You can use real money, if you have enough to spare.
Though traditionally made of fresh or synthetic flowers, the ruffly design of a lei necklace is often made from paper. Because of this, it works well to create a lei from paper play money. The crumpled design of the fake money flowers means that, at a glance, this lei will look as though it's made from real cash while costing only pennies to make. Use money leis as a gag gift or in celebration of real, or anticipated, times of financial prosperity.
Instructions
1. Cut a bill in half. Place the scissors in the center of the rectangle to form two equal, square halves.
2. Form each of the bill halves into "blossoms." Place the paper square in the palm of you hand, then press the eraser end of a pencil into the center of the paper. Wrap the paper up and around the pencil, crumpling it around the pencil to form a tight cylinder.
3. Tie the blossom. Remove the wrapped paper from the pencil and tie string tightly around the outside tip of the cylinder. Fan out the rest of the blossom to finish its shape.
4. Repeat steps 1 and 2 until you've made enough blossoms for a lei. Lay them end-to-end to determine how much length you'll get from the number you've made; how many you need depends on how long you want the lei to hang. To get the length just right, hang a length of cord around your neck to the length you want, then judge the lined-up blossoms you make against this length.
5. Sew together the blossoms to form the lei. Thread the needle with floss or beading cord. Tie a knot in one end of the cord to keep the blossoms from slipping off. Sew by pressing the tip of the needle up from the bottom of the blossom (where you tied the knot) and through the middle of the blossom, then repeat with the next flower, sewing them bottom to top.
6. Finish the ends of the lei. Tie them together if the necklace is long enough to be pulled over the wearer's head, or tie the ends to metal jewelry clasp pieces for a shorter necklace. Use double knots.
Tags: around pencil, from paper, hang length, made from