this.

Now, fold the opposite side up to the first fold and score the line.

Take that same end and fold it back down to meet the new fold. Score the line.

Now, fold the top flap back up and score the line.

Unfold so that it matches the image above.

And fold up to the closest crease. Score the line.

Continue to fold back and forth along the creases. It should be looking like an accordion at this point.

Once you finish folding back and forth, your bill should look like the image above. Press along both sides to score your lines before moving on to the next step.

Now that your bill has been folded into ninths, unfold the bill. Check that you have nine segments before moving on to the next step.

Reverse three of the folds on one side.

It should look like the above image once the three folds are reversed.

Your next step will be to re-fold the three fold on the opposite side.

Unlike the first side, these folds do not need to be reversed. Simply re-fold the first three folds.

The back side of your bill should now look like this.

The front side of your bill should look like this.

Take the top portion of one corner and fold up as shown here. Repeat this step on each corner.

You bill should now look like this with all four corners folded in.

Turn your bill over and fold one half over as seen here. You'll be lining it up at the corners you just folder up.

Fold the other half over. Both sides should line up.

Now you will be working on each corner. To start, pull one corner out and press down to make a small triangle.

Repeat with each corner.

Now, your bill should look like the image above. This is a good time to score lines and make sure you have good creases.

Fold one side over, as seen here.

The back will now look like this.

Fold the other side over, so your bill looks like the image seen here and score all creases.

From here, your box will begin to take shape. Start by opening one of the sides. You'll unfold the back side of your fold and pull the edges out away from the face.

Here, you can see one half of the box taking shape.

Once it is pulled out, you can fix the lines so that it looks crisper on each crease.

This is what is should look like after you create the first half of your box.

You will simply repeat the process with the other side.

Make sure all the lines are crisp and clean before you attempt to close the box.

You will press the face along the side of the bottom portion of the box.

You may want to press over the crease once more.

Then fold the upper portion of the box over the face and on top of the lower portion.

Now dress up you box with a bit of ribbon for a cash gift that is sure to impress!