How to Make a Jungle Money Roll Box for Birthdays and Special Occasions

Imagine a child’s look of surprise and delight as they pull a seemingly endless roll of money from a beautifully decorated box. Recently, I had the pleasure of creating a magical moment for my friend’s son’s 12th birthday. I gave him a jungle money roll box, a unique way to present a monetary gift.

Handmade gifts are special because they show the recipient that you’ve put thought and effort into creating something just for them. This jungle money roll box is a practical gift and a fun and interactive experience, making it perfect for birthdays and special occasions. It’s a great choice for kids and adults who love the wild and whimsical.

This tutorial teaches how to craft this unique money roll box, turning simple materials into an impressive gift. Let’s unleash our creativity and dive into the jungle!

Gathering the materials and tools is the first step to crafting our jungle money roll box. Below is the list of items you’ll need:

• Craft Paper for the Base: This will provide a sturdy foundation for the box. Alternatively, you can also use cardstock in a neutral colour.
• Green Cardstock: This provides the primary colour of the jungle look. Alternatively, you can use any sturdy coloured cardstock that fits your desired theme.
• Digital Pattern Paper Pretty Printable Papers 1 – Helga Hippo from Polkadoodles: I used the paper with the leaves on it, which adds a decorative jungle-themed design. You can use any printable digital paper or patterned paper you have.
• Die-Cut Book from Decotimecrafts: Supplies the jungle-themed cutouts like leaves, animals, and plants. You can use any cutouts, stickers, stamps, or pictures in this theme.
• Sticky Glue: For assembling and securing all parts of the box. You can also use double-sided tape or any strong adhesive.
• Paper trimmer with scoring blade: To create precise fold lines for the box. You can also use a scoring board or a ruler and a blunt edge for scoring.
• Paper Trimmer: Ensures clean and straight cuts for paper and cardstock. You can also use scissors or a craft knife with a ruler.
• Die-cutting machine and a die for the slit:  Use for cutting the money slit. If you don’t have a die-cutting machine or a die, you can also make the slit with a craft knife.

Now that you have these materials ready, you’re all set to start crafting your own jungle money roll box! Let’s move on to the next section where we’ll create the base of our box.

In this step, we will create the sturdy foundation of our money roll box using kraft cardstock. We will walk through the process of cutting, scoring, and folding the cardstock to form the box’s base.

• Cutting Kraft Cardstock: Start with a piece of kraft cardstock and cut it to 7.5 inches by 9.5 inches. This will serve as the base of your money roll box.
• Scoring on Specific Measurements
  • Place the 9.5-inch side of the cardstock along the top edge of your scoring board.
  • Score the cardstock at the following measurements: 1 inch, 2 3/4 inches, 6 3/4 inches, and 8 1/2 inches.
  • Rotate the cardstock so the 7.5-inch side is along the top edge of your scoring board.
  • Score the cardstock at these measurements: 1 3/4 inches, 3 1/2 inches, 5 1/4 inches, and 7 inches.
• Cutting and Folding Techniques
  • After scoring, you’ll see several sections marked by the score lines.
  • Cut away the sections that won’t be part of the box structure.
  • Fold along all the score lines to start forming the shape of the box. Make sure your folds are crisp and clean for a professional finish.

• Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
  • Ensure your measurements are precise to avoid misalignment when assembling the box.
  • Use a sharp blade or trimmer for clean cuts to prevent rough edges.
• Tips for Precise Cutting and Scoring
  • Double-check your measurements before cutting and scoring.
  • Use a bone folder or similar tool to create sharp, precise folds.

By carefully following these steps, you will create a strong and neat base for your jungle money roll box. Now, let’s move on to creating the slit where the money will be pulled through!

In this step, we’ll create the slit through which the money will be pulled out. This is a crucial part of the money roll box, as it allows the recipient to pull out the money in a fun and surprising way.

• Measuring and Cutting the Slit
  • Locate the second section from the bottom centre of your folded cardstock base.
  • Measure and mark a rectangle approximately 1/8th of an inch by 2 3/4 inches. This will be the slit where the money will be pulled out.
• Using a Die for a Precise Cut
  • If you have a die-cutting machine, use a thin rectangular die. I used a die typically used for a birdhouse pole. Look in your stash what you can use.
  • Position the die on the marked spot and run it through the die-cutting machine to cut the slit.
  • To make the slit slightly larger, shift the stans a bit to the left, ensuring the right side remains in the previously cut area. Run it through the die-cutting machine again to extend the slit.

• Alternatives for Those Without a Die-cutting Machine
  • A sharp craft knife can carefully cut along the marked lines.
  • If a precise rectangle is difficult, try using a hole punch at each end of the marked area and then connect the holes with straight cuts.

By following these steps, you’ll create a clean and precise slit for the money to be pulled through, adding to the interactive fun of the money roll box. Next, we’ll move on to assembling the box and preparing it for decoration.

In this step, I will guide you through assembling the box and inserting the money, ensuring the money roll box is functional and fun to use.

• Taping the Sides and Leaving the Bottom Open
  • Apply sticky tape to the side flaps of the box to secure them in place. Press down firmly to ensure the tape adheres well.
  • Fold and tape the sides of the box, leaving the bottom open for now.
• Rolling and Inserting the Money
  • Attach the banknotes using low-tack tape, which is strong enough to hold the bills together but gentle enough to remove them without damage.
  • Roll the taped banknotes into a tight roll.
  • Insert the rolled money into the box, ensuring the top bill comes through the slit created in Step 2.
• Securing the Bottom: Once the money roll is in place, close the bottom flap of the box. Avoid taping the bottom flap permanently, so you can easily reopen it if you need to adjust the money or add more bills later.

Following these steps will yield a neatly assembled box with a smooth money-pulling mechanism, ready for decoration. Now, let’s move on to creating the jungle-themed background to make your box even more special.

In this step, we will make a jungle background for the box to add a sense of adventure and excitement to your money roll box.

• Cutting and Inking Green Cardstock and Digital Pattern Paper
  • Cutting the Paper: Cut a piece of green cardstock to 4 inches by 6 inches.
  • Cutting the Pattern Paper: Cut a piece of digital pattern paper to 3 3/4 inches by 5 3/4 inches. I used a paper with a light green background with leaf patterns, perfect for a jungle theme.
  • Inking the Edges: To add depth and dimension, ink the edges of the pattern paper using Distress Ink in the shade “Mowed Lawn.”
• Assembling and Attaching the Background to the Box
  • Layering the Paper: Glue the inked pattern paper onto the green cardstock, ensuring it’s centred to create an even border.
  • Attaching the Background: Secure this layered piece to the back of the money roll box. This will form an upright background, setting the stage for your jungle-themed scene.

By following these steps, you’ll create a stunning jungle background that enhances the visual appeal of your money roll box. Now, let’s move on to decorating the front of the box to complete the look.

In this step, we’ll add jungle-themed elements to the box to create a lively and fun scene. These decorations will bring the jungle theme to life, making the money roll box an engaging and visually appealing gift.

• Layering the Front of the Box
  • Cutting the Paper: Start by cutting a piece of green cardstock to 3 3/4 inches by 1.5 inches. Then, cut a piece of the same patterned paper used for the background to 3.5 inches by 1 1/4 inches.
  • Assembling the Layers: Glue the patterned paper onto the green cardstock, making sure it is centred. Attach this layered piece to the front of the box.
• Adding Jungle-Themed Elements
  • Using Die-Cut Elements: Use a Paper Die-cut Book, stickers or stamps. Select the jungle-themed pictures for this project.
  • Positioning Decorations: lace various die-cut leaves in the corners of the background. On the bottom, attach a grass strip with an elephant and a giraffe. Behind the animals, add some additional plants to create depth.
  • Front Decorations: Decorate the front of the box with a plant and a toucan perched on a tree stump.

By following these steps, you’ll transform a simple money roll box into a captivating jungle-themed gift. This personalized touch will make your gift memorable and cherished by the recipient.

In this tutorial, we’ve explored how to craft a jungle money roll box step-by-step. From creating the base and making the money slit to decorating with jungle elements, we’ve combined creativity with practicality to create a unique gift.

Join the community for more creative card-making ideas, tips, and tutorials straight to your inbox! Enter your email below to stay updated with our latest posts and projects.

Name

Email

Explore more papercrafts and DIY projects for endless creative possibilities. Check out these related blog posts for more inspiration

Easy Handmade Bookmark Tutorial: Craft Your Own Literary Gem

DIY Christmas Tag Tutorial: Create Festive Handmade Tags for the Holidays

Dive into the archive and discover new papercraft techniques, themes, and ideas to spark your creativity.

Affiliate Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission at no extra cost if you purchase through these links. I only recommend products and services that I use and trust. Your support helps me continue to provide free tutorials and creative inspiration. Thank you for supporting my blog and helping me to keep sharing my passion for card making!

Pretty Printable Papers 1 – Helga Hippo for card making

Shop at Polkadoodles

• Kraft Paper from Via Chasse was bought at ActionNL
• Green Card Stock (brand unknown).
• Paper Die-Cut Book from Decotimecrafts
• Sticky glue bought at ActionNL
• Die to create the sloth from Aveccreative.

• A Place To Start: Anything goes
• Cardz 4 Guyz: Animal Magic
• The Paper Funday Challenges: Anything Goes + Critter Crazy
• CREATIVE INSPIRATIONS: Anything goes
• A Perfect Time To Craft Open Challenge: Anything goes
• Critter Crazy CHALLENGE BLOG: Anything goes + featured critter
• Crafty Animals: Anything goes + Must use an animal