Well... actually, on the subject of "making money"...

A Check is simply an iou of sorts. It has on it the identity of the institution holding your money (the route and transit number), the place within that institution where someone can obtain the money you owe them (the checking account number) and the amount to be owed.. as well as to who..

Given all of this, it is technically possible to write your own checks on a napkin, a piece of paper, or anything else that can display information in written form. And TECHNICALLY, the bank (err, institute) will honor it. Course, you may have problems getting anyone to accept these homemade checks as payment.