I was walking around Michael’s craft store last week, searching for inspiration.  I have several graduates to give gifts to, and I wanted them to be special.  I should say, I wanted the holders for the cash to be special.

I was almost through the entire store when I came across some tiny takeout boxes.  They’re about 2 1/4″ tall.  I’ve made fabric fortune cookies before, using a pattern from the back of this book, and realized they would be perfect for holding money and conveying some sort of graduation wisdom they won’t listen to anyway.

I wanted the cookie to be large enough to take up most of the space inside the box, so I used a 5″ circle.  I made a template on cardboard using a mini pie tin that happened to be that size.

I made two cookies, so the instructions are written as such. 

Trace four circles onto paper side of Wonder Under or similar iron-on fabric adhesive.  Cut out loosely and iron onto the wrong side of cotton fabric.

Cut out fabric circles.  Cut two circles from heavy weight interfacing, one for each cookie.

Peel paper baking off fabric circles.  Iron one to each side of interfacing.  Trim edges to even up, if necessary.

Stitch around the outside of each circle. 

Spritz cookie lightly with water.  Steam iron.  Working quickly, while still hot, fold in half, making sure the side you want as the outside is showing.

Press the bottom center against your finger to start forming cookie shape.

Pull outer ends together, allowing cookie to fold in on the backside.

Safety pin ends together  and leave until cool and dry.  If you aren’t happy with their shape, just unfold, iron and try again.

While cookies cool, print or write a fortune to put inside.  Here’s what I used.

After cookies are done, unfold and add cash and fortune.  I know these are one dollar bills in the photo, but I promise you I am giving these poor students more than that.  It’s all I had in my wallet when I was making these.  By the way, money that’s a little older works a lot better than new and crisp.

The cookie fits perfectly in the box and a cute, tiny card could slide in there right next to it.  And I’m sure the kids will toss the money aside and marvel over their fabulous fabric fortune cookie!