How to Create a DIY Money Train Balloon Surprise
Are you looking for an exciting way to surprise someone on their special day? Why not try something unique and fun? I would love to teach you How to Create a DIY Money Train Balloon Surprise!
This fun and festive centerpiece is not only a great decoration, but it also doubles as a memorable gift that’s sure to surprise and delight the recipient. And the best part? It’s super easy to make!
Check out my step-by-step guide for this memorable gift below!
To get started, you’ll need a few supplies from Party City. You’ll need some small, clear, plastic treat bags, tape, clear scalloped containers, candy, tissue paper, a giant helium balloon, a star balloon weight, and some ribbon.
(Of course, you can find the links to the exact things I used to create this DIY balloon surprise below.)
WHAT YOU NEED:
- 1 Giant helium balloon
- Small clear plastic treat bags (8-10max)
- 2 Large clear plastic scalloped containers
- Tissue paper
- Star balloon weight
- The birthday guest’s favorite candy.
- Tape
How to Create a DIY Money Train Balloon Surprise: A Step-by-Step Guide for a Memorable Gift
Before you begin, if you haven’t already seen my instructional video, you can watch it here.
DIY Money Train Balloon surprise INSTRUCTIONS:
1.) Begin by placing money into the small, clear, plastic treat bags. Secure each bag with a piece of tape on the back. Once all the money is bagged, place the bills face down and attach them together with a piece of tape. This will create the “money train” that will be attached to the balloon.
2.) Next, take the clear scalloped containers and place the candy into the bottom of one of the containers. You can add up to half the container full of candy. Then, add two sheets of tissue paper over the bottom container and carefully push the top container down over the candy. This will create a layered effect that will be visible through the clear plastic.
3.) Now it’s time to assemble the centerpiece! Tie the giant helium balloon to the star balloon weight with a temporary knot. Take the money train and tape the ribbon to the backside, attaching 8-10 bills at the most. Pull the string until the money reaches the balloon weight and tie a permanent knot.
4.) Next, tape a long piece of ribbon to the bottom of the plastic container. Make sure to tape it in both directions to ensure it stays in place. Place the balloon weight inside the top clear container and pull the money train down until the balloon is flat against the top edge. Tie a bow over the top of the balloon with the ribbon to secure it in place. Add as much tissue paper as you’d like under the edge of the balloon to cover the containers.
Watch your loved one’s face as they open their diy money train balloon surprise!
And finally, just like that, your Money Train Balloon centerpiece is complete! This unique gift will surely surprise and delight the recipient, and it’s something they’ll always remember. Best of all, it only takes 30 minutes to make. So the next time you’re looking for a fun way to celebrate a special occasion, try making this Money Train Balloon centerpiece.
Let me know in the comments if you have any questions or if I can help you in any way! Also, please let me know how it goes because life is worth celebrating!
Also, feel free to reach out to me directly on social media and share what you created so I can share it! You can find me on Instagram here. But if you’re on TikTok instead, you can find me here too!
More Party Ideas:
By the way, if you’re excited to try our making this DIY money train balloon surprise, check out these 50th Birthday Party Photoshoot Ideas I posted about!
Disclosure:
Disclosure: Some of the links in the post above are “affiliate links.” Therefore, if you click on a link and purchase the item, we will receive a small commission. Regardless, we give our promise that we only recommend products or services that we use personally. Above all, we believe this adds value to our readers.
Love this! Can’t wait to do this with my grandkids birthday coming up. I’m also buying them ATM piggy banks to go along with the money. Thanks for sharing!
That sounds so fun!!! I’m sure they’ll love the piggy banks too! What a great way to teach them about saving early. I’d love to hear how it goes!
AWSOME idea !! Im gonna do this for my mom’s Birthday .. but I’m gonna try using lottery tickets !! Hopefully it works out if not she’ll be getting dollars lol !! Thank you so much for AWSOME idea !!
You’re SO welcome! I would love to hear how it goes! Please keep me posted or let me know if you have any questions. I’m happy to help!
It is so cute
Thank you! Let me know if you decide to try this. I’m happy to help!
Is there a reason for the 8-10 max? I was going to do this for my daughters 16th birthday but do 16 $20 bills.
The size of the helium balloon determines how many bills it can hold and still fly upwards. If you tape the bills directly to the balloon ribbon with scotch tape, you can add more bills. You can also try adding more than one giant helium balloon and use glue dots to stick the balloons together back to back so they can hold more bills. I’m excited for your daughter’s birthday! She will be so surprised!
That is the cutest thing I’ve seen! Might do this for my adult children come Christmas, instead of them getting a boring cheque.
I think this is a fantastic idea for Christmas too! They would definitely be surprised! Let me know if you try this! I’d love to hear how it goes!
All i could think of when i saw thus was a quote from Charlie Brown Christmas ” Just send tens and twenties!”
Hahaha! That’s hilarious! I needed that laugh!
Be sure not to do this outside or your $$ could take off and you would have to chase it down! LOL
Hi Jan, I agree!!! That would NOT be good. LOL. This is definitely an indoor gift!
I did this for my daughter’s 21st birthday…She loved it! Filled it with a variation of $21 for her first drink or couple of shots…if that’s how she wants to spend it. Honestly this trick can be used for endless celebrations be it baby shower, birthday, or Christmas! Any occasion! Everyone loved it and was easy to do. Bonus!
Thank you so much for sharing this project!
Thank you so much for sharing this! I’m SO glad your daughter loved it! Yes, this balloon surprise can be used in so many different ways. I’m working on more ideas as we speak. Stay tuned!
Could this be done with the small containers and 16-18 inch balloon ?
You can us a gift box instead or a basket. Feel free to be creative with the Container. The helium balloon should be large enough to hold the weight of the items you plan to attach to the ribbon. I tried different things out before I made this one. I also ended up using a jumbo balloon. But a regular sized helium balloon can hold the weight of a smaller amount of items. Make sure to test it out first. Please let me know if you have any other questions. I’m happy to help!
I’d love to see this without all the use of plastic. Please list some alternatives like woven baskets for base, fasten money to string without sandwiching between plastic sheets. We need to do better as consumers so companies will reduce the production of so much plastic that can’t be reused or broken down safely.
Hi Wendy, Thank you for your feedback! I agree. When we know better, we can do better. In this particular case, it was an ad for party city, so I chose from the products they carry specifically. After making this project, I figured out that you can simply use scotch tape to tape the bills or the items directly to the ribbon. I posted reels and stories about this on my social media as well. I have taken all things into consideration which is why I’m taking extra time before I post my next idea.