3 Free DIY Money Holders With or Without Plastic Domes

Instructions

STEP 1: PREPARE TO PRINT THEN CUT

If you've never used the Print Then Cut feature with your specific printer - or if it's been a while - calibrate your machine's settings before starting.

In a new Cricut Design Space window, click the three lines in the upper left corner, then select "Calibration."

Select "Print Then Cut." Then, follow the prompts to select your printer and print a test sheet.

Place the test sheet on your machine mat following the instructions and load it into your Cricut.

Your Cricut will perform many cuts that may or may not line up with the coded lines.

IMPORTANT: Do NOT unload your mat until the Calibration test is complete.

Answer the questions in Design Space about the cut results. If the calibration was off, you may need to print another test sheet and check the settings once more.

Keep working on the calibration process until your cuts look good.

Once your Calibration is successful, your Cricut is ready!

Also, clean the print heads on your inkjet printer for the best print quality. Consult the printer's manual for the specific steps as they vary.

STEP 2: GET MY FREE DIY MONEY HOLDERS DESIGNS

Next, download my free DIY Money Holders PNG/SVG/PDF files from my free resource library. It's Design #406. It contains folders for three designs' fronts and backs with versions for using a plastic dome or just cardstock to hold the money in place:

1. Birthday Card (4" x 5")

• Cardstock
  Front: money-holders-birthday-front-cardstock-jennifermaker-PNG
  Back: money-holders-birthday-back-cardstock-jennifermaker-SVG
  

• Plastic Dome
  Front: money-holders-birthday-front-plastic-jennifermaker-PNG
  Back: money-holders-birthday-back-plastic-jennifermaker-SVG
  

2. Butterfly-Shaped Card (6" x 5")

• Cardstock
  Front: money-holders-butterfly-front-cardstock-jennifermaker-PNG
  Back: money-holders-butterfly-back-cardstock-jennifermaker-SVG
  

• Plastic Dome
  Front: money-holders-butterfly-front-plastic-jennifermaker-PNG
  Back: money-holders-butterfly-back-plastic-jennifermaker-SVG
  

3. Tooth Fairy Card (6" x 4.8")

• Cardstock
  Front: money-holders-tooth-front-cardstock-jennifermaker-PNG
  Back: money-holders-tooth-back-cardstock-jennifermaker-SVG
  

• Plastic Dome
  Front: money-holders-tooth-front-plastic-jennifermaker-PNG
  Back: money-holders-tooth-back-plastic-jennifermaker-SVG
  

There is also a folder containing PDF files that you can print and cut by hand.

I will show you how to make the cardstock-only Birthday design and the Butterfly with a plastic dome. You can follow the same steps to make the other design variations.

NOTE: When placing the PNG files on your Canvas, they will come in very large. That's due to the way Design Space uploads PNGs, but it's easy to fix. All you need to do is resize them according to the directions below.

STEP 3: PREPARE AND CUT YOUR DESIGN

Birthday Card: Cardstock-Only Variation

For each card, you'll need the included PNG for the front and the SVG for the back.

Upload the SVG file as you normally would.

If you are not sure how to upload an SVG cut file to Cricut Design Space, watch this helpful video training series I made.

For the PNG, use the same upload steps until you reach a screen with the PNG on the left.

Select "Complex" for the image type and then click "Continue" in the lower right corner.

You do not need to do anything on the next screen, so click "Apply & Continue."

For Upload Type, select "Print Then Cut" and click "Upload."

You should now see both your Birthday designs in your Recent Uploads. Select both and click "Add to Canvas."

Here is what my Birthday cardstock-only designs look like on the Canvas.

You can zoom out to see all of the design by clicking on the minus (-) sign on the lower left.

As you can see, the design for the front is much larger than the one for the back. That's because of the way Design Space uploads PNGs, but it's easy to fix and make them match.

Click on the back layer to find the correct dimensions for the design, which is 4" wide by 5" tall for the Birthday card. Select the front layer and make sure the lock icon is closed at the top. Type "4" in the Width (W) field at the top of your screen and press Enter. This will make the height very close to 5". Now the front and back are the same size!

I have designed all of these files to perfectly fit a rolled up dollar bill, so I do not recommend resizing them once you've fixed the front to match the back.

Now you can customize the design by adding a dollar amount inside the white circle on the present.

Click the Text icon on the left hand side of the screen. A box with "Text" highlighted in it will appear on the Canvas. Without clicking anything else, type in your desired amount. I'll add "$50." Then, click the box that says "Cricut Sans" under Font in the top menu to see your font options.

Scroll through and click a font name to see how your text looks until you find one you like. I chose Andala Script, which you can download for free for personal use from FontBundles.net. Remember to look in the System section for downloaded fonts.

Make sure your font choice doesn't have a price next to it to avoid a charge when you go to cut the design.

Move the text box onto the circle and center it as best you can.

Click and drag a corner of the text's bounding box to fit it in the white circle.

I also changed the color swatch at the top to red to match the word "Birthday" in my design.

Now we need to adjust the design so our machine knows which parts to print and which parts to cut.

Hold Shift and click the text layer and the Print Then Cut front layer. Click "Flatten" at the bottom of the Layers Panel.

You should now see a single Print Then Cut layer for the front of your card. Since the cutouts to hold the money are transparent, the Cricut will make cuts allowing you to pop them up.

Your card is ready to cut!

Make sure the correct machine is selected, then click "Make It" in the upper right corner.

If prompted, click "On Mat" and "12 x 12" on the pop up.

On the Prepare screen, check that your first mat says Print Then Cut and your second mat says Basic Cut. And that the Material Size for your first mat is 8.5" x 11" and your second mat is the size of your back layer's material. You may also need to select "On Mat" for the Material Load Type for your second mat. Then, select your first mat again and click Continue in the lower right.

Click the green Send to Printer button to open the Print Setup window. Make sure your printer is listed and the sliders next to "Add Bleed" (a small border around each image that allows for more precise cutting) and "Use System Dialog" are green. Then click Print.

The print screen for your printer will appear, but it might be hidden behind Design Space. Minimize your Cricut window to see the print settings.

Your window will look different depending on your computer and printer. Make sure your printer is listed in the window. Set the paper type to plain and the print quality to the highest available. Put your cardstock in the printer. Press Print.

After your money holder design has printed, let it dry to avoid any smears during the cutting process.

See the black box around my design? This is called a registration box and is used by your Cricut machine to tell it exactly where to cut your project.

On your Make Screen, select the Medium Cardstock setting and change the Pressure to "More" for a cleaner cut. Check the "Remember material settings" box.

Place your printed sheet on your green StandardGrip machine mat like it is on the screen and use a brayer to make sure it's fully adhered.

Check that your Fine-Point Blade is clean and in Clamp B.

Then, load the mat into the machine and press the flashing button to cut your design.

When the cut is finished, unload the mat, flip it over, and roll it back to release the cardstock. This helps prevent the material from curling and ripping. Use your scraper to remove any small pieces of cardstock that are left on the mat.

For the back of your card, place your chosen cardstock face up on your mat and adhere it with your brayer.

Follow the same steps as above to cut and remove your design.

Here's what the cut pieces for the front and back of my Birthday cardstock card look like.

Butterfly-Shaped Card: Plastic Dome Variation

For each card, you'll need to use the PNG for the front and the SVG for the back.

Upload the SVG file as you normally would.

If you are not sure how to upload an SVG cut file to Cricut Design Space, watch this helpful video training series I made.

For the front PNG image, use the same upload steps until you reach a screen with the PNG on the left.

Select "Complex" for the image type and then click "Continue" in the lower right corner.

You do not need to do anything on the next screen, so click "Apply & Continue."

For Upload Type, select "Print Then Cut" and click "Upload."

You should now see your butterfly designs in your Recent Uploads. Select both and click "Add to Canvas."

Here is what my butterfly designs for a domed money holder look like on the Canvas.

You can zoom out to see all of the design by clicking on the minus (-) sign on the lower left.

As you can see, the design for the front is much larger than the one for the back. That's due to the way Design Space uploads PNGs, but it's easy to fix and make them match.

Click on the back layer to find the correct dimensions for the design, which is 6" wide by 5" tall for the Butterfly-Shaped card. Select the front layer and make sure the lock icon is closed at the top. Type "6" in the Width (W) field at the top of your screen and press Enter. This will make the height very close to 5". Now the front and back are the same size!

I have designed all of these files to perfectly fit a rolled up dollar bill, so I do not recommend resizing them once you've fixed the front to match the back.

Next, you can add a message and dollar amount to the bottom wings on the front of your card if you'd like.

Click the Text icon on the left hand side of the screen. A box with "Text" highlighted in it will appear on the Canvas. Without clicking anything else, type in your desired amount. I'll add "$20." Then, click the box that says "Cricut Sans" under Font in the top menu to see your font options.

Scroll through and click a font name to see how your text looks until you find one you like. I chose Sweetie Almeera Script, which you can purchase from FontBundles.net. Remember to look in the System section for downloaded fonts.

Make sure your font choice doesn't have a price next to it to avoid a charge when you go to cut the design. Change the color swatch at the top to Black.

Then, click "Duplicate" to make another text box in the same font and color.

Double-click the new text box and type your sentiment. I'll use "Congrats!"

Drag the text boxes to the lower wings. Click and drag a corner of each text's bounding box to fit it in the area.

Now we need to flatten our design so our machine knows which parts to print and which parts to cut. While holding your Shift key, select both of your text layers and the Print Then Cut layer for the front of your card. Click "Flatten" at the bottom of the Layers Panel.

You should now see a single Print Then Cut layer for the front of your card.

Now your card is ready to cut!

Make sure the correct machine is selected, then click "Make It" in the upper right corner.

If prompted, click "On Mat" and "12 x 12" on the pop up.

On the Prepare screen, make sure your first mat says Print Then Cut and your second mat says Basic Cut. Check that the Material Size for your first mat is 8.5" x 11" and your second mat is the size of your back layer's material. You may also need to select "On Mat" for the Material Load Type for your second mat. Then, select your first mat again and click Continue in the lower right.

Click the green Send to Printer button to open the Print Setup window. Make sure your printer is listed and the sliders next to "Add Bleed" (a small border around each image that allows for more precise cutting) and "Use System Dialog" are green. Then click Print.

The print screen for your printer will appear, but it might be hidden behind Design Space. Minimize your Cricut window to see the print settings window.

Your window will look different depending on your computer and printer. Make sure your printer is listed in the window. Set the paper to plain and print quality to the best available. Put your cardstock in the printer and print!

After your design has printed, set it aside until the ink is completely dry to avoid any smears during the cutting process.

See the black box around my design? This is called a registration box and is used by your Cricut machine to tell it exactly where to cut your project.

On your Make Screen, select the Medium Cardstock setting and change the Pressure to "More" for a cleaner cut. Check the "Remember material settings" box.

Place your printed sheet on your green StandardGrip machine mat like it is on the screen and use a brayer to make sure it's fully adhered. Check that your Fine-Point Blade is clean and in Clamp B.

Then, load the mat with your printed sheet into the machine and press the flashing button to cut your design.

When the cut is finished, unload the mat, flip it over, and roll it back to release the cardstock. This helps prevent the material from curling and ripping. Use your scraper to remove any small pieces of cardstock that are left on the mat.

Follow the same steps as above to cut and remove your back design.

Here's what the cut pieces for the front and back of my Butterfly-Shaped card with plastic dome cutout look like.

STEP 4: ASSEMBLE YOUR DIY MONEY HOLDERS

Cardstock-Only Variation

Take your front piece and crease the rounded cutouts up so they're perpendicular to the card.

Place the back face down on your work surface.

Then, flip your front piece over and apply glue to the back side, avoiding the money holder cutouts and the hole at the top.

Hold the front piece on top of the back piece to align the edges and press them together. If you're making the Birthday card, make sure the holes at the top line up. Make sure all areas are well adhered and give the glue a few seconds to dry.

Roll up your dollar bill and slide it through the folded cutouts to hold it in place. Make sure the dollar amount faces out on your bill so your recipient can read it when they're looking at the card.

Plastic Dome Variation

If you're using a dome from a chapstick package, peel the dome off of the package and use a craft knife to remove the excess paper. You won't need the chapstick, but don't waste it!

Since the dome's plastic edges will be between the card's layers, you don't have to get all of the paper off of them. You can use your craft knife to trim as much as you like.

If you are using a dome with adhesive tape, ignore the tape pieces with backing paper and treat it like the plain dome by adding glue.

The rest of the steps are the same for any dome.

For All Three Dome Types
Lay the piece on your work surface with the dome facing up. Apply a thin line of glue to the flat ridge.

Place the card's front face up over the dome so the plastic slides through the cut out shape. Press down around the edges to adhere the paper to the top dome edge. Wait several seconds for the glue to dry.

With the back face down in front of you, flip over the front and apply glue to the left half, leaving at least an 1/8" clear around the dome.

Carefully align the front face up on the back and press to adhere.

Roll up your dollar bill and gently curve the unglued side of your card up to push the money into the holder. Make sure the dollar amount is facing out on your bill so your recipient can see it when they're looking at the front of the card.

Apply glue to the other half of the inside of your card, avoiding the cutout again. You may need to hold the dollar bill in place while you apply the glue so it doesn't unroll.

Press down to adhere both sides and give the glue a few seconds to dry.

STEP 5: SHOW IT OFF!

You're done! Here's what my finished DIY Money Holders look like. Aren't they adorable? Now you can give your friend or family member the gift of money with a creative twist. They'll love getting such a unique and thoughtful card made just for them. You can even give your little one money from the tooth fairy in a custom tooth fairy card!

These cards are a bit wide for normal envelopes, but they fit well in our DIY Gift Bags!