It is never too early to start saving money. The piggy bank is a fun way to keep your money in a safe place. Although it is an object that you can easily buy in the store, there is nothing to stop you from making it with your own hands. Saving money is something to be proud of, so you should be happy with your creation once it's done. There are several ways to build a piggy bank at home, and fortunately, household materials can be used.
Steps
Method 1 of 3: Use a Plastic Bottle
Step 1. Get the supplies
To make a piggy bank out of a plastic bottle, you will need several things to turn it into a useful object. You can buy the necessary material in stationery. However, nothing excludes that you already have something (if not most of the things you need) at home.
- An empty plastic bottle. It will serve as a coin container.
- A cutter and a pair of scissors to cut out the pieces.
- A hot glue gun, to join the pieces together. If you are a child, adult supervision is recommended when using this tool.
- An egg carton and a pipe cleaner.
- Material for decorating. You should use markers, acrylic paints and a pair of jokey eyes. However, you can get a great little piggy bank by using colored cardstock and pink spray paint.
Step 2. Wash the plastic bottle
There is no set limit on the size of the piggy bank. However, you should get a plastic bottle with a capacity of 500-1000ml. Rinse it and dry it with some paper towels to get rid of the excess water.
Leave the cap on the bottle. You will need it to make the face of the pig
Step 3. Cut out the slot you will use to insert the coins
Have an adult make a half-bottle opening with a cutter. Try slipping in a few coins if you have any doubts about the size. If it doesn't fit comfortably, it means you need to enlarge it. In order for the loose change to pass, it should be at least 2.5 cm wide. In fact, the size depends on the largest coin denomination you intend to introduce.
Step 4. Attach the paws
From the egg carton cut out four sections with scissors to use as legs. Ask an adult to use the low temperature heat gun to secure them to the sides of the bottle, opposite the newly cut slot, so that it faces up when the pig is standing. The open side of the carton is turned towards the bottle. This way, the paws will look firmer and more robust.
Step 5. Paint everything pink
This step is optional, because the piggy bank can also retain some handcrafted charm left as it is. While the materials you can buy at stationery, including markers, tempera, and acrylic paints, don't adhere well to plastic, you have a few other options:
- Spray the pink spray paint on the legs and along the body. Always remember to use it in a well-ventilated outdoor area.
- Make a collage with tissue paper and acrylic decoupage glue (you can find this in well-stocked stationery and DIY stores). With a brush, apply a thin layer of glue to a small section of the bottle, spread a piece of tissue paper over it and make another light swipe of glue. Continue like this until everything is covered.
- Wrap the bottle with felt or colored cardboard and paint the cardboard paws pink with gouache or acrylic paints.
Step 6. Decorate the pig
Once you have the shape of the pig, it's time to modify your creation. To add more details, you will need to use a hot glue gun, so ask an adult to help you with the following steps:
- Make the tail by twisting a pink pipe cleaner in the shape of a spiral and having an adult help you glue it with the gun to the back of the pig (on the opposite side of the muzzle).
- Get the eyes by gluing a pair of joker eyes on the face or by drawing, cutting and gluing a pair of eyes.
- Draw the nostrils on the pig's snout with a black marker.
- To make the ears, cut two triangles of pink paper or felt and glue them together.
Step 7. Use the bottle as a piggy bank
Once you have finished your piggy bank, place it in your room and start filling it every time you find some change in your pocket. Even if it doesn't have an opening, you can introduce smaller coins by unscrewing the cap. To retrieve them when full, take them out by cutting the back of the bottle. You can reattach it with duct tape if you want to keep using your piggy bank.
Method 2 of 3: Use a Roll of Toilet Paper
Step 1. Get the supplies
The piggy bank made from a roll of toilet paper is probably the easiest to make, especially if you're not used to manual labor. You should already have most of the supplies in the house, possibly excluding the hot glue gun. Anything that comes close to any of the listed materials will do.
- Roll of toilet paper. Save it when you run out of toilet paper. If not, try to see if there is one in the bathroom waste bin.
- Pink cardstock. It is more double and stronger than normal paper. Usually, you can buy it at the stationery.
- Scissors and cutter to cut the various pieces and make the slot to insert the coins.
- Low temperature hot glue gun and glue. Remember that you should ask an adult to help you use hot glue.
- To create the nose, you can use a cap, but it is optional.
- Material for decorating. Markers, felt, colored cardboard and collage materials are all good for making a piggy bank out of a roll of toilet paper.
Step 2. Draw the head of the pig on the pink construction paper
It will be an excellent decorative element and, moreover, it will prevent the coins from falling from one of the two ends of the cylinder. It shouldn't be much larger than the roll it will be glued to. Then, just trace the outline by drawing the eyes, the muzzle, the mouth, the ears and all the details you prefer. When you are happy with your design, cut it out.
- If you are unsure of the size, just put it on the roll and see if you like it.
- If you'd like to use another recycled item to make your creation more fun, ask an adult to hot glue a bottle cap to get the pig's face. Add the nostrils with a felt-tipped marker pen. If not, freehand draw the muzzle on the card.
Step 3. Make a base out of cardstock
Take another piece of construction paper and place the roll on it. Trace the outline with the pencil. Once you have a circle, draw a larger circle around it with a lighter stroke and cut it out. It will be the base of your piggy bank.
In this step, don't worry about taking exact measurements. Just pay attention to the diameter of the second circle, which must be longer than 1.30 cm
Step 4. Attach the base
Cut small lines along the edge of the outer circle that go to the inner circle drawn using the toilet paper roll. Make several cuts, each about an inch apart. You should get a set of fins. Fold them all towards the center of the circle. This way, you can securely attach the base to the roll. Place the latter in the middle of the circle. Ask an adult to apply a dot of hot glue to each tab and press it to the side of the cylinder. Before continuing, make sure the base is stationary.
To make sure it fits snugly, wrap a piece of duct tape along the flaps so they don't come undone
Step 5. Decorate the toilet paper roll
You can do this with any material of your choice that you have on hand - markers, paint, collage supplies, crayons or felt will do. Since you're creating a piglet, pink is the obvious choice when it comes to color. However, you can change it according to your taste.
When you start introducing the coins, the piggy bank will stand up on its own without any problem, but if you want to achieve this effect even when empty, you can attach a pair of paws so that it stays balanced. Just cut out a couple of triangles from cardboard and glue them to the base
Step 6. Attach the cardboard head
Using a hot glue gun, attach the head to the end of the roll opposite the base. You can do this by applying a light stroke of glue around the perimeter of the roll and firmly attaching the cardstock. Before proceeding, wait a couple of minutes for it to dry.
You could add a pair of legs under the head if you want your creation to look more like a little pig
Step 7. Cut out the coin slot
Finally, make a large enough hole in the top of the piggy bank with a paper cutter. Make sure the loose change can be slipped in easily. If you need to test the slot to make sure it's big enough, try introducing a coin. If it doesn't fit, it means you have to widen it.
Since the cutter is a very sharp tool, it is advisable to get help from an adult
Step 8. Start saving your money
A piggy bank made from a roll of toilet paper can also be a great tool for saving money. Saving money indicates considerable maturity and, if you get into this habit, in no time you will be able to increase your financial resources. Put the piggy bank where you can see it, and whenever you have some change, put it inside.
When it comes time to open it, you don't need to destroy it. While it doesn't contain many coins, you can grab them by removing the head and turning it upside down. If the head falls apart, it is much easier to make a new one than to build the whole piggy bank all over again
Method 3 of 3: Use the papier mache
Step 1. Get the supplies
You will need flour, water, a saucepan to mix the ingredients, newspapers or brown paper bags or wrapping paper, a balloon, an egg carton, a cutter, glue, decorations (gouache or acrylic paints, paper handkerchiefs, acrylic glue for decoupage, spray paint, markers, etc.), a pipe cleaner, adhesive eyes (optional), permanent marker and scissors.
- Flour, water and saucepan. Usually, they are found in a well-equipped kitchen. You won't need a lot of flour. You will only need 260 grams and keep the one you don't need.
- Paper. Typically, newspaper sheets and brown paper bags are fine. It is preferable to use absorbent paper.
- A low temperature hot glue gun. As always, remember to ask an adult to check on you when using this tool.
- Sticky eyes, a pipe cleaner and an egg carton to decorate the pig.
- A balloon that you will need to build the piggy bank structure.
- A cutter to make the slot from which to insert the coins.
- Decorations. You can use anything from paint (spray or acrylic) to markers for this type of piggy bank. Painting is recommended, as the markers may be a little too flashy. The acrylic decoupage glue is useful for applying the colored cardboard once the structure is ready.
Step 2. Make the flour glue
In a small bowl, combine 130 g of flour and 250 ml of water. Bring 1 liter of water to a boil and add the mixture of water and flour, turning everything. Let it simmer for about 3 minutes and then let the mixture cool. Ask an adult to help you use the stove.
You can buy papier mache glue at a stationery and DIY store, but it's not difficult to make it at home
Step 3. Prepare the card
Get an internal newspaper with brown paper bags or wrapping paper. Ball up, roll out and crumple the sheets again, and then roll them out once more. This way, the glue will penetrate deeper into the paper. Once this is done, make squares of 2.5cm on each side.
You will need a lot of paper for this project, so get more than you think
Step 4. Prepare the balloon
Inflate it to the size you want to get the piggy bank structure. The color is not important, since it will only serve to give body to the papier-mâché and, therefore, it will not be visible. Close the balloon when it reaches the desired size.
Step 5. Apply the papier mache to the balloon
Dip the pieces of paper into the previously made flour mixture and glue them onto the pig. Wet them just enough so that they stick together, taking care not to soak them too much. Roll out the paper as you apply it, trying to evenly cover all the spaces. Overall, you will need to make three layers, however it is up to you to decide if they are sufficient.
The piggy bank will be stronger if you let each layer dry before adding the next one, but that's not necessary
Step 6. Allow the balloon to dry
You will probably have to wait at least a couple of days for it to harden properly. Place it in a well-ventilated and lighted area to speed up the process. Once ready, you can finally decorate it.
Step 7. Make the coin slot
Ask an adult to use a cutter to create the opening where you will go to insert the coins into the pig's belly. If you are unsure of the size, try inserting a larger coin. If it doesn't fit, it means you need to enlarge it. You will also need the slot to extract the balloon from the papier-mâché structure.
The opening for inserting the money must be at least 2.5 cm wide in order to pass the change. In fact, the size depends on the largest coin denomination you intend to introduce. Since papier mache is a delicate material, you may want to take measurements before you cut
Step 8. Attach the paws and nose
Take the egg carton and cut out five parts. You will need them to create the pig's legs and nose. To fix them in the precise places on the paper mache structure, ask an adult to use the low temperature hot glue gun.
The open sides of the "legs" should be facing the pig. This way, you can color them at the right time
Step 9. Paint everything pink
The easiest way is to use gouache or acrylic paints. You could also use markers, spray paint, or paper. In the latter case, to cover the structure by making a collage, take a brush and begin to apply a light layer of acrylic glue for decoupage on a small part of the pig. Then place a piece of paper and spread another thin layer of glue. Continue until you have covered the entire papier-mâché ball.
Step 10. Decorate your piggy bank
At this point you can indulge yourself with your creativity. Decorate your creation as you like. However, if you want it to look like a real pig, you can add other parts of the body:
- Create the tail by twisting a pink pipe cleaner into a spiral shape and asking an adult to help you apply it with hot glue to the pig's back.
- Get the eyes by attaching a pair of sticky eyes to the face or by drawing, cutting and gluing a pair of eyes.
- Draw the nostrils with a black marker.
- Cut two triangles of pink paper or felt and glue them to make the ears.
Step 11. Admire your creation
This type of project takes more time and patience than the other methods, but it will look great if you decorate it carefully.
