Once May and June hit social calendars are filled up with graduation parties.  Those with kids in high school will have a whole lot of them to go to, but that doesn’t mean that the rest of us always get to escape them.  The majority of people attending a graduation open house will give a check or a gift card to the graduate.  With so much to purchase for college a financial gift is very much appreciated, but what’s the fun in it?  Sometimes you want to give a gift that will be remembered, but at the same time you want your gift to be useful and well liked.

My mother felt this way when we started getting invited to graduation parties for close family friends.  Gas cards were the staple gift to give in our house, but when she wanted to give a larger amount of money to such good friends it just didn’t seem right.  A gas card with a lot of money on it could be a very nice gift, but my mother wanted to do something special.  Then someone told her about making a money pizza and the rest is history.  Money pizzas became our new staple gift.  Everyone we have given has not only been well received, but everyone is always so excited about it that it is shown off to all of the guests.  It certainly is a gift that isn’t forgotten.  The best part is that it is very easy to make and it takes only a little time.

Supplies:

1. A large pizza box – It’s best to get a new one that hasn’t been used.  Ask at a pizza place for a large box (works best if you’re picking a pizza up at the same time).  They might want to know why you want it, but most places will give you one.  You can always help sway them by letting them know it’s free publicity because a lot of people are going to see that box!
2. Thin piece of cardboard to make into the “pizza.”
3. Red paper – You can use construction paper or tissue paper.
4. Money (bills and coins)- Go to the bank and take out the amount of money that you want to give the graduate.  The amount of bills you need depends on the size that you make the “pizza.”  You most likely will need 15 to 20 rolls.  You don’t need to give all large bills.  You can have a mix of say 20s, 10s, and 5s.  Don’t forget to add the amount that the coins add up to as part of the gift amount.
5. Shredded paper – I just took paper right from the paper shredder, but you could rip paper up too.
6. Tape

Steps:

• Cut out your thin piece of cardboard to make the pizza and cover it with the red paper.  It does not need to be a perfect circle.  It will have a circular look once you add the bills.

• Roll up your bills hot dog length.  If you want to give a lot of money, or if you have more bills than you need, then you can roll two bills up together.  Once rolled up use a small piece of tape to hold the roll together.  Use as small of piece as you can or the graduate is going to spend a long time taking their gift apart.

• Tape the bills to the cardboard.  Bend them slightly to give a curved look to the outside of the pizza.  The bills will go all the way around the outside and then use the remaining pieces on the inside to make “slices.”

• Tape coins to the open areas of the “slices” to give your “pizza” toppings.

• Top your pizza off with “cheese” by adding the shredded paper.  This doesn’t need to be tapped.  Just throw the paper on there.

• Finish your gift by placing it in the pizza box.

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