A Texas boutique owner says she was arrested after creating a decorative “money bouquet,” raising questions about the legality of popular cash-based gifts.
Ranique Chanel Lambert, who operates a boutique in Cypress, Texas, shared on social media that she received an order through Facebook to create a money bouquet—a decorative arrangement where folded U.S. dollar bills are styled like flowers and often accented with glitter, tape, or other craft materials.
But when Lambert arrived to deliver the bouquet, she says she was met not by a customer but by police officers, who arrested her on allegations of defacing U.S. currency.
“Even though we are holding our money, it still doesn’t belong to us—it belongs to the government,” Lambert said in a Facebook video recounting the incident. “Destroying it or altering it in any way is a federal crime.”
Under federal law, defacing U.S. currency can carry penalties of up to five years in prison and fines of up to $250,000.
Lambert, who believes she was specifically targeted, urged other small business owners and crafters to be cautious when making money bouquets.
“Be careful how you’re doing it,” she said, warning against adding glitter, dyes, or other decorations that could be seen as damaging legal tender.
Despite her arrest, Lambert reassured others in the crafting community that police are not actively seeking out those who make such arrangements, but she personally no longer considers it worth the risk.
“I’m going to stick to making diaper bouquets instead,” she said.
The case has sparked conversation online about the blurred line between creative expression and federal law, as money bouquets have become increasingly popular as personalized gifts for birthdays, graduations, and weddings.
