Birthday Punch Board in a Box

Make a Birthday Punch Board

Need a fun idea to give money?
How about giving a gift that's interactive and fun? Why not try a Birthday Punch Box?!
It was a big hit with my nephew. Here's how to do it.

Here's the supplies needed to make your Birthday Punch Box.
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-a box (I used a large shoebox. Any box will work, just make sure your cups can stand up inside the box with the lid closed.)
-paper cups (cups can be any size, plastic cups work, too.)
-wrapping paper
-tissue paper (different colors make it fun.)
-rubberbands
-gifts (candy, money, small toy items, etc.)
-pen, razor blade, X-Acto knife, scissors, tape, marker
-cellophane paper, curling ribbon (optional)

Arrange paper cups on top of box where you would like them to sit.
Use a pen to trace around each cup. Using a sharp X-Acto knife or razor, cut out each circle INSIDE the pen mark. You want to make the holes a bit smaller than the circles you traced.

You do not need perfect circles!

Next, wrap the entire box with wrapping paper. Yes, wrap over the holes you just cut out!
My box had a hinged lid which made wrapping a bit tricky, but it still worked.
Once wrapped, use your scissors and make a small cut into the paper where each cut out circle is. Push a paper cup in each hole.

Now the fun part! Fill each cup with candy, money, notes, small toys, etc. I didn't realize until later, but you want the cups to be no more than half full...that way you can actually 'punch' into the cup. I found out my nephew likes Starbursts, jellybeans, Skittles and no chocolate!

Take each cup out of the box and cover the top with 2 layers of tissue paper. Use a rubber band to hold the tissue in place. Trim tissue paper edges with scissors and place back in the box.

My nephew was turning 11 years old, so I made him 11 cups and put numbers on them.
Cup 11 had the best prize. I asked my sister-in-law if he opened them in order and she said he did.

I used cellophane to wrap up the entire box so he could see inside it. The gift was delivered the day before his birthday, and he was begging to just punch open one cup. Nope, apparently his mom and dad said he had to wait until his actual birthday! He was pretty excited!

Let me know if you try this idea!
Oh, I forgot to mention, it's reusable. Just refill the cups, add new tissue paper and re-give the box! Yay!