"I do know however that in Canada some years back the income tax people noted a discrepancy between the tips reported on credit card receipts and the income reported by some waiters. The affected waiters were not at all happy." The practice, as far as I have known it, has been for a waiter or waitress to declare minimum wage on their income tax. It is common for restaurants to pay less than minimum, but if the employee's hourly income was actually less than the minimum wage, the restaurant is required to make up the difference. Adding the tip to the credit card provides more info to the tax man regarding the actual income of the employee. Cash can be spent on necessities instead of declared as income.

Would never have known! Terrific!

Wooo... doesn't that flashing dull your Sizzix die?? You're braver than I am! Thanks for the kick in the right direction re: Memorial Day. We always called it "Decoration Day" where I grew up. Your inspiration caused me to make cards for four Veteran (WWII and Vietnam) relatives. I bet the cards will be the first they've ever received thanking them for fighting for our country.

I love using my cookie molds for paper molding...I have never used them for cookies LOL!!! I use a slightly different paper recipe: 1 Sheet paper - can have a bit of printing on it, but not too much. I tear the paper into strips then into pieces about 1" - 2". Then I place them in a blender and cover with hot tap water. Don't fill the blender just cover the paper - about a cup or so. I let the paper soak for a minute or two then blend for a minute. If you have large chunks of whole paper, blend some more. YOu want to end up with pulp. Strain the whole works through a wire strainer, but don't press out the water. Let it drip for a bit, then plop it onto a mold. Spread the paper to cover the mold as evenly as possible. You can have clean edges or let some paper hang over for a deckled look - like in RedConfetti's card. Take a clean towel and smash all the water out. Use your fingers to push the towel down to get the paper into all the crevices. The more water you get out, the faster it will dry. I then microwave the paper in the mold. Try it for 1 minute, then if not dry, go in 30 second intervals, CLOSELY WATCHING IT!! You don't want it to catch on fire. As it dries, it will pop out of the mold. I do "season" my molds with a light spray of Pam, then wipe it out so it isn't greasy. I color my molded paper with chalks (You can find them in scrapbook sections of stores) I use a q-tip to apply the chalk. Or you can use a small paintbrush to apply the chalk too. You can also use construction paper for a colored mold. I like to use brown kraft paper for an antiqued look. Love your card RedConfetti...you are really talented. If you love the molds, check out ebay...there are tons! Brown Bag Cookie Art has a big line, and the Pampered Chef ones are neat too...they have a line of 4 seasons ones out now. Not paper related but: I also make wax molds in my cookie molds. I use 2 Yankee Candle tarts, melting them in a clean soup can that I have placed in a pan of shallow water (think double boiler) I bend the can slightly so I can pour out of it. After the tarts are melted, pour into a mold that has been coated well with Pam. Allow to cool, and it will pop out. If you want to hang it, make sure you put something in the back before it cools. I stick my molds in the fridge to cool them faster.