In September for my nephew's 10th birthday, I hid his birthday money in candles made from drink straws on a hidden money birthday card. His brother turns 8 next month, and I want to send him a special card. I was inspired by a comment from mpontela to create a card where the money could be removed without destroying the card.

This birthday card is a thrifty way to add a splash when giving cash. It also makes an unexpected hiding place for money.

Step 1: Materials

Cardboard tube, 3 1/2" circumference
Black and yellow card stock
Light blue construction paper
Blue contact paper
Orange tissue paper
Ointment lid
Toothpaste top
Alphabet stickers
Padded envelope
Foam scraps
Thin cardboard or poster board

For this project, I used items I had at home. The cardboard tube came from a box of aluminum foil. I raided my medicine cabinet and found a lid that fit inside the tube. The ridges on the edge of the lid help hold it in place.

Be creative. If you do not have contact paper, cover the tube with construction paper or paint it. Letters can be cut from paper and glued on instead of using stickers.

Step 2: Tools and Supplies

Scissors
Dry wall saw
Ruler
Glue
Pencil
Black stamp pad
Circle sponge
Silver Sharpie
Packing tape
Lid with 13" circumference
Clothespin

I used the dry wall saw to cut my tube to 5 1/2". The plastic lid is used as a pattern for the nose cone.

Step 3: Prepare Rocket Body

Cut a 5 1/2" length of cardboard tube. I used a dry wall saw to cut the tube.

Measure and cut out a rectangle of contact paper that fits around tube. Adhere contact paper to tube. Cut slits into extra on top and bottom, fold and adhere inside tube. If desired, add a thin strip of contact paper to the inside of the top and bottom for uniform look. The extra layer of contact paper helped my ointment lid fit nicely into the tube.

Step 4: Add Rocket Fins

Cut a 2 1/2" x 1 1/2" rectangle from yellow card stock. Then cut rectangle in half diagonally. Mark a line 1/4" from the long edge and fold along line. Glue fins to rocket body.

Step 5: Add Nose Cone Support

Cut a piece of yellow card stock 3 1/4" X 2 1/4". Mark a 1" line every 1/2". Cut along lines, and remove the first and last tabs. You need four tabs, unlike the photo. Roll this into a tube and glue the solid part inside the rocket body, leaving the tabs sticking out.

Step 6: Add Nose Cone

Using the plastic lid with 13" circumference as a pattern, draw and cut a circle from yellow card stock. Cut circle in half.

From one half, overlap ends to form a cone and glue. When dry, cut a notch from the back of the cone. This allows the rocket to be glued flat on the card.

Glue nose cone to nose cone supports.

Step 7: Add USA

Apply USA stickers.

Step 8: Make Rocket Exhaust

Glue toothpaste lid to ointment lit. Cut 2 sheets of orange tissue 2" x 2". Fold in half diagonally. Pleat to form flames. Glue inside toothpaste lid.

Step 9: Make Moon

Using circular sponge, stamp a black circle on a piece of blue construction paper. Tear around stamped design to make moon.

Step 10: Put Money in Tube

Roll bill and put in tube. Put on rocket exhaust.

Step 11: Assemble Card

Using a silver Sharpie, write message on card. Glue moon and rocket to card.

Step 12: Package Card for Mailing

Cut form scraps so that level of foam is slightly higher than the rocket. I used two foam pieces: a rectangle that covered the message and a triangle covering the moon. Layer thin cardboard, card and foam, and thin cardboard. Carefully slide into padded envelope.