Last-Minute Gifting

On Friday night, Taylor was invited to a birthday party. Well, he received a verbal invite earlier in the week with the promise of a written invite later in the week. When I asked Taylor for the details, he didn't know.

So, not knowing the day or time, I kind of pushed it to the back of my mind and waited for the invitation. Then a phone call came with another verbal invite and an apology for not giving Taylor the written invite. The call came on Thursday evening. The party was for Friday evening.

I had just been in town on Thursday for preschool and errands and did not plan to return again until Tuesday (before the broken-finger incident, which made me return to town both Friday and Monday). I tried to think of some clever way of giving this boy money. A boy who was turning thirteen on Friday the 13th.

Then it hit me:


I took a piece of cardstock and folded it in half. I made a pocket out of some scrapbook paper and used double-sided tape along both sides and the bottom.

I taped (with regular clear tape) thirteen one-dollar bills in a vertical line and accordion-folded them. I attached a little "pull tab" at the top of the first dollar bill (using scrapbook paper and tape) and carefully slid the bills in the pocket. After playing around with it, to make sure that it worked, I stuck a looped piece of tape on the back of the last dollar bill, securing it to the cardstock. The tabbed dollar bill had to stick out of the top of the pocket/envelope and I pushed the other twelve back in.

According to Taylor, it was a real hit at the birthday party.

Boys that age can be so hard to shop for, so I usually give them money or a gift card so they can buy their own gift. I have found that most boys (and maybe girls, as well, I don't have the experience with that just yet), like to buy a larger gift, like a video game, so money/gift cards are always a good choice. Now I have a great way to gift it.

[Note: I used a 6x9" mailing envelope for the card.]