craftgrrl | Who says money doesn't grow on trees?

I'm not a big fan of cash or gift cards as a present, but sometimes, you just have to do it. My hubby's birthday is coming up, and he wants a new video card - something I can't pick out and buy, so... money it is! But, of course, I can't just hand him cash. It's all about the presentation! (Technically, he's not going to have to unfold all my leaves, I'm going to fold a little 'video card' crane... but anyway....)

I searched high and low for an origami leaf pattern I could fold out of a dollar. There's only one pattern out there, and, pardon me for saying, it's not worth what the person is charging. I improvised, and came up with a pattern that I liked. Then I needed a tree. Oh, well, I'll just grab a tree branch...

...but the 2' of snow on the ground made hiking around for a good branch rather impossible. So crochet it was! I was getting excited at this point, though the tree had a definite spooky look. But... the leaves were too big. Okay, time to re-fold, half the size, by making two leaves out of each dollar bill.

At this point I'm getting pretty excited. It's not looking bad. So I fold and fold and fold, and pin the leaves on, and...

meh.

I don't know. And it photographs horribly! It does look a little better in person, it would be nice if I could get a good daylight shot, but that would require sun. We've been lacking that of late. Anyway, I thought this would be a good place to get some honest feedback, and suggestions for improvement? As for the actual presentation, I was going to put it in a pot with loose change all around the roots. ...as soon as I buy a pot!

Sorry for rambling, pictures: