Graduation Gift: Pizza and (Root)Beer

Pizza and Beer...sort of a staple on college campuses around the world....minus my alma mater, of course ;o). But really, this present is rated G because there is a little Baptist girl in me that just insisted on the 6-pack of root beer....it helped that it was much cheaper than a 6 pack of beer.
My Mom needed a graduation gift to take to a party recently, and I have an ever growing stack of things I want to 'try out,' and there are only 365 days a year, and as many reasons to celebrate, which is about 203 less than the ideas in my craft folder. I decided to pull one out I've been wanting to try for awhile. As usual, I manipulated the project to meet the needs of the occasion, as opposed to looking for a project to fit the occasion. I saw this idea . They had the cute cinnamon bun-on-a-stick idea I took, and fed crack to until it became a gift, and I did the same with this idea. Crafts on Steroids-sorta my speciality.

for pizzas-on-a-stick on my new, imaginary best friends' website artisanbread

I also adapted their recipe for the pizza bites, but for the 'real version' hit the link above. Here is 'my version.' It's the easy way out. I'd say 'easy' is my middle name, but that just doesn't come out right. How about simplified?
MAKING THE PIZZA BITES
I BOUGHT a can of pizza dough, and spread it out to about 1/4 inch thickness.
I then grated about 4 oz of cheese (1/2 a block) over the entire dough.
I added two rows of pepperoni in a long line down the middle (this used up about half a package-so it would be REALLY easy to double this with another thing of pizza dough).
Leave space between the two rows of pepperoni (leave the cheese lines), which help all the dough stick together, and hold tightly in the rolls-on-the-sticks.

I rolled tightly, and I cut about 16 pieces 1/3-1/2 inch thick. I didn't get out my ruler.
I added this step: I sprayed the tops of each roll with spray butter (0 calories, because, obviously, calorie count is important to me, ha!....and it's easy). I then sprinkled the tops with garlic salt. This makes it pretty salty, but that's how I like it, but be warned if you don't, and adapt as desired!

I baked at 425 for about 10 minutes.
As soon as they came out, I poked bamboos skewers into each roll before they cooled. The bamboo skewers I found in the grocery section hanging on the end of an aisle, ready for summer cook outs. I cut them down a bit because they were a little long, but I liked having the 'pokie' end, it slid into the dough nicely. You could also use popsicle sticks or sucker sticks....I was just feeling really daring.

I then put little bags over each pizza bite so I could make a bouquet. I think life is best delivered as a bouquet. I also think life's events are best told in song, but I'll leave that for another time.
I tied off each bag with raffia, because I heart raffia...still....no new news there.

I got a metal can from the dollar section at Target, stuck some styrofoam from the dollar store in the bottom, and then poked my pizza bites down. I did super glue them into place since they'll be traveling with my Mom....I worry when other people deliver 'my crafts' that they the delivery 'person' won't know to rearrange the shifted product.

I attached a card. I'm going to write Greeting cards if this not-for-profit blog thing doesn't work out. You'll be able to get them two for a dollar at the dollar store, but still, they'll be mine. I won't claim them either, but still...mine.
My 'beautiful' graduation inspired poetry:
The attached card reads:
Instead of studying until 7 am, you'll head to work at 7 am.
Instead of taking out study loans, you'll begin paying student loans.
Instead of listening to the professionals, you'll be the professional others are listening to.
Instead of looking forward to summer vacation, you'll begin counting the days until retirement.
Instead of pizza and beer for dinner...
Never mind that one is pretty much universal no matter what stage of life you find yourself in.
"There is no facet, no aspect, no manner of life that can't be improved with pizza." Dario Morgendorffer
And thus completes another episode of-what I do at about 1 am on a work night. P.s. I think this would be a fun Father's Day Gift as well, AND we did a shower once at work for a 'guy' with the pizza, and root bear theme, and then Home Depot gifts, it was fun...just a little random aside.
Linking To:
Night Own Crafting
Trendy Treehouse
Just a Girl
Fun to Craft